Mower County transcript., 1892-06-15
A Farming Corporation.

Mr.. Wilbur Aldrich believes that
farming companies and corporations are
just as possible and can be made as prof
liable as any other business associations
Farmers have been unsuccessful as
money makers because they have not
employed the mighty instrument Of
business organization. In his Judgment
there is no reason why farmers should
not succeed in cooperative enterprises
as we'll as oilmen, grocers, milk dealers
and sugar refners. All they require is
to wake up and exercise the talent for
organization which they certainly pos
sess in common with the rest of hu-
manity.
Mr.. Aldrich has written book called
'Farming Corporations" in which he
outlines plan that he believes would
be successful, and would in time lift the
farmer entirely out Of the clutches of
those who now pick him to the bone.
Great business corporations of agricul-
turists are to be formed. City people,
however, and anybody having spare
cash may become members of the cor
poration, taking stock and receiving
dividends. Cash and considerable of it
will be needed to purchase tools and
machinery, to erect buildings, etc.
The Rural New Yorker has summed
up the A1drich plan as follows:
Briefly stated, a number of farmers, business
men, farm and city labOrers and others form a
corporation, putting in land, tools, stock, fx-
lures and cash, receiving in exchange certifi-
Gates Of stock. miller, storekeeper. carpen-
ters and others enter on equal terms with
farmers. The whole thing is to be run as a
manufacturing or business corporation would
be run-with president, manager, board Of d.
rectors, etc. All members, farmers store
keeper, carpenter, etc., are to be paid regular
salaries, and In addition receive proportion
ate eshare of the profits. For example, a farmer
turns over farm and stock worth $500 and re-
ce1ves fifty shares at 500 each. He grows the
crops decided upon and receives salary. say
Of $500, besides the board for his family.
At the end of the year, If there is profit
enough to pay 4 per cent. interest, he also re-
ceives $500 more-the interest on his stock.
Such a farmer IS expected to work as the d.
rectors Of the association suggest. In case he
- UAoos@tAeAeN uS nsao Iuo xl8uC 10 give up MS
stock and take back his farm, paying for all
improvements the association may have made
on 1t. An association Of fifty farmers will
make more profit than fifty Farmers working
as individuals, because 1t will lave the charges
that now 60 to middlemen. For example, the
miller, blacksmith, storekeeper and carpenter
all work for fair salary. The profits OF for
mer years all go to the general fund from
which all will draw their fair proportion. A
canning factory, cold storage house, creamery
and other necessities can be started with an
assurance Of a full business. All the differ
ence between Wholesale and retail trade or
labor can be saved.
Fertilizers, seeds, tools, coal, food, etc., can
be bought at the lowest prices for fifty families
and make trade enough for large store
Gangs Of men can be sent about from farm to
farm to finish up haying, seeding, potato dig
gtng or corn cutting at one Job, using all the
improved, labor saving TOOLS All this cheap
ems the cost while the abundance and uni
form1ty Of the product will enable the man.
ayers to sell to much better advantage.
Hired men are to be invited to join. It is
thus expected to obtain better service and to
encourage worthy young men and women to
invest their savings in a profitable and helpful
ont &