Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-08-11


by cooperating and therefore it was de-
cided TO start shipping operations ON
September, LIST, 1872 From September
LIST to about the middle of March 1881
bushels of potatoes, two cars of hay
and three cars of apples Were marketed.
Inquiries have been received from
many sections asking how much more
the farmers realized for their stock than
by the usual methods of marketing. This
Is a difficult question to correctly an ,
swer owing to the changed conditions re-
sulting from the cooperative movement
For example, when the Union started
loading at a station the buyers immedi-
ately advanced prices to meet the price
of the Union and in some cases paid
more than the market price When the
Union started loading at Kingman the
buyers were paying 81 per Dbl. of 1b5
pounds and the price secured by the
Union netted the farmers Sl36 the Dbl
AS soon as the buyers discovered the
amount being paid by the Union they
advanced the price to ST. 80 and finally to
81 IS and from that time forward the
price paid by the buyers was fully up to
the market and in fact no one could
load at the prices paid and make profit
and in many cases there would be net
loss. Under ordinary conditions the price
received by the stockholders who loaded
their own stock ranged from $l5 to s.
more per car than the buyers paid.
It mattered not where the Union start
ed loading there was an immediate raise
in the price paid the object being to dis
courage the farmers from shipping their
own stock through the Union. If, how
ever, the market reports can be accepted
as a guide, the farmers received about
10 cents the bushel more this season than
| in the seasons past.
The Unions transactions along fertil
izer lines showed an actual saving to the
farmers. In 1871 the Aroostook Potato
| Growers, Association of Pressure Isle re-
duced the price of fertilizer u per ton.
AS soon as this WAS made known TO the
companies they met the reduction ana
went so cents per ton lower. This redhc-
ton took place only within the jurisdtc
ton of this particular Exchange and al
through Central Maine the old price was
maintained. However, the next season
the Farmers Union started operations
with the same reductions and the com
panies met the price all over the state.
IL IL estimated that 4hdliie USES l5U,O'i
tons of commercial fertilizer, therefore
the starting of the cooperative move
ment by the agricultural department act
ually brought saving of 100000 to the
farmers of Maine in this one importan,
article. 1t cost the State about $1,000 II
organize the farmers, therefore the net
gain was over s250,000, which was GER
tainly very large returns.
On June "a. last, the Farmers Union
Grain and Supply Company was organ
} lied at Waterville and capitalized in tht
sum of 500 900 all paid in. This is to b.
the Farmers Union supply house from
| which the local Exchanges all over tbs
State will be supplied with every article
used on the farm. This company is now
: handling grain. feed -four, sugar, fer
tilizer. poisons, farm machinery and 9th
err articles will be added in the near fu-
: ture. This business was originally own
ed and operated by the firm of Austin q
Haines, the latter our present Governor
: The Union was fortunate in falling il
good hands for very favorable eontrac
was made which eventually will plae,
the ownership of all the property con
nected with the business in the hands
of the farmers. Since the formation ol
this company the increase in the busi-
ness has been rapid, in spite of the fact
that there is always a falling off at this
time of the year. Figuring from a basis
of present transactions the gross bus:
ness will amount to 100000 this season.
The outlook for this venture is highly
hattering and good judges estimate that
within three years the gross business
will amount to from two TO three mil
lions The question has been asked
How much is this supply company saw
ing the farmers?" and the answer must
be along the same lines as above describ-
ed i'm the case of potatoes. 1t mattereu
not what reductions We're made. our com
petitors met those prices. Our methods.
however. have lately undergone a change
and we are now charging the regular re-
tail price to those who take their grain
from the mill and an account is kept OF
the transactions of each individual. At
the end of the year after dividend Of
, 6 per cent is paid on the stock outstand-
ing. per cent will be laid aside and if
there are further profits il will be re-
I turned to the purchaser IN accordance
with the amount purchased. In the case
of local Exchanges at distance the
dDoNe VIII not Apply as safes Will bt'
made them at the lowest wholesale pr.ce
and the Exchanges will sell their stock
holders on some basis to be determined
locally.
The foregoing is only an outline of
/ what has been accomplished by this de-
partment along better business lines, but
time will not permit.
/ If the same progress is maintained
during the next year, as has been
noted, this year, the Farmers Union
+! of Maine will be a power in the bust
ness of the State and the nation, for
the plan upon which our nation is
| working has gone abroad to all the
country. Letters are being received
ficm other state departments and
even the National Department, asking
for information. The newspapers,
both farm and city. are interested and
columns have been written and with
but one exception every paper circu-
lating in the State have endorsed the
plan.
At the solicitation of this depart
ment | came to the State stranger,