Thursday, July 31st, was another great day for Mooresville. At that time the annual stockholders meeting and picnic of the Mooresville Cooperative Creamery was held at Stewart Park, and it has been estimated that there were at least 7,000 people here during the day. The picnic resembled somewhat the old times experienced when the last Thursday in July was set apart for the Barium Springs orphanage, when the whole countryside assembled here for the day.
The exercises began at 10 o’clock with invocation by Rev. I.N. Kennedy, pastor of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. John A. Arey, well known throughout North Carolina and now connected with the dairy department of State College, presented F.H. Jeter of the agronomy department at State College, who in a brief speech alluded to the wonderful progress being made throughout North Carolina in farm improvements together with the development of the health of the people in the rural communities. He cited numerous instances of the nature of the work of his department, and told of many cases of undernourished children found by the county agents and those working directly or indirectly through this department. Mr. Jeter is an enthusiastic worker and an interesting talker, though he claims not to be in the class of platform speakers so well-known to the general public. His remarks were full of information and were well received.
The principal speaker for the occasion was Dr. E.C. Brooks, president of State college, who was presented in a very pleasing tribute to his value to the state of North Carolina by Z.V. Turlington. Dr. Brooks dwelt on the present day progress, and referred to the standard of living and thinking 30 years ago and reviewed the struggles of the people of North Carolina and made a happy comparison of the present day thinking and standard of living. With the advanced idea of good roads, better churches, better schools for all the people, better equipment in colleges and institutions of learning of every kind, has brought about the new standard of thinking which necessitates new standards of living. He paid high compliment to the Mooresville creamery and its success as a co-operative proposition and stated Iredell had set a precedent in North Carolina in matters pertaining to group or co-operative efforts.
The address of R.E. McDowell, a Mecklenburg farmer and dairyman, was a particular feature. He owns what is rates as the best Jersey cow in North Carolina. The animal is said to give 6 ½ gallons of milk per day, and since last December has averaged its owner a return of $70 per month. He said she was a “good cow” when he had finished telling of her qualities and how they were developed. He told the throng how to feed and care for cows to get the best results, stating that good feeding proportionately mixed, gentleness and careful attention were very necessary to obtain satisfactory results. He told of how many scrub cows had been made to pay for their feed with a profit by careful attention and proper feeding. It was his observation that when a cow gives less than 200 pound sof butter fat per year, she was the kind that was unprofitable and should be sent forthwith to the slaughter pen. He gave statistical records of cows and how they were cared for in the most approved economical way in order to secure profitable production. He urged the farmers and dairymen to feed better and in that way overcome the losses sustained by a majority of people who persist in trying to break even or make a profit on underfed cattle. He offered to furnish anyone interested his formulas for feeding if they would call on him during the day. Mr. McDowell has a large herd of Jersey cattle, and is president of the North Carolina Jersey Association. He ranks as one of the very best dairymen in the State.
John A. Arey followed Mr. McDowell in a brief summery of all that has been said by the several speakers, endorsing what they had said, and invited the numerous friends to repair to their baskets and put out dinner. The Kannapolis band, which is an unusually good organization, furnished music for the occasion and each speech was interspersed with real jazzy and emotional tunes.
The stockholders meeting was held in the North school building at 2:30 o’clock, having been called to order by John A. Craven, the president. Sam E. Sloop of Miranda was asked to act as temporary secretary. Roll call showed about 54 of the 268 stockholders present. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. J.A. Stewart, secretary and treasurer, then read his report, which was very gratifying to the stockholders. He explained what had been done in the matter of enlargement of the plant, after which J.C. Jamison, a member of the board of directors, explained the action of the board with reference to bids on the construction work, stating that after the first bids had been advertised and opened and being unsatisfactory to the board, bids were advertised for a second time and this time secured a much more satisfactory result at a big saving. Three directors were re-elected to succeed themselves as follows: S.B. Harrison, Thomas Morrow and Watson F. Smith, for three years. This wound up the business of the stockholders. the directors met and re-elected J.A. Craven, president, and J.A. Stewart, secretary-treasurer.
From the secretary-treasurer’s report he following facts were gleaned:
--The total volume of business done by the Creamery from July 1, 1923 to June 30, 1924, was $160,402.96.
--Pounds of butter sold, 353,383.
--Paid to patrons for butter fat, $134,494.52, an average of $11,207.88 per month.
--The Creamery was forced to buy 7,767 pounds of butter from other creameries to supply their regular custom, the demand beign greater than the supply at certain seasons of the year.
--The selling price of the butter, wholesale, was 45.1 cents per pound.
--Average price paid to the patrons for butterfat was 48.2 cents per pound, 3 cents per pound more than that paid for the year previous.
--The distribution of this $134,494.52 was participate din by 1,085 farmers, all of whom received their checks promptly during the month.
--The Creamery showed profits of $26,008.44. This was divided into dividends of 6 per cent to the 268 stockholders, paid for operating expenses, salary, surplus and incidentals. This profit was earned from what is known as the “over run,” which was 21 per cent.
In the meantime, the visitors at the park were having a joyful time in the various amusements provided for them. Two tennis courts were going with full sets, the skating rink was the mecca for those who enjoy the fun on rollers, while the swimming pool caught the eyes of such a large number the pavilion was not half sufficient to hold the swarm of people who tried to get to the front or to get suits to take a dip. At 4 o’clock a baseball game entertained several hundred people. Kannapolis was up against Mooresville’s crack team, and went down in defeat, the score being 11 to 8 in favor of the locals. It was a good game except for the fact that Kannapolis tried to work a young pitcher who had lost his arm from overtime work.
From the front page of the Mooresville Enterprise, Thursday, Aug. 7, 1924
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn93064798/1924-08-07/ed-1/seq-1/#words=August+7%2C+1924
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