The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-07-11
COOPERATIVE STORES.
Prosress Of these Ipstitutiens in
EusIaud.

a London corresponding Oh the NEW
York Tribune has an interesting letter
on the system of furnishing supplies by
the cooperative stores, and he gives o
history Of the rise and progress made by
these stores. as follows: The happy
idea of cooperation for mutual defence
and protection occurred to some clever
persons engaged in the civil service, and
a small club was formed Indeed, il is
said that its beginning was both humble
and accidental. 1t originated thus
Only dozen years ago some clerks in
the General Post t-office combined and
bought chest OF tea, and they found
the saving 80 great that they pursued
their joint stock operations in the pur-
chase OF other articles OF daily necessity.
Their fellows in the ofiice, finding the
advantage, desired 70 JOIN the company.
It grew. They took q little room, and
fitted it up with shelves and rustic
counters; competent and trustworthy
man was placed IN charge, ana ARTICLES
OF daily nousehold consumption We're
bought at wholesaie prices and sold to
the members OF the company at the
small advance when would cover the
expenses OF the shop. Inc advantages
OF the system became more and more
patent; the number OF those desiring TO
enter the association rapidly increased,
as the knowledge OF lts advantages
widened. Then some OF the Original
members seeded from the "General
Post office Supply" and started COM
pany on q. larger SCALE. establishing
themselves in the Haymarket, under the
name of the "Civil Supply Association. "
Thus the extempore shop grew into q
warehouse; the one man who conducted
the business was multiplied by scores,
and then by hundreds OF shopmen,
porters, warehousemen, superlntendents
OF departments, buyers, and managers;
there were board OF directors, secre-
tary, and chairman. One great ware
house expanded into several, within
whose spacious limits there We're storeu
goods OF every imaginable sort, clothing,
groceries, stationery, books, furniture,
tobacco, pipes, toys, Iewelry, IN short,
almost everything from button to
helmet, that any man, woman, child,
family, might need, and all to be pur-
chased at from fifteen to twenty-five,
sometimes even fifty, per cent. lower
than they could be got from the trades
men. The rush for membership, OF
! course, became prodlgious. Barrlsters,
/ solicitors, medical men, clergymen,
ministers, actors, people OF all profes-
sions, as well as those connected with
the civil service in all it's branches,
sought admission, which could be gained
by the payment of five shillings ($1. 25)
year for membership-in token of
which you received card having your
name and number upon it.
This card has to be shown to every
shopman from whom you make a pur-
chase, and to the cashier, with whom
you settle your account on the spot
for all purchases are for cash. This
card must be renewed every year by the
payment of the same sum. The business
expanded to such great proportions that
it was found necessary to set limit tc
the number of members, and admission
into the old or first "Civil Service
Stores" as they were called, is now i'm
possible. The business has become Sc
great, has been 80 admirably, and, hon
estly administered, that notwithstand
ing that the margin of profit upon tht
Wholesale prices for defraying curren
expenses. is so small, believe a hand
some dividend accrues to the members
A ticket of membership in this old or
ganization in the Haymarkst cannot b
| got for love or money, and they are con
sidered of such Importance that they ar
frequently bequeathed IN the Wills
members. The success OF this first en-
terprise and the RESTRICTION OF Its mem
bership, OF course, caused the starting
of others, and there are now thre'
immense organizations, with severa
branches In different parts OF London
The largest, and now the best one OF all
is the army and Navy COOPERATIVE
Society, in Victoria street, Westmins
ter. This association was organized sl1
years ago, and has place all OF It's owl
at the head OF cooperative associations
The members consist OF two classes
shareholders and tlcketholders, the lat
ter including life members and annua
subscribers. The shares are OF tn
value OF 10 each, and holders OF one o
more share are entitled to partlclpate n
the profits, to deal at the stores and VIE
the tradesmen connected with the socl
ETY. without any further payment what
ever, and to have their purchases iroI
the store del1Vered 1fee OF cnarge Wlthl
a certain radius. Life members ticket
Zone gulnea) confer all the privileges e
shareholders, except participation !
the profits and management OF th
society: They VIII not be transferable
Annual SUBSCRIBERS VINO pay 81 70 I'd
first year, and sixty cents each suost
, quent year, ENJOY all the privilege
. possessed by sharenolders' excel
participation IN the prohts ana manage