Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-19
A Kind Word of Caution.

There is an evident inclination, with some
oranges, to establish cooperative stores. We
think they are wrong with duo Difference TO
them. The more we examine the matter,
the more We are convinced that It is hazard.
Gus aud that the farmers will save money by
letting it alone. The system has been tried
in other portions Of the country, but with
bad consequences. There is scarcely a soli-
tary instance where il has succeeded, and il
has been abandoned by nine.tenths of those
who have given it trial.
When the farmers conclude to divide their
time, energy, means and attention between
selling goods on the one hand, and mauag-
ing their farms on the other, they may look
out for breakers ahead, for they are certain to
be encountered. They will lay the founda-
tion for future trouble, annoyance and loss
OF money. 1t is dangerous to have too many
irons in the fire. One is enough in this in
stance. To farm successfully, the business
must have the undivided attention of the
farmer, and all the capital and good sense
he can command. He cannot safely with
draw any portion of his means from the soil
and apply them to mercantile operations.
Let him try it, and see If he is not swamped.
Farming is business, aud big one at that,
so much 30, in fact, that it must be closely
stuck to all the time. The cause of its draw
back is the want of capital and energetic &C
ton.
We have this TO say to all who have any
desire to embark in cooperative stores, that
they will confront serious difficulties and
probable disasters. They must either rent
or build store houses of their own. They
must hire clerks or agents to buy aud sell
their goods. They must pay an income tax
and other expenses not apparent at present.
They must run the risk of employing dishon.
est agents, of losing money at their sales, of
making some bad debts aud OF final bank.
ruptcy and ruin. II they have any capital
to spare from their farms it would be far bet
ter for them to put it at interest than to risk
it 10 an adventure of this sort. But how
can so many stockholders, who would likely
be concerned in cooperative store watch
over their. interests? Have they the time
to do it? And then, whats everybody s
business in nobody's business" Hence the
presumption is fair one that it would get
little or no attention from the stock. holders
If the farmers will only be patient and
take the pains to understand aud apply the
business system which our Order has estab-
lished, they will find they have no need of
cooperative stores We have two clearly
defined ways Of making our purchases, eth
or one Of which, Improperly controlled, would
meet our demands. The one is trading d..
rsctiy with certain houses whose "con6den.
tial circulars" are, or should be- in the hands
Of every grange; and the other is buying
through authorized agents, who will effect
purchases for them at a nominal per cent.
Here is no risk ; no investment except for
what they actually need no watching of
dishonest clerks; no outlay in the way ofin-
cidental expenses, and no iearsof bankruptcy
aud endless litigation. Add to this, they
can buy in this way what they need at cheap
or rates. Hands off, We say. Form no en-
tangling alliauces.-Grdnge Outlook.