The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-24

produce, and these checks were received
as money at the organlzatlons
stores. According to the Kansas
papers, all the stores in the Sunhower
state are now in the hands of re-
ceivers. In many cases tho stockholders
have not only lost their original invest
ment, but have had to pay an assessment
equal to twice the amount. Ii is charged
that the stores made very little reduction
in prices or improvement in goods as COM
pared with those obtainable elsew here.
Some OF the managers, it is claimed, were
either dishonest or culpably careless,
while the best OF men were ignorant of
the business, and incapable of competing
with rivals who had years of experience.
How is it that as a rule cooperative
enterprises are rarely managed as
cheaply or successfully as private under
takings? K. n. Y.
In the case of these National union
stores the trouble was that capitalists
were trying TO use the Alliance farmers.
The scheme was brought into the farmers
organization for the accomplishment of
the selfish ends of some schemers. The
stores were not truly cooperative.
Butter Packages
Mr. II. S. Matteson contributes the fol.
lowing article to the Practical Dairynla1a:
A short time ago, while on my way TO the
state convention, | stopped over few days at
Chicago. L took a stroll through its butter
commission houses and found juat what will be
found in the majority OF butter markets the
world over, the worst looking lot OF packages
that can be imagined.
Now, il would seem to almost anyone a COM
mon sense thing TO do to have The oleanest.
tidiest package possible for the purpose OF put
ting up butter to 20 on the market, and yet
I Al - 81 wlraST
found In hsh-dealers' places kits of mackerel
and other tisn in packages far more tidy in APP
pearance than were those containing butter.
In conversation with butter dealer, said:
"Don't you sometimes have trouble 20 get a
buyer TO Try a package that looks so black and
filthy"
"Yes." he said, that Is one great mistake
that dairymen in general make. They think
anything that will stand up to be shipped is all
tina. is necessary, and then complain because
their butter hangs on waiting for buyer"
Now here are points from score OF years
experience:
Never use anything but the best of packages
and have them all well and thoroughly soaked
with brine.
BE sure and keep the outside dry and clean
! while soaking.
If kept long before putting on the market
keep them in q cool, clean, sweet place away
/ from Odors OF any kind.
If cover gets soiled, get q new one; have
I them IN suoh good shape That even an express
man will notice how tidy they are. and will be
careful as he handles them, and when they
| stand in a commission house some other
| place to be sold. their very looks will call a
| buyers attention to them.
! Try this plan one season, brother dairymen,
! and see if it is all matter of theory. Some
4 who may read this will say: "Well, l saw an
/ article only last week on this package bust
! ness, and am getting tired OF it," Well, per.
! haps you did. But it you could only see the
/ packages Of butter in the different markets to.
/ day, you would feel perhaps as many men who
/ have seen them do. that every farm and dairy
paper should have an article on this in the first
/ column on the first page of every weeks issue,
/ aud il would take deal of argument then to
J convince some dairymen OF their great error,