Evening journal., 1913-04-18
COOPERATIVE
FARMING TO
SAVE WEALTH
Southern Growers Have Plan
to Keep Six Billion Dollars
in Their Pockets
POOR METHODS ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR LOSS

RICHMOND. Va. April 17-On the
theory that the farmers of Dixie an
nually lose six billion dollars which
they might receive for their crops
under proper systems of production
and marketing. a great cooperative
movement has been launched here at
a farmers conference, the sixteenth
educational meeting OF its kind TO be
held in the South In the two-day
program will appear two score
authorities on agriculture. finance
aud general organization. many Of
them successful farmers themselves.
II was pointed out that the virtual
waste OF six billion dollars is caused
by poor farming methods. unwise
borrowing Of money and the purchase
Of supplies the farmers themselves
could produce. II Is proposed that
the farmer market his crop co-opera-
lively: buy goods In the same man
ner. and borrow money from CO.
operative societies. This plan. those
behinl the movement claim, will adj
TO the farmers income; he will be
able to spend more on the pleasant
as well as the useful things Of life.
10 build better roads. to maintain bet
ter schools, and TO make country life
better in every way.
This would also have the effect OF
checking the exodus from the farm to
the cities. promoters Of the idea de-
clare With this increase in the rural
population. when the Young people
find life the gayer, will come in time
an increase in the amount of food
stuffs raised and a corresponding de-
crease in the cost Of living.
Prof John Lee Coulter, expert
special agent for the Census Bureau.
has estimated that the value OF all
southern farm products IS s2,5OO,-
600. 600 a year. but that they cost con-
sumers twice that amount Southern
farmers. he estimates. spend most Of
their two and a half billions for farm
supplies, food. clothing and the like.
and Of this one billion goes to the
middlemen of all classes Southern
agriculturalists. Coulter also figures,
lose an additional two and half bill
lions each year because of poor farm-
ing methods. They could double their
WELD by crop diversifcation and other
improvements. If It were not for the
"adyance system" under which the
creditor forces the farmer to plant
"cash crops" year in and year out
This financing of the Southern farm
Is one Of the biggest questions 10 be
considered by the conference. II is
estimated that the farmers south OF
Mason and DiSons line lose S163,.
100000 yearly because Of excessiy,
interest rdtes-much of which the,
might retain IL they controlled theii
own credit systems and agencies fol
marketing and buying.
Among the experts who will start
the cooperative movement by speak
ing at the conference here are J. c
Caldwell. of Lake6eld, Mimi: A. O.
Nelson. OF Svea. Minnesota; A. l.
Hacker. who will detail the results
of Minnesota cooperative creameries
and c. w Moomaw. w. j. Shuford, r
NJ Mckee. who were organizers OF
the Virginia Fruit Growers Associa-
ton. Eastern shore of Virginia Pro-
duce Exchange. Catawba County. n
c.. and Woodford County. KY. Co
operative organization Prof. Coulter
will also discuss practical plans fol
organization OF cooperative move
ments.
One OF the features of the confer.
ence will be an interstate meeting oi
State and County superintendents