Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-10-23
COOPERATIVE STORES.

creigns want to 90 into the business of mid
dlemen, very extensively. We do not be-
lieve they want to 60 to bookkeeping as it is
commonly done. There are several reasons
why they do not.
In the first place, good deal Of unneces-
sary loss is caused to the merchant under
the present system by the deterioration of
goods in his hands, as well as by the loss Of
the use OF capital invested in stocks of goods
which lie upon his hands for a long time.
When these societies cooperate in their pur-
chases, they do it to save these losses. The
practical business man is able to conduct
business more safely and more proftably
than any combination of farmers or mechan-
les who have not had business experience.
He knows the tricks of trade and the re-
quirements of the market. He acquainted
through experience, that best of teachers,
with all the vcissitudes Of trade, and can
afford to keep stock of goods on hand and
sell at prices which the amateur storekeepcr
cannot touch 1t the business is to be done
upon the present system, the practical mer-
chant is the man to do it.
But the fault lies in the system, instead
Of in the men. The system Of purchasing a
stock Of ten thousand dollars worth Of goods
for little country store and keeping some
of them a month, some six months, some
year or two, and finding that for some there
is no market, the goods all the time deterior-
ating in quality from keeping and the cap.
italst lying out of the use Of his money, is
not the true system. As it subjects the
trader to these burdens, he must needs add
to the cost of what goods he does sell per-
centage sufficient to cover them. When we
add to this the enormous amount lost annu-
ally through " bad debts" we do not wonder
that goods cost high prices to the consumers.
And it is plain that the blame for these
high prices rests not with the mer-
chant but with the system of trade
under which he works and to which he is
subject. Not only are all these burdens
borne by trade, but an additional tax to
support surplus of traders, for there are
several wherever one is needed, and they
must live.
OF course, SO long as goods enough can be
sold at these advanced rates TO afford all the
dealers living and some of them hand
some profits they will not be the ones to in.
augurate reform in this Objectionable sys
TEN. But the consumers are now organic
ing to compel reform, and this can only b
done by making the doing Of business under
the present system so Improbable from
lack of customers, that the superfluity o
dealers will be obliged to 60 out Of business
and earn their living by some kind of pro
duetive labor.
Now these organized laborers, as we hav,
said, are not able to compete with expetienc
cd business men at their own trade, AM
though they may compel a reduction il
prices through the establishment of regula
stores, the merchant with his experience ca
bear reduction that will prove ruinous t.
the capital of the cooperative society. Co
operative stores have been tried heretofore
and where one has succeeded three hay
failed.
These are few of the reasons why "
would urge Patrons and Sovereigns to " 6
slow in the matter Of launching out int
the troublOus sea Of trade, as they seem
intend to do in some sections. But anotht
and more powerful reason is, we think thel
is better way to do it.
This better way which We eau but belle,
in the onward march of the spirit of retorI
is to become the way, is the adoption Of
general system Of warehousing goods.
Springfield, Mass the Sovereigus have
the natural course of events run INTO tn
system, as regards -four. They sent the
orders for -four, as often as they could make U
an order for a car load at time, to the ageI
of one of the great Touring establishments
the West Soon the agent found their o
ders were 50 frequent and extensive that
said to them, f" You need not be at the trOu
lie of making up an order for car load whe
you want -four. Provide storage room, al
l will keep on hand from 200 to 500 ba
rels of -four in Springfield. Whenever oil
of your number wants barrel Of -four,
him take it, paying the cash to your ager
and once week or whenever please vi
take the pay for what -four has been sold
There is the idea in a nutshell Let I
grange or the council provide suitable wal
rooms, and let the manufacturer or import
place his goods therein, the society furnii