Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1913-09-04
The ~
NATIONAL
~ GRANOE
Conducted by Charles M. Gardner. Editor
OF the National Grange, Westfield. Mass.
COOPERATION is SUCCESSFUL
Manager Of Patrons Fire and Tornado
Association Of Kansas Gives
Out Figures.


Ever since the grange was organized
various lines Of business cooperation
have been carried out. and some OF
them have been conspicuously success
full, returning thousands of dollars Of
saving to the members who thus com
bined.
A striking example of such success
full cooperation is furnished by the
Patrons Fire and Tornado association
Of Kansas, which is In every sense
grange undertaking, and which has
Just closed its twenty-third consecu-
tive year of successful operation. The
manager is George Black of Olathe,
who recently retired from the chair an
master of the Kansas state grange.
For the year ending December 81.
the company reports a total of risks
amounting to $16,180,093. net gain
for the year of $1,944,16S. The total
amount of fire insurance written dur
ing the year 1912 was 1888, 767 and
Of tornado insurance s1,364, 420. max
ing a total of new business written
$3,998, 1877. The total premiums cob
lected during the year amounted to
500 ,33934 and the amount of losses
paid was $23,339.98. One hundred
and ninety losses were paid during the
year and a balance remained on hand
December 81 of $2206.76, after pay
all the bills Of the year.
How the company has kept pace
with the growth of the grange In Kan
sas, during recent years is also appar-
ent from the figures: In 1906 the
grange had 7S subordinate oranges
and 1880 members. The report to the
state grange in December of this year
nate oranges and over 1900 mem
bers. The grange has doubled its
oranges and membership in six years.
During the year 1906 this association
increased it's risks until in 1907 it was
carrying $6,000,000 of risks; in 1908
it was carrying over $1,000, 900; In
1909 the increase was over $4,000, 900;
in 1910 the net gain was over $1,000
900; in 1911 the gain was $2,3S5, ITO;
and about the same gain last year,
bringing the total of risks carried up
to s16,180,093
In his annual report this year, Man
ager Black gives much information on
such grange cooperation as running
fire insurance company, and says,
among other thaings:
THE grange occupies Fl counties In
Kansas. Some Of these counties have
all the subordinate oranges needed.
but the membership In each grange
might be increased and new blood in.
jected into them. The Kansas state
Of the grange in new counties, but the
policy holders In counties organized
might be OF great aid In increasing
the membership Of the grange they
belong to. We have few policy hold
ers who, to get the benefit of the in
surance, Joined the grange, took out
insurance for five years, paid their
dues for Ave years and never went
near the grange again. If all the
members we're like that in the grange
II would be dead today and their in
surance no good. If we are going to
work together for a certain purpose,
and expect to accomplish that purpose,
each must do his share Of the work.
you must remember that insurance
is not all Of the grange, and that the
great question Of cooperation is at
tracing the attention of all people.
The manner of the grange co-operat-
ing in the purchase of supplies and In
the sale of farm products has now
been taken up and In the next year
will be thoroughly on its feet OPP
portunity Is knocking at the door of
the agriculturist now; the great body
of the consumers are growing more
numerous while that of the agricul-
turist is growing less, and the great
problem of the future Is not Of par
tisan nature, but of hungry people
clamoring to be fed within their
means. The grange, the greatest or
ganization ever offered to the Ameri-
can farmer, realizes this fact and is
looking after these important features.
and those of our membership who
have joined the grange for insurance
alone, had better use their best en-
deavors In building up the grange for
what there is to come to them along
other lines, and can assure you that
the insurance win take care Of itself"