Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1913-04-16
COOPERATION
FOR FARMERS
GREAT MOVEMENT PROPOSED BY
WHICH 1T Is BELIEVED DIXIE'S
FARMERS MAY SAVE SIX Bill
LIONS A YEAR
PROPOSE TO ORGANIZE FOR PUR-
POSE OF BUYING AND SELLING
AND ALSO FOR BORROWING AT
REASONABLE RATE.
Especial to The Herdld.)


theory that the farmers of Dixie annual
4 ly lose six billion dollars which they
might receive for their crops under
proper systems of production and mar
keting, great cooperative movement
was launched here today at a farmers
conference, the sixteenth educational
meeting of its kind to be held in the
South. In the twO-day program will ap-
pear two score authorities on agricul-
ture, finance and general organization.
many of them successful farmers them
selves.
1t was pointed out that the virtual
waste of six billion dollars is caused by
poor farming methods, unwise borrow
ing Of money and the purchase of sup
plies the farmers themselves could pro
duce. 1t is proposed that the farmer
market his crop comparatively; buy goods
in the same manner, and borrow money
from cooperative societies. This plan.
those behind the movement claim, will
add to the farmers income; he will be
able to spend more on the pleasant as
well as the useful things Of life, to build
better roads. to maintain better schools,
and to make country life better i'll every
way.
This would also have the effect of
checking the exodus from the farm to
the cities, promoters of the idea declare
With this increase in the rural pOpula-
ton, when the young people find life the
gaycr, will come in time an increase in
the amount of fOodstuffs raised and
corresponding decrease in the cost of
living.
Prof. John Lee Coulter, expert special
agent for the census bureau, has eSti
mated that the value of all Southern
farm products is ,JOO000,C00 a year,
but that they cost consumers twice that
amount. Southern farmers, he esti-
mates. spend most of their two and
half billions for farm supplies, food,
clothing and the like. and of this one
billion goes to the middleman of all
classes. Southern agriculturalists,
Coulter also figures, lose an additional
two and a half billions each year because
Of poor farming methods. They could
double their yield by crop diversification
and other improvements, if it were not
for the advance 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 to be con-
sidercd by the conference. 1t is estimat-
ed that the farmers south of Mason and
Dixons line lose $163,OOOOOO yearly be-
cause of excessive interest rates-much
Of which they might retain if they con
trolled their own credit systems and
agencies for marketing and buying.
Among the experts who will start the
cooperative movement by speaking at
the conference here are j. c. Caldwell of
Lakefeld, Mimi; A. o. Nelson of Svea,
Mimi; A. /. Hacker. who will detail
the results of Minnesota cooperative
creamcries. and c. w. MOOmaw. W. j.
Shuford. T. NJ. Mckee. who were organ
zers of the Virginia Fruit Growers As
Sociation. Eastern Shore Virginia Pro
ducc Exchange, Catawba county. y. c.,
and WoodfOrd county. Ky, cooperative
organizations. Prof. Coulter will also
discuSse practical plans for organization
Of cooperative movements.
One of the features of the conference
will be an interstate meeting of state
and county superintendents. teachers Of
agriculture and other educators, at
which the subject for discussion will be
The Most Effective Means for Develop
ing the Rural School" A. G. Monahan,
rural school specialist in the United
States bureau of education. will urge the
necessity for well defined constructive
county plan in rural education. Typical
rural school problems will be discussed
bv Albert s. Cook of Baltimore county
\ Md: Zebulon Judd. Wake county. y. c.:
\ Miss Rhea G.. Scott and L. j. Hanifan,
supervisors in Virginia and West Nir-
ginia respectively; Miss Jessie Yancy
Mason county, Ky; A. r. Jones. Equal
| ity. Ala: J. S. Stewart, Athens, Ga; ;
and many others.