Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-07-03
THE GRANGE And SOME OF ITS
PRACTICAL oUTGRowFHs.

As rule the Grange has not been success
full in some respects as 1t was hoped it would
be by its founders, and more especially by
those who joined it expecting that in some
mysterious manner it was to bring them great
personal benefit without any exertion on
their part. In the nature of things some dis
appointments were to be expected. Too
much was honestly anticipated by the aver
age Granger, and too much was promised by
the designing Granger, and consequently
both have failed to realize their imaginary
personal advantages. But the Grange has
not been without its beneficial resultsi in many
practical ways Among these results may be
named theeducational advantages resulting to
the farmers as a class. 1t has brought men
of the same occupation, of the same interests
and laboring under the same social and bust
ness advantages and Disadvantages, together,
and has induced them to study more closely
and more carefully both these advantages
and disadvantages, thus awakening spirit
of inquiry and investigation that without
the Intervention of the Grange would
have remained dormant. Thus the in
tellect of the farming community has
been stimulated and skarpened and strength
ened, and the better prepared to grapple
with all questions that may be presented to
it, not only touching the interests of the ag
riculturists especially, but the general inter
ests of the country, political, social or other
wise. In the stated meetings of the local
Oranges mind comes in contact with mind
thought suggests thought; opinions ex
pressed provoke the expression of opposite
opinions, and thus animated discussions arise
and multitude of subjects are suggested for
study and reflection, and a general mental
improvement follows So also the social con-
dition of the farmers, through the medium of
the Grange, has been greatly improved. One
of the greatest drawbacks to rural home
to farm lfe-has ever been the isolation from
society it has enforced. The older classes
have grown Indifferent to social improvement
and enjoyment, while the younger class have,
as a rule, been Disconnected and dissatisfied
with their homes and surroundings. Such as
this has been the condition of social life
among the farmers from time immemorial
Much has been said and written on the sub
ieet in all ages and in all countries, but the
situation has remained the same and I'M
changed until the organization and introduce
ton of the Grange. Wherever the advan-
tages Of the Grange have been understood
and appreciated in this respect, great reform
alton has followed. The Grange brings not
only the farmers together, but it brings the
farmers wives and sons and daughters into
social contact with each other, and answers
that craving for social intercourse which
formerly could only be satisfied by the aban-
donment of country and home influences for
the city with its temptations. The Grange has
also brought many important material i'm
provements among the farmers by suggesting
and introducing better and more economical
practices in the actual management of the
farm and kitchen. 1t leads to more frequent
and free interchange of thought on all mat.
ters relating to practical agriculture and
housekeeping, and thus introduces to all the
best practices of the few and more successful.
The combination of farmers brought about
through the Grange has taught this class the
more fully to appreciate their own strength
as compared to that of other industrial
classes, and they have learned TO some ex-
tent the practical benefits of personal CO.
operation and the combination of capital
Ten years ago there was scarcely a grain
warehouse outside of San Francisco and its
immediate vicinity. When the grain of the
farmer was harvested and trashed there was
no alternative but to sell it. however unsatis-
factory the price. We say no alternative,
because experience proved that to ship grain
to San Francisco, paying freight, storage and
interest on money to cancel expenses of har-
vesting, etc, was almost always equivalent
to losing the whole crop, even if by doing this
a higher nominal price was secured in the end.
Until within the past few years all the banks
and money institutions refused to loan money
on grain except in San Francisco ware
houses, and then extreme rates Of interest were
demanded. The Grange, working directly
and indirectly, through its business associa-
tons and the Grangers' Bank, has produced
great changes for the benefit Of the farmer in
all these respects. Now there ara large and
safe grain warehouses, mostly owned by
Changers, along every railroad aud navigable
river in the State, where farmers can store
their grain without being under the necessity
of paying freight and other expenses to tide.
water before it is sold Now money can be
had on grain stored in these warehouses; on
as good and even better terms, because it IS
safer in the country than in the city, than on
grain stored in city warehouses. For the
conception of these great benefits to the
farmer be is indebted mostly, if not entirely,
to the Oranges. They are the natural cut
growth of the discussions that are carried on
in the local Crsnges-the natural results Of
the stated meetings of the farmers and their
wives and sons and daughters, and the earnest
inquiries there induced, how best to in
prove the condition Of the agricultural classes.
The secondary or sccumulativo benefits
arising cut Of this improved condition of
things are not uncomfortable TO the farmers.
Business talent has been developed among
the Grange members, many of whom have
thus been brought 70 the front as the promi-
nent and successful business men of the eoun-
try, and through the association in the
Oranges the business experience of these
men becomes a part of the property of every
Granger. These are few of the tangible
benefits the Grange has brought to the
farmer, and stiil we sometimes hear Changers
ask what benefit the Grange has been and
find Changers lukewarm and indifferent
about keeping the Grange up as one Of the
Institutions of the country The truth is
that the natural isolation of the farmer is
one Of his greatest disadvantages and any
proper means of overcoming the effects of
that isolation is one of his greatest blessings.
The Grange and agricultural associations are
the farmers practical friends, and should by
al means rec.;,.n irnrn th1r, q hearth c,..,