Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-04-30
DaiIp kennrhtr Journal.
A True Economy.
COOPERATION AMONG FARMERS IN THE Own
ERsRIP AND CsE OF TooLs.

While looking at one of the new manure
spreaders on exhibition. in a dealers ware
house. recently. we learned that farmers in
some sections are organizing companies for
the purchase of such implements as are rather
costly, and not required for very frequent
use on the same farm Such an enterprise is
very much to be commended. Take, for in
stance, a neighborhood of ten farmers. each
! of whom would have use for manure spread
er, seed drill, or field roller two or three
days in year. Either one of these imple-
meuts will earn from twenty five to fifty cents
per hour, while in actual use, perhaps more !;
but no one farmer may require the use of
some of them more than half dozen hours,
or at most, two or three days in the whole
year. Under these circumstances, it is usu-
ally a serious question, reckoning the interest
on the cost, the room needed for housng
when not in use, and the wear and tear ofthe
machine, whether, on the whole, il would not
be cheaper to do the work by the old methods
or, as in the case of the roller, let the work
60 uRdone.
In many neight orhoods, the wealthy men
who aim to provide themselves with all the
necessary improved farm implements, but
they cost too much to lend, and borrowing
farmers are not always pleasant customers
to deal with. They often forget to return
casionally break something without telling of
it, and are not always willing to pay for their
use, unless it be in praise Of their good
qualities.
Now, an association of farmers might pro-
vide themselves with all the needed large and
costly impliments, without feeling the expense
| very much and would then have aperfect right
to use them all they might need. The first
step is to form real association, not an
informal and indefinite one, coming together
| by mutual consent, without either head or
rules. Let the company be formed under II
written agreement, signed by each member.
with a record of the number of shares of stock
taken by each. Then let one of the number
be chosen to have the care and control of one
or more of the implements. charging and
collecting an agreed sum per acre. or per
hour, for the use, whether used by the stock
holders or others. At the end of the year
the fund collected could be divided equally
upon the shares held. This makes perfect
ly equitable arrangement for all parties, and
when the machine needs thorough repairs, or
| is worn out, a vote of the stockholders would
fix upon the course to be pursued.
A stock company has been organized that
has successfully carried out this scheme to
the entire satisfaction of the stockholders.
| The keeper of the machines often goes out
/ 10 Work IoI Otners, using MS own team ana
divides the receipts between himself and the
company, the latter getting the rates agreed
upon. Manufacturers and dealers may, at
the first view, suspect that such cooperation
might diminish their sales. but we think ii
would rather increase them, for more ground
would be worked, and the more a machine
| is used, the sooner it is worn out, and must
be replaced. Again, there will slways
be few in every such company,
who use machines or implements a
great deal, and who will as soon as
they feel able, have one of their own for the
greater convenience Of always having it at
home when wanted. As man who already
takes two or three newspapers or magazines.
is more easily induced to take another, than
one who reads none, so a man who has learned
I the value of an implement by using it, will
be more likely to purchase. than one
who is a stanger to the merits of the machine
that is offered him. Cooperation seems TO be
the lever by which the farmer of this genera
tion may most readily lift himself to higher
level than the one he now occupies.--N. E.
| EOTusr