Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-11-12
GROWS
Practical Work of the. Grange
Along This Line.
Some Facts and Figures Taken From
Reports Of Cooperative Enterprises
In Several New England States.
Money Saved to Members.

operation is the grange. Maine and
Vermont have many local oranges
with grange stores. There is a large
amount Of cooperative buying Of
grains, fertilizers, ETC., In carload lots
apart from these grange stores. The
famous grange cooperative enterprise
at Houlton, Me-, has been before COM
mented upon in these columns.
The last report available from this
store covers the period Of Dec. 10, 1908,
to June 10. 1909. and figures are as fol-
lows Flour sold, $10.623; sugar, $4,995;
grass seed, $11.3 300 A summary of the
work thus far this year shows a bust
ness of $164,974. The running expense
for the same period has been $500.
Speaking about Connecticut condi-
lions, State Master Hadley says that
much is being done in the way of as
ISOLATED effort. About year ago a
Patrons cooperative association was
formed, and many dollars have been
saved members.
Concerning the situation in Maine,
State Master Stetson says: I'm CO
operative stores there are six that I
know of which will do a business Of
$685. this year. 1t Is probable that
the stores Of which am not informed
and the oranges which buy in carload
lots will amount to as much more"
Last year Massachusetts state grange
formed strong Patrons cooperative
association, which is a society incor-
porated under the laws of Massachu-
sets, with capital stock Of $25, 900.
Since Jan. l the association has made
sales Of 100 cars of grain, Is cars OF
-four and 795 tons of fertilizing ma
terial, has paid for grain $4,000, for
-four $4,000, for fertilizer SOS, 900, for
various other products a total of sew
eral thousand dollars more. On this
basis it is figured that $1,000 to $4,000
was saved members on fertilizers,
$1,000 on -four and $4,000 on grain
Still further, it has been a saving to
the farmers in general. inasmuch as
the regular trade has cut profits and
prices somewhat to meet the prices of
the cooperative association.
Nowhere In the country is grange
fire insurance developed more strongly
or satisfactorily than in New Eng
land. The state oranges of Maine,
New Hampshire, Vermont Massachu-
sets, Rhode Island and Connecticut all
have fire insurance companies Aug.
] of this year the Massa chusetts state
grange had outstanding insurance OF
more than $3,05S.371. Commenting on
this, K. d. Howe, secretary of the
company, says, "Fully 95 per cent OF
this amount is on property Of Pa
irons"
The surprising total OF $4,000 900 in
risks is what State Master Stetson re-
ports from Maine He says: I'VE have
three fire insurance companies carry
ing risks approximating $20,OOO,OOO.
The present years assessment Of the
company doing the largest business in
the state will be $1.50 per 81, 900 OF In
surance. In addition to this work the
Maine state grange built and takes
care Of cottage at Goodwill Farm,
which provides home for fifteen
homeless girls. At this time we are
collecting money from the oranges to
establish permanent scholarship fund
for one pupil"
OF New Hampshire State Master
Hadley writes: "Our state grange has
not done a great deal in late years by
way Of cooperation only in fire and
| life insurance. Our fire insurance COM
pany has succeeded for eighteen years
or more and is now carrying about &c.
900 900 worth of fire risks The rate
is per cent for three years"
The grange in Rhode Island Is turn
ing the cooperative wheel. State Mas
ter Marchnnt has the following to
say: "While we have never attempted
any cooperative stores in Rhode Is
land, our members have saved many
dollars from the familiar trade card
system. Cooperation In the purchase
of fertilizers has not been as general
as could be wished, but the oranges
| located on the island Of Rhode Island
have for years had their fertilizers
| (approximated several hundred tons
annually mixed at the factory under
direction Of the oranges Thus came
saving of several dollars ton as
compared with the commercial price.
Probably the greatest financial coop
erative benefit has been derived from
insurance. Our fire relief association
started business in 1901, and the rate
of premium charged has been about
one-half that charged by stock COM
panies on farm property. Our compa-
ny is carrying more than 100000 In
risks, has paid all losses promptly and
has balance of 5000 in the treas
ury."
The constitution of the national
grange distinctly says that no grange
can confer more than two degrees on
the same candidate at the same meet
ing. 1t is not within any state mas
ter's power to set aside or modify the
constitution. 1t is however, perfectly
proper for grange to call as pecial
session for the purpose Of comforting