The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-08-16
A Co.Uperativc Plan for Farmers.


We quote the following from an address by
Mr.. Ii. l.. Jones, before the farmers Club
of Walnut Creek, Saline county, Kansas,
in which state the subject of cooperation
continues to be agitated, with what result
remains 70 be seen: sa3 .n 81
will suppose there are in Saline county
1000 farmers who raise annually 500, 900
bushelsyof wheat, which amount will soon
be reached and excelled. Now, by the
present process of marketing, fully 20 per
cent. or 100000 bushels, are lost to the
farmer, and go to make up the wealth and
pre- fit, of the middlemen. How TO save this
is the question. / would have joint capi-
tai formed of 5000, 900, made up in shares of
$50 each, making an average of two shares
to each farmer, and only twice as much
&c as the annual loss onwheat alone.
With this money would have built an
elevator and store, at cost of, say 500 900,
leaving 100000, as capital to do business
with. i would have this money used in the
foundation ola bank, especially and only, in
the interest of farmers who were members of
the association. | would have it under the
control of directors elected annually by the
farmers, and their duties limited and pre-
scribed by law. | would have it place
relarmers could deposit their funds and
secure fair interest, and also where they
could borrow by paying no higher rate Of
interest than 10 per cent per anniim, in
such manner as should be prescribed by
the rules Of the association. | would have
it rule that his shares should be deemed
good collateral security for two-thirds their
value, and that warehouse receipt of 100
bushels ofwheat should also be good colat-
eral for loan of one-balf its value for a
limited time. Storage on grain should be
fixed at the lowest possible rate to pay ex-
penses, which will not exceed u per cent.
Now, right here, you would have two IA
cilites combined, which all small farmers
need, place where you know you can
realize all the market will afford for your
wheat, and where you can secure a tempo
rary loan Of money with your wheat as a
basis, if you choose to wait for higher
market. If you desire to purchase horse
or a cow and have not the money by YOU,
you know where you can get it without
paying two and two-thirds per cent per
month, and you also know where you eau
deposit your fund and secure fair inter-
est, and thus mutually help each other.
This is not all you can accomplish by this
association, but your directors can 60 to
st. Louis or to Chicago to some we'll
known responsible wholesale grocery cs-
tablishment, and say to the firm: We
represent an association of 1900 farmers
who have made arrangements to dispose of
their grain thelnselves-ha built an ele-
vator of sufficient storage capacity and pro-
pose to sell their own property in the best
market the country affords that their facl-
tiles for shipping at the lowest possible rates
and doing so are complete That they have
also built a large aud commodious store,
where they desire to procure their groceries
as cheap as possible; that their trade will
amount to 100000 annually--on what
terms will you stock said store and deal out
these groceries And in my opinion they
would be glad to do it for five per cent on
their wholesale prices and transportation,
where asiJ you have now to pay twenty or
thirty per cent.
And further, your directors could select
some well known dry goods house, and for
this trade agree with them to throw off ten
or more per cent. on all bills made by
members of this association. Now, be-
tween the saving thus made in both ways,
you will have made enough to pay for your
shares the first year, and some of you
much more, and thereafter you can add
your profits to your capital, and build
houses and barns, improve your stock, and
surround yourself with not only the COM
forts. but the elcganccs of life.
Such plan is not Utopian--a wild, CHI
merical, untried OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES at
best of barely possible beneficial results,
as can and will be proven to you if the
time comes, as hope it may, when we