The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-02-18


Probably the most effective cause in
bringing about this change was that in
1921 the Ely Commercial Club paid the
expenses for farmer delegate for one
week to the National Dairy Show held
in St. Paul that year. Upon his return
the farmer delegate talked to his neigh
bors at their meetings on what he
learned on the trip. At once several
herd sires were brought into the section
and better dairy animals were being
produced.
In 1925, virtually 100 per cent of the
city's milk supply was still raw milk
and only one store carried pasteurized
milk. From 1920 to 1925 the BAG
terial count on milk from almost any
source sold within the city was terrible.
Complaints on souring were frequent
and It was frequently asked as to a
good place to buy milk"
In 1890, pasteurized milk had entered
the city to the extent of about 10 pet
cent while IS per cent was being pro-
duced by dairy farmers and per cent
by COWS within the city limits. =.
The number of cattle within the city
limits had been reduced to less than
100 although the population had in
creased to over 5000. An effort was
made to pass an ordinance to eliminate
the cattle entirely from the city but
the depression coming on kept the city
council away from this progressive
move.
The quality of the milk sold in the
city had improved materially. Our
dairymen had learned how to handle
milk in a sanitary way and the bac-
terial counts had dropped to such low
figures as to amaze the state and fed
eral health service officials. This year
marked the date when the larger share
of our milk supply began to be handled
by men.
1885 saw an unexpected change.
During the winter months 60 per cent
Of the milk supply was furnished by
neighborhood diaries; IS per cent was
pasteurized and produced by diaries as
far as 100 miles away; less than 5 per
cent was from back yard cows. The
summer months furnished an entirely
different situation. Last summer the
sale of pasteurized milk from outside
sources exceeded the sale of raw milk
about go and 40 per cent.
This is explainable by reason of the
tourist trade which demands pasteur-
lied milk With business conditions
better and the almost assured increase
/ ~, tI,a ricf 1>1rc ho IF
1887 will show still harder licking"
that raw milk will take from pasteurized
milk. In 1920 no milk was on sale in
local stores and now every store sells
milk and cream and all is pasteurized
milk with the exception of a few
places who handle raw milk to hold
the grocery business of the farmers.
| DR.. Thompson in his report then goes
on to tell how the conditions have
changed In 1920 a dairy cow was
bought not so much for its milk pro-
duction qualities but for its beef pro-
duction quantity. A cow was bought
and MIXED until it went dry and then
slaughtered for beef. The average COW
| in this vicinity today is of the Guern-
sey breed, good mixers but poor beefers.
| He then goes on to show how the
dairy farmer has changed. In every in
stance where a farmer started on his
land and at the same time worked on
the county road or the mine, the farm
venture was a failure. He also showed
how the milk consumer has changed.
The per capita consumption OF milk
has increased. The raw milk consumed
in the city is delivered directly to
families wherein generally the head of
the family is over 35 years of age.
These routes were established more
than ten years ago and bond of
friendship exists among the old timers
as producer and consumer.
The younger families are greater con-
sumers Of paSteurized milk and pur-
chase their dairy needs from the grocer
just as they do any other article OF
food. Education in the schools of late
years carry excellent courses in hygiene
and sanitation and the young mother
with her knowledge of bacteria natur-
ally favors pasteurized milk for hel
children
DR.. Thompson in the report also
takes swipe at the "cow police" stu
alton by calling attention to the fac
that labor conditions have improved tt
> such an extent that employment in this
branch is not necessary as during the
, depression years. He stated that with
men working day and night shifts al
the mines, complaints will increase or
account of tinkling cow bells. The city
council should consider the SO cattle
now In the city as nuisance and dea
with the situation as such. The south
side of the city which at one time hae
a preponderance of cattle is now free
of the same and the development O.
this section in home building show.
that this is appreciated
In 1915, says DR.. Thompson in his re.
port, 100 per cent pasteurization of thu
city's milk supply will be had The U
S. Health Service and the State BoarC
of Health have set that year as the enc
of raw milk. IF the milk supply Is per.
mitted to keep along the present lines
our dairynen will lose their business
; A pasteurization plant in Ely with thu
> united support of the dairymen is tn,
only solution.
He feels that the type of surrounding
, farm land is such that we have NJ
, hopes of producing all of our mill
but we should try to hold what bushes.
we have locally. He hopes to see {
pasteurization plant established her,
by 1888 but feels that help is needed
from some source to hold more of thi