Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1913-02-21

as TO bring the largest returns at the
least cost. In word, he must 40
lis best TO become hundred per
cent farmer Then he must employ
modern business methods ia market
ing his wares. Already the farmer is
more successful as producer than
he is as buyer or seller. He has
not had and is not now getting a
fair share OF what the consumer pays
Tor the products of his farm, but Tor
this the farmer chiefly is to blame.
According To the Investigations OF
the u. 5. department OF agriculture
it costs approximately 80 per cent Of
what the consumer pays for his food.
TO get it from the farmers side track
TO the consumer kitchen.
Mr.. Yoakum OF the Frisco railroad
has pointed out that last year the
American farmer produced in round
/ numbers nine billions Of wealth. AS
Stunning that the farmer sold two
thirds of what he produced and kept
at home for his own consumption
one-third, then the material he sold
was worth at his door six billions AMI
the consumer paid Tor it at his door
/ 3 billions. In other words, it cost
more to get this material from the
farm to the consumer than the farm
er received for producing it.
Unfortunately, it is true that when
the farmer is most prosperous he is
least interested in cooperation. be-
| cause he gets along very we'll without
j.. Practically all successful cooper
alton has been born of dire necessity
The California Fruit Growers were
producing their crops at a loss ana
the destruction of their industry was
threatened when they found the rem
edy in selling collectively instead OF
individually. The truck growers of
the eastern shore Of Virginia were
facing bankruptcy and found the way
out of their difficulties through CO.
operative marketing
1t is to be hoped that we shall not
wait until forced by necessity to CO.
operate in producing and marketing
our crops and in utilizing the income
il building a higher life on the fafm.
Five Principal Lines of Cooperation
The five lines OF cooperation in
which we are especially interested az
this moment are:
/. Production. Seeking the means
of cheapening production through the
JOINT ownership of expensive or little
used machinery; i'll the purchase of
valuable sires; uniting in producing
enough Of some special crop or stock
in one neighbour GOD to attract buy
ers. Through breeding associations
or COW testing associations; through
the employing OF expert assistants TO
help in these and kindred operations;
through the employing Of county ad-
visers.
2. Rural Credit To provide CAPT
tai with which to purchase land; to
farm better; to hold crops for more
favorable markets; to make pubic
rural improvements, etc.
3. Manufacturing such as coop
eratIYe creameries, cheese factories;
cooperation in slaughtering animals,
curing meat, in storing perishable
products.
4. Insurance. Cooperation IN
carrying insurance on farm build
ings, live stock, crops, etc.
5. Buying and selling. This in
Guides distribution, selling to the
best advantage in the markets al
ready established and creating new
markets, buying to the best advant-
age the things which the farmer
needs for the conduct of his business
or the support Of his family.
All of these lines of cooperation
are necessary and in the end are per
haps of equal Importance.
If l should be called upon, how
ever, to single out the one of most
fundamental Importance, should say
1t is rural credit Perhaps the great
est single handicap of the farmer OF
today is lack of sufficient capital
to conduct his business most adj
vantageously. AT the same time /
believe these lines of cooperation
will be developed in exactly the re-
verse order in which they have been
named. That is to say, there is more
prospect of immediate Improvement
In the methods of marketing than in
the other lines named.
The Grange and Farmers Alliance
Movement
The first large attempt at CO.
operation in this country was made
in the latter part of the seventies,
tfrf -