The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-02-14
FROM TENNESSEE.
sSHELBY CoUTNY.


Bethlehem Grange, No. 57.'
Editor Patron. That the Grange has
done good, admits of little question among
intelligent men. But to point out the good
thus accomplished is more difficult than it
at first sight seems. This is probably be-
cause the changes are of a social and in
tellectual rather than a material nature;
then, too, the revolution has been so grad
ual and general that one is at first sight
liable to lose sight of its primary cause:
hence the Grange does not get the credit
of many reforms that it indirectly brings
about.
Itaffords us a deal of qualification, then,
when we can point to changes wrought
out directly by the Grange. In this re-
spect, Bethlehem Grange has not been al
together idle, as our records bear witness.
Among the first and most important sub
iects discussed in our Grange, related to
the Nonconah Turnpike Co, which had
possession of the main roads leading into
Memphis, and charged an enormous toll
for travel on miserable road, which had
never been finished according to the pro-
visions of their charter. After a commit
tee of the Grange had reported these and
other facts, the citizens employed attor-
neys and sued the company, and finally
not only had the gates thrown open, but
obtained Judgment for several hundred
dollars. Thus the Grange was the means
whereby thousands of dollars have been
saved to the people.
Our Grange, too, first took the initiatory
step toward co operating in the purchase
of Supplies, ETC. Through our Grange,
the principal livery stables in Memphis
reduced their rates of feeding, hiching,
etc. Last year we undertook to work a
Grange crop. This idea produced consid
cradle ridicule among the non-Granger
part of the community; but in spite of
difficulties, the Grange obtained Il bales
of cotton from five acres of land, at tri-
fling cost to each member. Elated at this,
the Grange embarked in nobler enter
prise, and established at this place, Nov.
| 3, 1879, the Farmers Cooperative Asso-
citation" with minimum capital of ST., 900.
So far, the results are gatifying. Up to
| Jan. 1, 1885, the two months sales amour
ted to 81 800. The store has sold, in addi-
ton to other things, three hogsheads of
sugar. "a hogshead of sugar" is some
thing never seen in Copleville before.
| The store proposes to furnish US supplies
at Memphis prices" besides paying back
a dividend on our purchases. A dividend
will be declared on April Ist The Asso-
citation could probably pay per cent
now. We pay our manager s36 and our
clerk $24 per month, and pay s per cent
on the capital invested. We have at pres
ent % stockholders, owning from one to
forty shares at SIS per share Some over
| prudent men are standing at a distance,
suspicious of a great 'bust up," but many
| others are sanguine of its success, and
mean to stick to it to the last SIS
The Grange does not feel that its work
is finished, but only just begun. There are
weightier and far more important consid-
erations yet ahead. Some of our leading
members are growing warm on the sub
ject of a "new process" cotton factory, and
when they give the word, it will go up.
FRED. M. MALONE, Sec'y.
Copeville, Feb. E.