Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-16

l3. but one company submitted bids
the Eowker. The price named was so
high your committee did not feel like
making contract at the price named,
so we come before you, with no con-
tract, this year. The use Of the grange
special fertilizer has been gradually
falling off each year. The manufac-
| turers say that more is used by the
Patrons under the contract they cam
not give US satisfactory reduction in
prices
Conservative estimates of the amount
| of commercial fertilizers used in the
State annually place it at about 1900
| tons. Last year only about 400 tons of
| the grange goods were used, or sold UNI
der the contract. The manufacturers
say that could they sell one-third or
e-fourth of the $4,000 tons under the
contract they would make satisfac-
| tory reduction in price. Patrons, the
question of cooperation along these
| lines is in your hands. Your commit
tee is powerless unless backed by you.
The attention of the Executive Com
mittee was called to the condition of
Grange cottage at Good Will Farm. We
presume most Of you know that the
State Grange, aided by most Of the SUI
| coordinate oranges of the State, built a
cottage for girls at Good Will Farm
in 1897. Funds have been taken from
time to time from the treasury of the
State Grange to keep III repair this cot
tage. Brother Hayford Of the Execu
| tive Committee was made a special
committee to examine and make neces-
sary repairs. A statement of condi-
ton and repairs will be given in his re-
port.
We believe nothing more commenda-
| BILE has ever been done by the State
Grange than the building, furnishing
and keeping in repair of this home for
| homeless girls and we may add, no
charitable institution in our State is do
| ing more for the good of humanity than
Good Will Farm.
| 1t was deemed advisable that the in
| terest Of the order should be represent
| ed by special committees at the last
session of the Legislature. The same
committee that served in 1901 was re-
| tanned.
| Two of the most important measures
| that the committee worked for was the
allowing of parallel telephone lines and
| taxing corporation stocks. In the for
mer measure they were successful and
| it has been instrumental in extending
| the service to many a rural home. The
| bill to tax corporation stock was de-
| feated in the Senate. Could the bill
have been passed it would have added
thousands of dollars to the revenue of
| the State. The Legislative committee
| will give a detailed report of this work.
| The growth and development of the
order in the State for the past year
| has been remarkable. The membership
is now more than 10000. a gain for the
year of nearly 5000. But very little
complaint has been made to your COM
| mittee from subordinate oranges in re-
gard to disturbing causes. We believe
they are generally living up to the rules
| and regulations of the order. We have
cndeavored by special deputy work to
| extend the order to every desirable part,
| of our State. Oranges that have been
| established on the border are making
commendable growth and are full of
| enthusiasm for the work.
| We have examined and approved bills
for the amount of $9699.27. An item
| lied statement of these bills well APP
| pear in the report of Secretary Libby.
| The receipts from all sources have
been $9476.9S, being $222.29 less than
| the expenses. The resources of the
| State Grange OH Sept. 30, 1903, were as
follows: Stock in cooperative store at
| Portland. $5S40; balance in treasury
$4901. 90, making in round numbers SILL
| 600.
| The question of how large a surplus
| is profitable or wise is one on which we
may honestly differ. Your committee
are of the opinion that sum large
enough for any possible emergency is
all that is profitable to reserve in an
order of any kind. The funds taken
from the subordinate oranges should
be used for legitimate expenses, for ex-
| tending the order and for Strengthening
| the oranges of the State.
| 1t is sometimes interesting and in
structive to take retrospective view of
our work and compare with our pres
ent. Looking back period of six years
we find the grange in our State reported
as having a very successful year. The
| total membership at that time was
21,515; net gain for the year, 1872; total
value of grange property, $13S,S70.6a.
| At that time very few of the officers
conferred the degrees without the aid
of the manual. There was but one de-
|
| Grange, No. 4.
| At the present time our membership
| is over 10000, gain for the year of
between 5000 and 5000. The value of
| Grange property is over 100000. The
secret work is nearly uniform and is
| given in most cases without the aid Of
| the manual There are several fine de-
gree stats and auxiliaries. One at En-
| celsior Grange, Poland, is composed
wholly of sisters. Nearly so new grange
halls have been built and many remod-
ellcd.
The prosperity of the grange is re-
| Elected in large agricultural prosperity,
| in more attractive farm homes adorned
with flowers and trees and we'll kept
lawns. There is less desire for change
! of occupation and there are fewer
abandoned farms.
Your committee wish to extend their
thanks to the members of the order
| throughout the State for. their hearty
| cooperation in the work and the aid
| they have rendered in extending and
| building up the order in our State.