Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-09-10
GRANGE COOPERATION.
The Foundation Needed For Success
and Few Illustrations.

and Few illustrations.
The grange will do well to give con
siderable time to the discussion of co
operation in one form or another. This
is practical work and something that
Is needed to be developed in nearly
of the most important duties of the
state to teach how to buy and sell
farm products. A writer in the Amer
lean Agriculturist of recent date sug-
gested that the grange in starting in co
operative buying and selling must ex-
pect to meet with difficulties
But manager who is honest, shrewd
and impartial. who can manage the
business in practical, conservative
manner. can pilot the venture over
many obstacles that may mean sue
cess instead Of failure. And then bic
must have the united support of the
members, who must have confidence
in each other as we'll as in the man
ager
AS an illustration of cooperation we
will take Washingtonville grange OF
Orange county. n Y. The village is
situated III the heart of the county and
is one of the largest milk producing
sections of the state. The farms are
large and very fertile and occupied by
owners who fake great pride in their
occupation. This grange has a mem
bership of Id. 1t WAS Incorporated in
1906, with board of directors of
seven members. The present officers
are Charles Tuthill, president: George
NJ Hallock, secretary and treasurer;
Roswell Shons, Charles Nicoll, Jesse
Mabee. William j. Hudson and ]. L.
Gerow. capital stock $1,000. divided
into shares of $50 each. Goods han
died are groceries. hardware, dry
goods. feeds. -four, harness, all kinds
of farm machinery, rubber goods of all
kinds. horse blankets, lap robes, shoes.
boots. fertilizers everything and any
thing that farmer wants. Payments
are cash and thirty days. Goods are
sold to anybody and everybody who
has the money, stockholders a certain
percentage off. per cent off regular
price
about 90 per cent of the grange
members patroni1e the store Five
per cent paid for all capital stock and
SIS. 700 worth of goods accumulated
from $4,000 The business pays about
20 per cent as well as a reduced cost
of goods to the consumer. Three OF
foI.a men are required TO run the store
The manager receives i good salary
Last years business amounted to $751;
$50 This year they started a black
smith shop. SO far it is very success
full. saving in first cost of shoeing
and it looks as if II would be a good
dividend earning plant.
1.-THE Patrons of the town have
learned to cooperate in $4,000 ma
tional bank. They walked right up
and subscribed in ninety days and
now have $1,000 on deposit, and
everybody is pleased. The town has
800 inhabitants. If farmers only could
realize how much they could 60 by
cooperation they would lose no time
in joining together, thereby creating a
financial incentive that would make
their occupation more desirable and
enhance the value of their homes: also
aid them III the disposition of their
products
Another writer in the same paper
at &c, 10 xrroc oh II
not know what we have got in oul
midst how many hundreds of men
the grange has developed into leaders
and speakers OF marked ability and
how many business enterprises there
are today that are paying good re
turns which perhaps for years never
paid a dollar in dividends. We cannot
hope to jump into 4 big business al
once. nor would it be advisable if we
could, but if the farmers of one grange
or of one Pomona grange will get down
from generalities to specific action. ap
point ways and means committee
that shall thoroughly work out Il work.
able plan and follow it through, learn
ing from actual experience the dangers
and pitfalls to be avoided and with a
united body back of them. throwing
out encouragement rather than slurs
and sarcasm. then we shall have taken
a long step toward the solution of the
greatest problem the farmer has to
face"
A Good Suggestion.
Squam Lake grange of New Hamp-
shire this year set an example Arbor