Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1914-05-22

Bureau Of Cooperation of the De-
partment of Agriculture, New York.
The history Of the growth and spread
of the cooperative marketing idea In
New York state is following almost ex-
actly the same lines as those abroad.
While a great many people believed
that cooperation offered the most feast
BILE solution of many of the present day
problems in connection with food dis
tribution, both producer and consumer
were very slow to realize this and were
very backward in taking up the actual
details Of organizing cooperative asso-
Citations.
The movement was given new and
powerful impetus by the words OF
Governor Glynn at the state agricul-
tural meeting and at the conference In
the executive chamber which followed.
Previous to this, although there were
laws upon the statute books which
permitted the formation of these asso-
Citations and authorizing them, no great
interest was taken. There We're only
panies doing business. Since that
speech of Governor Glynn's letters from
all over the state have come to the
bureau asking for information about
cooperation and assistance in the form
ing of organizations. At present there
are sixteen cooperative companies in
corporated under the new law, and
a desire to form these organizations.
The Federation of Jewish Farmers
Of America were really the pioneers In
cooperative purchase of farm. supplies
and cooperative credit in this state, and
this federation was quick to realize the
importance and necessity of organiza-
ton work.
Quite recently at Hurleyville, N. Y.
q cooperative creamery has been es
tablished, and the butter and cheese
manufactured there is to be shipped
every day to New York city, where IL
will be delivered by special representa-
tves of the creamery direct to the con-
sumers' houses. This vii insure to
New York consumers strictly fresh
dairy products, delivered not later than
twenty-four hours after manufacture,
and will save the unnecessary handling
of these products by three or four mid
dlemen This creamery intends also
to market eggs in the same way. The
most unique feature of this co-opera-
tive creamery is that it will share the
profits of its operations with the con-
sumer He will get at the end of the
year % per cent of the profits of the
creamery Fifty per cent Of these prof
its will go TO the farmers, the pro-
ducers, and % per cent will 60 to the
reserve fund of the creamery.
| The largest and most pretentious of
these cooperative associations was re-
/ Gently Incorporated with headquarters
| at Utica. 1t is to extend its operation
| throughout Oneida county and has
among its members some of the very
! best business men and farmers of that
county. 1t is capitalized at $4,000
and it proposes during its first year to
furnish a large percentage Of the or
binary farm supplies to its members
and to others at slight increase above
the wholesale prices. During the har-
vest season it will undertake the grad
ing and marketing of such produce
as the members desire to market
through it.
The Housewives league In several oil
the cities of this state is organizing
what is known as neighborhood groups
through which the individual members
are to buy their farm supplies dealing
with either individual farmers or with
the farmers; organized in cooperative
associations. A letter is being sent out
to the farmers in the immediate neigh
borhood of each group inclosing a
blank on which the farmer is asked to
submit prices on about thirty articles
of ordinary farm production. A blank
is also provided for quotations OF
future deliveries so that the variou:
groups may be made acquainted with
exactly what the farmers are willing
to take for their products. These
various neighborhood groups in the
Housewives league will eventually be
come incorporated in order that the
chairman of the group and its variou:
committees may be relieved of individ
ual responsibility. In short the coop
erative movement Is showing a re
markable growth due no doubt to the
interest which the governors severa
speeches and messages on the subject
have aroused.
People who considered this sort Of
a new socialistic panacea are inquirine
| about il and are learning that 1t Is
safe and sound method Of solving the
question Of food distribution. Great
interest Is shown on the part OF the
farmers throughout the state In regard
20 the bureau of cooperation, and the
various oranges are asking for lectures
on cooperation. In no country has
cooperation become at all general un