The Florida agriculturist., 1908-01-01
Cooperation Among Poultrymen.

operation in buying supplies and SELL
ing produce. Nearly always the sub
ject is brought up by someone who
of gain at both ends of the business
which they think cooperation offers.
To all such we have replied that one
of the first requisites to a successful
cooperative scheme is a man in whom
the people have confidence to do the
most of the work, and to do much
work without compensation, in spirit
of public service.
Cooperative experiments among
poultrymen have nearly always been
short lived, but it does not follow
that such will always be the case
The latest to come to Our notice is
one at Hollister, CAL, from an ac-
count of which in the Fanciers'
Monthly, we quote the following:
Mr.. F. C.. Debb, now president of
the association, had endeavored to in
terest Our poultrymen in the good
work which an association could do,
but without success until the present
time, when the high cost of feedstuffs
with the exactions of the express COM
pany aroused them to the need of
cooperative action, with the result
that at the present writing the as
sociation which was organized tenn
porarily July 9th, now has member
Ship of sixty-two, comprising practi-
cally all the shippers in this vicinity.
Shortly after organization, we re-
quested the leading merchants handl
ing feedstuffs, and the local warehouse
company to make us a proposition
to furnish all our poultry supplies,
making price at the car and at the
warehouse. Only one merchant made
us such proposition, the other mer-
chants combining in a proposition to
furnish us supplies, when taken from
the car, not less than five tons, at
net cost prices, the association to be
responsible for cash payment on de-
livery. In quantities less than five
tons, regular retail prices were to be
charged; but they failed to enlist the
Hollister Rochdale Company in the
combination. This latter corporation
has made us a very favorable pro-
position, which has been accepted as
per contract which I enclose
To give an illustration Of the direct
benefits: We have hereto paid not
less than $3.50 per sack for beef
scraps; car is now on the way which
will cost us less than $2.75 per sack.
Another very favorable feature is that
in purchasing bran, middlings, etc., we
can be governed by the protein con-
tent, as shown by the analysis, thus
getting at bed rock.
We sent a representative to the city
from the express company, which
would put the express rate enough
lower to make up for the recent addi
ton of S cents return charge, and
drayage charge of cents in the city,
but thus far have failed to secure such
a concession, and at present we are
perfecting plans for freight shipments.
There is at present tariffs difference
in favor of freight Of about fifteen
cents per case, which would make
quite respectable showing in years
shipments.
Another of the results Of co-opera-
ton is a proposition from local
warehouse man to purchase all our
eggs, paying us a stated price based
on city quotations, furnishing cases,
paying for eggs when received, ETC.;
but as this has not as yet taken con-
crete form, no action has been taken.
1t would seem to be for the ad-
vantage of the California poultrymen
to form local associations along CO.
operative lines. This is an age of
cooperation, and the capitalists
should not have all the benefits of
combinations. The poultry business
in this country has grown to large
proportions, and to meet with success
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