Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-28

in every practical manner. It helps him
to purchase his supplies
Benefit to at the lowest possible
~, ~ prices and furnishes
vac d 'ei' him with the best ia
cilities for marketing his produce. He
is put into communication with places Of
direct demand, thus doing away with
clearing houses. He is furnished with
trade catalogues containing lists Of
wholesale dealers in all the principal
cities. who have been thoroughly inves-
tigated by the grange. Their CONNER
cial ratings are furnished, so that the
farmer knowing their financial respon-
sibility may sell his own goods to ad-
vantage.
The grange controls some of the lars-
est stores in the world. and through them
the farmer is able to secure machinery
and supplies at the lowest rates. For
general supplies there are local grange
stores all over the country conducted on
a profit-sharing basis. In Maine state
grange store at Portland does an annual
business of 100000, while the Houlton
grange store in the same state last year
did a business amounting to $125,0Oo.
In the small rural villages where there
is no grange store the members OF the
local organizations Co
Grange Supply operate in ordering
their supplies from
house. grange wholesale house
and distributing them from the grange
hail. The largest general supply house
in the world is controlled by the Ma
tional Grange. 1t is located in chicago
and each year issues mammoth catd-
Iop,,e From it the members OF the
small village grange will select what they
need. order through the grange secre'a.H
and thus secure low prices and also tne
reduced freight rates made upon iaise
orders. ,+ ;s
an interesting event at village ran
road station. Perhaps one or Two cars
will be placed upon the sidetrack' ana
barrels and boxes will stand FOR a day
or two. mystifying the curious un.
they are taken into the grange room
Rocking chairs. tables and otner ar
ticles of furniture will be partially dis-
played to whet the curiosity or the
village gossips.
The grange hall is meeting placS
and furnishes the social life of the
farm. Sometimes circulating libraries
are installed and lectures and enter
tainments Of all kinds may be given.
The society also co-operates Win the
public school and aids. 1t to secure
high schools in many localities have
been largely brought about through the
influence of the grange, which desires
to have for it's young people educa-
tional advantages equal to those en-
joyed by the children Of larger towns.
From the beginning insurance of all
kinds has been made subject OF con-
sidera on by the
Insurance and grange. AS the pro-
gressive farmer must
Temperance. not neglect this self
protection. every state has reliable
fire insurance companies directed by
the grange, besides a still larger num-
Der under the national organization.
The rates of fire insurance through the
grange are lower than can be secured
by other means, and their reliability
is unauestioned. In some states fire
insurance is furnished to grange men,
bers at the annual rate of sl-oO per
81 900 value while outside companies
charge from $3.50 upward.
The grange in most cases has been
closely affiliated with the temperance
cause 1t is largely responsible for
the strict liquor laws of Kentucky and
other states 1t is responsible for local
option in Illinois. In this state also
the grange has co-operated with the
railroad company, and last year Sc
cured a two-cent passenger rate.
The matter Of cooperative, banking
is now under consideration in several
of the states, although no action has
yet been taken by the National Grange.
A cooperative bank operated by the
grange at Olathe, Kan. was establish
ed with $4,000 capital and has now
that amount of surplus.
The Pennsylvania Grange has just
issued circula' suggesting that the
members inform themselves upon the
matters of conservation of timber, nat
ural land and water powers, central
lied banks, ship subsidy and the
cheaper sale of American made goods
at home than abroad At the last
convention of the National Grange at
tention was called to the need of fair
distribution of school moneys, regula-
ton of telephone companies. improved
roads. specific taxation of mineral
products and the amendment of the
present educational laws.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS BIBLE TER
CENTENARY.