The Harrison times., 1914-08-08
COOPERATION PAYS IN LYON
Farmers Produce Association Saves
5000 to Farmers Since organlza.
tlon In December.

More than $5,20O has been saved to
the farmers Of Lyon county since the
Lyon County Farmers Produce asso
citation was organized in December
More than fifty thousand dollars worth
of business has been done, and the
saving on this business has averaged
about 10 per cent, writes F. B. Nichols
in Farmers Mail and Breeze, There
are now 200 members in this associa-
tion and the membership is increas-
ing. A. B. Hall, a farmer near EN-
poria, is manager.
I'VE believe that organization among
farmers Is essential, said Mr. Hall a
few days ago. Almost all other
classes are organized, and II the farm
ers wish to carry on their business
In the most economical manner they
must cooperate in buying and selling.
We have shown that a farmers or
ganization will pay well, for we have
saved more than $1,000 month to
the farmers Of this county since we
organized"
The association began business in
December with less than 80 members,
but the membership increased rapid
ly just as soon as the producers Of
Lyon county saw that they could save
money by Joining Emporia Is quite a
hay shipping center, and 3S cars,
or 458 tons, were sold, mostly to Kan
sas buyers, the first month, at about
So a ton gain over Kansas City prices
This meant a saving to the sellers Of
about $1,000, including the other
business that was done, and 1t placed
the new association on a good stand
Ing at once
Since its beginning the association
has sold 139 cars Of hay, and a good
saving was made on all Of 1t. In addi-
tion 30 cars Of corn, oats and other
feed have been shipped in for use in
Lyon county The success Of the as
sociation has been 30 good that the
members were encouraged TO issue
the call for the statewide meeting
of the hay dealers OF Kansas, which
was held in Emporia, May 10. Five
hundred Of the hay shippers Of Kan
sas met there at that time, and or
ganization an association to fight the
increase In hay rates on tho Kansas
City market from 80 to rs cents a
ton.
"A commission mans chief invest.
ment Is stenographer, said +, M. Ar
mold, president Of the commercial state
bank Of Emporla, in discussing the
change In the rate Besides her, he
has n desk and little stationery.
There is no reason that the farmers
can see for the commission men TO
crack up their price for handling hay.
And the farmers are not going to
stand for II, We have dozens OF let
ters from farmers and hay growers In
other counties who protest against
paying nine dollars commission on a
car OF hay, instead Of six dollars, The
success Of the Lyon County assocla-
tlon has suggested to them that tho
commission man can bo eliminated on
q large scale,
A strong farmers association like
the Lyon County Farmers Produce
association can help the producers In
other ways besides In selling and buy.
Ing, For example, II recently adjust
cd n dispute between the farmers and
the Emporia Telephone company,
When farmers are organized, they
have n club that compols tho public
service organizations to give thom n
square deal,
Some men say that farmers cannot
get together IN selling and buying, but
we have shown that they can" said
MIR, Hall 80 far we have fine or.
ganigatlon OF earnest farmers, and
every one In q booster, We hope that
we can mako our association step
ping stone to q larger organization TO
get laws TO prevent gambling In farm
products"
The Lyon County Farmers Produce
association In showing that oo.opera.
tion among farmers In success II ls
paying In ronl money,