Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1877-03-08
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY
A WORD TO

all accounts, farmers are preparing to farm
extensively, buoyed up with the hope thai
they will suffer no annoyance from the ter
rible ravages of the grasshoppers bis year
They are also encouraged with the bright
anticipations of retrieving a porfiea CT their
losses sustained during the two past years,
and stimulated by the scarcity and active
demand for farm products. Bat While we
are making preparations to farm largely,
and we have every reason to nope Tor an
abundant yield. Would it not be wise to
devote some thought and time to consider
the manner and plan of disposing of our
crops to the best advantage, when gathered
and the method of securing our farm ma
ch1nery and home supplies on the most adj
yantageous terms possible, when it is in our
province so to do2 Would it not SAVIOR OF a
weak policy for us to put out large crops,
work l%aboriously all summer, and ia the
fall gather in the fruits of our toll without
having previously provided for the DISPOSE
ton of the same, and find ourselves again
at the mercy of circumstances. when we
might have been able to demand a living
price for our produce, and saved a large per
cent. on our purchases by q well directed
cooperative movement before hand.
"Coming events cast their shadows be-
tore.o So it is time that Patrons OF this
Territory should commence to shadow forth
the event that will render them independent
of forced circumstances. That is, paying
the merchant his price for our necessaries
and receiving the merchants price tor our
produce. 1t is an apt Illustration of the old
story of the turkey and the crow. The mer-
chant always gets the turkey and we get the
crow, and often severely "bulldozed" at
that. Is not the average farmer apt to cal
culate to loosely OH the future? DO they
not seem to plod along through life as the
creatures OF circumstances without any aim
at self-protection? 1t is not so with profess
sions that live at the expense Of labor they
unite and organize large companies and COR
porations, rings and monopolies, secure
protective legislation, have their plans well
laid, far-seeing and deep, schemeing, en-
force rigid compliance with all their de-
1nands, live in atluence and plenty, at whose
expense? the farmer and consumer; there
fore. Patrons as a fraternity should make a
united effort to stand alone and do their
own business, and reap the benefits occurr-
ing from Il systematic union on grange prin-
eiples.
Now would it not be expedient to organ
ize a central grange depot, created under
the auspices OF Of joint stock company
with the necessary restrictions and safe
guards to protect it from loss, for the pur-
pose of handling our crops when ready for
market, with branch houses near all the
principal mines, and agents i'll the several
districts to look after government contracts,
said contracts and branch-houses to be sup
piled from the districts nearest by but all
under the general supervision of the order,
Would not the miner and consumer pur-
chase their flour and other farm products as
quick from us us from the merchant? Could
not we undersell the merchant Il trifle to Sc
care their trade? Most certainly we could
sell rs cheap to them as we could to the
merchant and stakeholder. Could We cul-
iiyate a nearer commercial relationship with
the miner and consumer. and supply them
ut their door, at prices that they would
Lave to pay at Helena, or Of the Spectator,
Mud with the understanding, "you help us
and we will help you.' We would always
lind a ready market at fair prices, and one
great stride toward success would be gained.
But the most important consideration for
Patrons of this Territory at this time, is a
purchasing agency. properly bonded with
authority to act. This should be in connec-