Imperial Valley press., 1913-06-21
FARMERS LEAoUED IN
COOPERATIVE CORPORATION

JOfNSTOWN, Pa, June 2i.-Satis
NED, that by the use Of cooperativ,
methods the profits Of their farm:
could be greatly increased, farmers O
Adams township, one Of the most pic.
luresque agricultural sections in The
Allegheny mountains, today are work
ing out the details pursuant to form
ing a corporation which will contro
practically every acre Of land in tha
section.
1t was while number Of the husk,
mOuntalneers were discussing current
topics in the village grocery store al
SANK one evening not long ago thai
the proposition was first suggested
That the cooperative system had been
money naked in other states was
pointed out. Fruit growers Of the Pa
cfic states have trust" cotton grow
ers have an organization in the South
and in the New England and Middle At
lantic states the powerful organizations
Of the poultry dealers and truck gard
eners have flourished for many years.
These facts were the principal topics
of discussion in the village store for
and the plan explained to them. 1t
was an immediate 'hit," and now it is
learned that within a short time steps
will be taken to effect a permanent or
ganiZatioD.
The plan OF the Salix farmers is to
form a corporation In which all the
farms in this section will be worked on
the cooperative plan. Every farmer
will be a stockhOlder in the company.
He will oversee the work on his own
farm, care for his own crops, and when
the harvest season has arrived his farm
will be visited by directors or agents
OF xxrtl III -
charge Of the produce and its sale. The
farmer will get his share of the profits
when the dividend is declared.
The association will elect board
Of directors. 1t is said that practically
every prominent farmer in that section
will become a stakeholder in the new
association.
Higher prices for butter, eggs and
other farm produce are paid in this
part Of Pennsylvania than are paid in
New. York City. The land is fairly
fertile in the valleys, but there is al
ways a shortage of produce, and the
truck, butter and eggs. Owing to Gle
limited acreage Of tillable soil, and
The rapidly increasing population, prices
are expected to go even higher.
This year, due in a great measure to
the frOsts, there promises to be an
even greater shortage, and it is eX-
pected that prices will again soar be-
fore the summer is many weeks older.
The farmers of Adams township are
q greed that the sooner the association
is formed and put into operation, the
better it will be for them. They hope
to be able to set their own prices for
green goods and dairy products this
year.
The association will have charge Of
the sale Of all the farm and dairy prod
ucts. as well as Of chicken and other
poultry. This section produces a large
amount Of the food consumed by Cam
bria county's many large and growing
coal, steel and railroad towns. Much
Of the produce also is sent into Somer-
set county, where large coal companies
are operating.
The state grange and its branches
have long been advocating the coop
erative plan. In number Of sections
in this part Of the state cooperative
stores are being planned 1t is said
that Salix will also have a cooperative
store, which will place practically the
entire business of the little town in the
hands of corporation. 1t is said that
the grange idea of cooperative system,
which has been discussed here by local
farmers for more than year, is re-
sponsible in a large measure for The in
ceptiOn Of the cooperative iJrming
scheme.