The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-10-29
SUCCESSFUL 90 OPERATION IN KANSAS
Rockingham Co., N. G.

West, despite the isolation of their
work and the ''individualism" of
their training, are to be the pioneers
of cooperation in this country. At
all events, nearly all the important
successes in cooperation during re-
cent years have been made among
them. To co operative fire insurance
companies and cooperative oream-
cries, which have now for many
years been so remarkably profitable
over widening districts, must be
added cooperative elevators in
steadily increasing number. A re-
cent letter to the Omaha "Bee"
from Solomon, Kansas, brings out
forcibly the success achieved by one
of these cooperative elevatOrs-a
success somewhat exceptionable, it
is true, because this elevator is in a
district traversed by three railroads,
not yet consolidated. For two years
the syndicate which controls most of
the elevators in central Kansas had
kept the price of wheat at Solomon
fourteen cents below that at Kansas
City, though ordinary railroad and
shipping charges accounted for a
difference of only ten oents-and
even this difference exceeded by one
half that between Chicago and New
York, where water competition helps
regulate railroad rates. At the last
session of the Legislature the farm
ers endeavOred to ecure relief by a
statute against the elevator trust,
and when their bill failed the farm
ers about Solomon organized their
co operative ass Ociation, put con
potent men in charge, and gave all
members the privilege of selling their
wheat to other elevators it they paid
one cent a bushel to the association.
This last regulation proved better
than a requirement that the mem
mers bring all their wheat to the as
ISOLATION, no matter what they we're
offered elsewhere. This is now it
worked:
From the time the farmers eleva-
tor opened it received ninety per
cent. OF the wheat marketed in Sol
ONION, while the three syndicate ele.
waters received less than ten per
cent On July Is the farmers ele-
vator was paying ftty-two cents a
bushel tor wheat, four cents higher
than the sy Indicate. The day fol
lowing, one Of the syndicates opened
the fight on the farmers elevator
by Offering fifty five cents a bushel.
This was Immediately reported to
the mana e of the farmers eleva-
tor, but instead of trying to meet
the price, az fast as the wheat came
in he weighed it, gave the owner the
correct weight, and then sent him on
TO the sy Indicate elevator to sell it at
fifty. five cents. When he got his
money, the farmer returned to the
1dE14c4S 04ONA6O4 oAu paul ia Ou0
cent per bushel, thereby netting him
fifty four cents. Fer several days
the syndicate n t only bought wheat
at a loss, but virtually paid expen
ses aad a profit besides to the in ii
tuition it was trying TO run out If
business. In less than three week.
it gave up the fight, loo ked it's ele
vatOr, and withdrew its agent from
Solomon
Another OF the syndicates attemp,
ted to block the farmers by engag
ing all the accessible freight cars on
the railroad on which their elevator
Was located This was what the
farmers most feared, for rs indlvid
uals they had been embarrassed by
inability to get cars when they had
a great deal of wheat TO ship. When
they got word arOm the road that one
of their orders for cars could not be
filed, they ds cided not to attempt to
exert pressure upon the management
of the road, but order cars Of the
agent of another road, andSe6 tearms
to hauling their wheat owe to its
station. n few days later an agent
of the first road appeared and in
spected the elevator. No complaint
was made made to him, but he was
permitted so t that a great deal Of
grain was going TO the rival road
Since his visit the farmers have had
n difficulty in getting al the cars
they want. The profits of the asso