The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-11-06
Farmers, Association.

/ The recent meetings of the men con.
nected with the Farmers Grain and
Live Stock Association OF Lewis have
resulted in quite boom in their
!; business. Many of the members oi
this association Joined it with vague
idea that it was cooperative but with
out any definite idea as to just how it
was accomplished and the discussions
In the recent meetings have resulted
In their enlightenment. We had
never fully understood the matter uu-
til lately but think we have it down
now. and this is the idea: The men,
| bers of the association are those who
subscribe to the capital stock. They
get ten per cent on the money they in
| vest in stock. In addition they get a
share of the profits of the associa-
| tion. The accounts of the lumber,
coal and grain business are kept
/, separate and at the end of the husi-
ness year the profit in each depart
ment is figured up, after paying all
expenses, interest, etc., and this pro-
| fit Is divided back to the members of
the association who have furnished
the business. AS for example: One
| member sells a Thousand bushels of
wheat to the association, the price
does not matter, and at the close of
the years business it is ascertained
that the profit on the wheat business
after all expenses are paid is five
cents a bushel, he will have coming
to him five cents on every bushel of
that thousand, that is $50. He not
only receives the profits on the grain
he sells himself but he gets a share of
the profits made from the sales of the
grain bought from the men who are
not members of the association. In
the lumber business the profits to the
members of the association will be
even greater than in the grain bust
ness, for the greater per cent of the
buyers will not belong to the associa-
tion. The lumber bought by mem
ber of this association will actually
cost him less than the wholesale price
when his dividend is deducted from
the price he paid when he hauled it
out. That is where the cooperative
feature gets in its work and of course
only the members of the ASS sociation
reap this benefit. So it is easy to ac-
count for the boom in this business.
What is true of the grain business is
also true of the lumber and coal bust
ness. We believe il is only matter
of time till the bulk of the dealing
in heavy freights will be in the hands
OF farmers association similar to this
one at Lewis.
AT the meetings referred to, the
books of the company showed that
the profits for the preceding four
months approximated $4,000. This
will give an idea as to what the pro-
fits OF this association will be as soon
as their plant is paid for. While all
farmers living in the vicinity of this
organization are wanted as members,
still it should be clearly understood
0hdO WEST0 d udu WuO Is QOJ a
stockholder buys or sells of this
company he is getting just as much
for his grain that he sells and paying
no more for the lumber he buys than
if he dealt with any other dealer. He
suffers no injustice in dealing with
the farmers association but he does
fail to receive the benefits he would if
he were a member of the associ alton.
There will be special meeting Of
the stock holders of this associatio on
Thursday, Nov. II, 1903, for the pur-
pose of amending the bylaws and in
creasing the capital stock SO that
more of the farmers can join the as
sUciation, and such other business as
may be necessary. All stock holders
are requested to be present and a
cordial invitation is extended to all
others who are interested in this
movement to attend.