The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-10-10
TRE BUSINESS AGENCY AND The
SHOR FACTORY.

In the early days Of the Alliance,
some Of our most practical brethren II
casting around for features beneficial
to the membelsIi conceived the idea
of a State Business Agency through
which the members of the Order would
be enabled to purchase any article they
might need and be assured they would
get what they ordered in quality as
we'll as kind, without making q per
sonal visit to their market town.
To place this BIsiness Agerc7 on a
solid basis, one that would give it com
mercial rating, so that its orders would
be respected by the wholesale trade
and manufacturers in any market, re
quired the raising of a fund to stand
back Of it. As to the comparative ease
with which this fund was raised IL
familiar to every Fergon who was q
member of the Alliance in it's early his
tory. Permit me to Say just here that
this fund is q monument to orgauiza.
ton that speaks louder than words.
The promoters of the Business Agency
in their first endeavors to establish the
Agency on a permanent footing, man
aged with we'll defined business prin-
ciples, probably failed to see the full ex'
tent of the blessings they we're confer
ring on the farmers of North Carolina
All honor to these worthy men!
The savings to them directly trace
able to the State Business Agency,
amounts to several times the amount
of the fund subscribed for its use. In
the item Of sewing machines alone
there has been a saving probably OF
not less than $780, 600 to $50. 900. In
harvesting and other machinery I
have no means Of making any estimate
Of the amount saved. The priees Of
fertilizers generally have been reduced
to every farmer in the State through
the action and influence of the Business
Agency. In this way all the farmers
have been bettered through the ALI.
ar &c, whether they have been mem
bers or not. Nor is the saving in prices
the only way the Agency has been Of
benefit to the members of the Alliance.
The State Business Agent sought out
wholesale dealers and manufacturers
who had built up business and repu,
tation by selling good goods and using
honest methods. In this way every
member who traded through the
Agency was assured that he would be
fairly dealt with and the goods bought
would be of the best quality. This
principle has been maintained by each
successive State Business Agent from
the first until now, and has been ep-
piled in the purchase of every article
from the tiny cabbage seed to a steam
engine.
There is no class that reeds to be more
particular than farmers as to quality
of goods they purchase, and especially
does this apply to seeds. As you SOW
80 shall you reap, is as applicable to-
day ss when fret spoken, and applies
to seeds as we'll as other things. And
by purchasing inferior seeds, you will
lose many times the cost in the les
sened yield Of the crop, to say no. hing
about the disappointment.
But the Agency, to be OF the most
benefit to the brethren, must be used
by them. IL stands ever ready to help
every memGer who sends his or her
order to it. The most convenient and
best way is to send your orders through
your County or Sub Agent. He con pe
bonded and HE orders will have prompt
attention, even if the money does not
accompany the order. But If mo- con
venient TO send your order through
your County or Sab Agent, you can
send direct TO the State Business Agent,
and it will have attention.
These who have patroniz9d the
Agency most, appreciate it's benefits
most. While it's benefits have been
general, in pulling down the big profits
of ten years ago to the small margin of
to day, yet it's special and best benefits
are reserved for those who ~patronize
1t. The State Business Agent will be
glad to quote prices or give any infor.
nation that he can, and will cheerfully
answer any letters sent him. Don't
think him too busy, nor that he has no
time to answer your questions. He
will give to any n what information
he can, and if q question is asked that
he cannot answer he will frankly tell
you 30.
Now just a word in regard to the
shoe factory. 1t is your factory; be
longs to every member of the Alliance.
whether new or old, and should be pat
ronized by all. OF one thing the mem.
bershiD may be assured: the factory