Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-03-19
BAY STATE PATRONS,
Encouraging Report on Literary
Work of the Grange.

Savings on Farm Supplies Antici-
pated.
The thirty-sixth annual session Of
the Massachusetts state grange was
held in Worcester The grange was
never in a more prosperous condition
In that state There are now $4,000
members, an increase of 1880 the last
year
Carleton b. Richardson of West
Brookfield, master of the state grange,
In his annual address said that the SUI
preme work of the grange could not
be determined by the numerical
strength, but by agricultural sentiment
dominating in the lives of its members.
The agricultural school at Montague
ampton would not have been realized
but for the active influence of the
Order. Education must be the one
great subject to engage the attention
of patrons.
The annual report of Secretary w.
n. Howard disclosed the fact that in
the past five years the number of
oranges has grown from 1859 to 219
and the number of members from
16, 1913 to PASS. For the first time in
the history Of the organization the re-
ceipts at the secretary's Office have ex
ceeded $4,000 during the year Pomona
oranges contributed $500 in the special
per capita of cents a quarter for
members.
State Lecturer Gardner presented
some interesting statistics. He said
the literary work in the grange had
been particularly encouraging. There
have been 1850 debates and discus
sions, in which 12,769 persons partici-
pated. There had been prepared and
read 1851 papers, which were discuss
ed by over 5000 members; 1924 speak
ers addressed grange meetings. $500
rendered vocal selections, T. $50 instru-
mental selections; 6,527 gave readings,
and dramatic features to the number
Of 653 have been presented during the
year, in which nearly 5000 people par
ticipated The total number of per-
sons contributing something to the lit
erary work during the year was $4,000
The combined attendance at grange
meetings was 2S0,S44.
To ascertain the amount of money
expended by the grangers In Massa-
chusettS for the necessities of life the
committee on cooperation held four
teen meetings. \ series of questions
was also addressed to every sub
ordinate grange, which elected the fol-
lowing facts: Amount expended by the
grangers in Massachusetts for grocer
les and provisions. $2,S70. 400: clothing
1868 400: coal, $3S5,S25; boots and
shoes, 1903, 140 grain, 50, l04, 80; fer
tilizers, S5G1 900. From these transac-
lions the committee figures that at the
lowest estimate the grange can save
Oh flour $4,000, on fertilizers $4,000,
on grain $273.61i and on groceries and
provisions $2S7 900 and on these four
items alone enough to save every fam
lily in the Order $50 year in cash, or
about $1,0O0000 on the total. 1t was
found that on orders received from
forty-seven different oranges for -four
1t was able to save dollar per barrel,
on approximately 546 tons of grain SO
per ton was saved, and on thirty tons
of fertilizer $l25 was saved. The COM
mittee recommended. among other
things, that the grange incorporate u
company with capital of $4,000,
with shares of 50. to be sold to mem
bers only, the state grange to have
no other official connection with it
than to indOrse the movement This
recommendation of the committee was
later adopted and corporation has
been organized, with capital stock of
$3.50 The manager has headquar-
ters in Boston.
The grange fire insurance company
reported risks outstanding Dec. l at
S3.1SS,22S and the number of policy
holders 2,065
Among the resolutions adopted was
one to establish subeXperiment sta
tons about the state. Another called
for more stringent regulations of the
speed of autos on the country roads.
The parcels post proposition was ia
vored, and legislation to prevent the
aepreda lions Of deer was another mat
ter favored by the grange. The milk
standard called out lengthy discus
sion There was a diversity of opin-
lon as TO what the standard should
be, and it was finally tabled. awaiting
the decision Of the supreme court on
the constitutionality of the present
milk law.
George S. Ladd, chairman of the
executive committee, concluded his re-
port in these words, which should be
rmblazoned on the walls Of every
.range in the United States: Let us
ask for nothing that we do not need
Or say anything we do not fully feel,
but demand instant justice and then
show the world we will be satisfied
with nothing else. Let us take no ac-
ton at this meeting. Let us pass no
resolution that we are not DreDared TO