The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-08-22
COLUMBIA, S. G.
Friday Morning, August %, 1873.

Friday Morning, August %. 1873.
Tho Farmers' Movement and Prices.
The order of the Patrons of Hus-
bandry, besides giving the politicians q
world of trouble, is hurting the bust
ness of another class of people, who
have heretofore made comfortable liv-
ings from the farmers. In this last re.
gard, the order has accomplished its
only great practical good so far; but
this itself gives reason enough for the
existence of some such association. Ma
turally enough, with the institution oi
oranges, agents would offer them whole
sale rates for goods taken in bulk,
and the farmers were not slow to appre-
ciate the value OF cooperation in bust.
ness, and now practice it, to the grea,
damage Of the business of the middle.
men. The large sums paid to agents
and drummers were, of course, added to
the cost Of the articles, and were paid
by the farmers who bought them.
By the co operative method. all this
expense is done away with. and the
farmer gets his goods by so much the
cheaper. The large manufactures Of
agricultural implements spent large
sums of money, to support agencies
which are now supplanted by the
oranges, which virtually get the money
formerly paid to the agencies. Each
grange in some of the Western States
has its commercial agent, who buys
whatever the oranges need at Wholesale
rates, directly from the manufacturers
or wholesale dealers. OF the saving
effected, somo idea may be obtained
from the fact that the agencies of one
firm alone cost them 100000 per an
mum, which amount is now saved in the
cost of the goods. The annual tax for
merly paid by the farming population Of
Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin,
Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas and Mis-
souri,, because of the large number Of
middle men, is estimated to have been
not less than S5,000.000.
: The saving to the farmers by the pre-
sent system of cooperate purchases,
says the american, is illustrated by the
price lists which arc now. forwarded to
the agents or secretaries OF the oranges.
a sewing machine company proposes to
sell at Wholesale for $50 machine which
is sold at retail for $50. making saving
of $50 to the wholesale purchaser. An
other sewing machine firm offers equally
advantageous discounts. An organ ma
nufactory offers to sell to the grangers
at Wholesale instruments at S135 which
ore retailed at S175. A manufacturing
company, largely engaged in making
agricultural implements, offers to fur
nish their machines and utensils at q
discount from regular retail store prices
OF twenty-five per cent off.
A firm in st. Louis has offered to sell
to the Iowa Grange agents, mowers and
reapers at S85, for which Sl1O is de-
manded for single machines in store. In
everything else there is like saving.
Dry goods men and grocers likewise of.
fer favorable terms. Thus the pur-
chasers save the money which they had
before paid to the agent or local dealer.
1t is estimated that by the instrument
tality OF the oranges, the farmers OF
Iowa and Illinois have saved over
S2,O00,0O during the present year. Not
only is the cooperative principle intro
duced into such purchases, but co.ope.
ratiye stores have been established and
mills and factories built. IT there were
no other good to be expected from the
farmers movement, this alone would
vindicate its existence.
The cotto9-spinnsrs of Manchester,
England. are beginning to grow indig-
nant because American cotton does not
come I'D to tho renuisita standard ~