The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-04
WILL MAKE THEIR
own Fertilizers
Farmers Propose to Organize
COOPERATIVE Manufactur-
ing Concern.
MEETING IN RICH M o N D
Promoters Declare They Will
Stop Paying Large
Prices.

Beginning tho fight of the farmers
of Virginia against the so-called Ter
tilizer trust, meeting has been called,
to be held in Richmond during the
State Fair, in October, to organize
cooperative factory. from which share
holders will be supplied at cost Other
farmers will be sold fertilizer at price
TO be fixed by the board Of directors
of the manufacturing company.
Tentative plans worked out by the
promoters of the warfare against the
fertilizer manufacturers include a cap
italization of not less than 100000 to
begin with. The shares Of stock are
to sell at $25 each, to be sold to Vir-
ginia farmers for cash. Large stock
holders are not desired, the promoters
preferring four persons holding one
share each to one holder owning four
shares
shy Price Is Too High.
Those behind the movement assert
that the modern price of commercial
fertilizer Is at least 30 per cent. higher
than 1t should be. ALI real or alleged
independent companies. 1t is stated
sell at the same price as the so-called
trust
Therefore 1t is proposed to establish
factory at some central distributing
point and manufacture the goods for
the stockholders. The actual cost OF
production is to be figured and the
price made to the farmer to be no
higher. There Is to be no credit, as
all sales will be for cash. If any
farmer who is a shareholder desires
credit, he may purchase to the par
value of his stock, paying 8 per cent.
interest. with the stock as security.
Even If the stock paid no dividend
1t Is thus argued that the holder would
receive 80 per cent. on his money in
the reduction of the cost price of his
fertilizer. Some fifty farmers, 1t is
ment
Assistant Attorney General w. E.
Bibb is deeply interested in the plan
and has issued a circular letter invit-
| ing all those who wish to be present at
the meeting in October, either in per-
son or by proxy. to register their names
with his firm, Bibb & Bib, at Louisa.
No one will be bound until the gem
eral subscription At the meeting, but
1t is desired to know how many farm
ers approve of the plan.
Interesting Supervisors.
Captain Bibb proposes to lay the
| proposition before the Board of SUI
pervisors of every county In the State.
4
! representa- tive get up a club of sub
scribers and appoint one or more to be
| present at the organization meeting.
Use OF convict labor in the grinding
of agricultural lime is one of the things
contemplated by the promoters. limo
being regarded as a species of erti-
| lizer. 1t win be remembered that the
! proposition was before the Legislature
at its last session. at the request OF
the State Farmers Institute. to estab-
iish quarries and use convicts In max.
ing lime. to be supplied to the farmers
OF Virginia at cost. The bill CARRYING
\ this plan passed the House, but failed
IN the Senate. Now 1t is planned that
| the Farmers Fertilizer Company pay
the state reasonable amount for the
use OF convicts for this purpose, and
stlll supply the farmers with the lime
under the former plan.