The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1914-04-16
Cooperative
Continued from page -

entific instructions as to the care of
his cattle, as to the best feeds, as to
the cure of animal diseases, as to the
valuation of crops, as to fertilizers.
His milk and cream he takes to CO.
operative creamery, from which 1t is
sold comparatively. His very hens
lay cooperative eggs which within an
hour after they are laid may bear the
stamp of cooperative organization.
Even the farmers wife has ten
dency toward cooperation and is as
alive to it's advantages as is the farm
err himself. Everywhere we find the
women intelligent and conducting
their domestic affairs as scientifically
as do the men their FARMS
Water Supply Companies.
One form in which cooperation has
evinced it's efficiency in Germany is
a rather unique one, and is one which
at least in some parts of the United
States is worthy of careful study by
American farmers. Scattered through
out Germany there are many co-opera-
tive societies for supplying water to
its members. There are in the prov
ince of Hanover alone, for example, 35
such companies. Whether the commu-
nifty has been large or small, these
supply companies have generally sue
ceeded.
The advantages Of cooperation In
attacking the problem of water supply
have been thus summarized: by CO.
operation a sufficient sum Of money
can be raised to enable source of wa
ter to be tapped, unquestionable as to
purity, softness and quality; 2. Co
operation ensures extreme economy in
maintenance and management; g. Co
operation enables the smallest commu-
nifty to provide itself with a really
good water supply"
1t is not impossible that there is in
this German experience a suggestion
for the irrigation companies in western
America, where mismanagement and
graft seem to have prevailed. Ger
tainly a truly cooperative association
ganized upon the one man one vote
plan, freed from all motives of Excess
sive or speculative profits, and man
aged with the efficiency that is tradi-
tional in cooperative concerns could
many fair prospects as have some Of
the irrigation companies in the west
ern states.
Flowing by Steam.
The owners of the big wheat farms
in the northwestern parts of the United
States might sit up and take notice of
some of the cooperative power pillow
which are operating in Ger
many At present there are 46 such
societies. The entire power equipment
is owned by the society, and its mem
bers, even though they occupy COM
paratively small farms, are by this
means enabled to have the benefit Of
the improved and cheaper work of the
power plow. Experience here shows
that the power blowing plant, consist
ing of set of plows, tackle and steam.
Or electric power, cannot be main
aimed economically unless it has
like 1000 acres upon which
o operate. The concerns are most care
fully managed. A good machinist Is
always in charge of the outfit. In ad-
1ition to his salary he Is allowed a
upon every acre plowed.
He has entire charge Of the operations
I oil 70
Ill distractions before work is under
aiken. The rates are carefully graded
to the soil, the depth and
he accessibility. In some cases, also,
/ less charge is made for blowing dur
ng the slack periods, the price being
'aised as the demand for services Of
he equipment increases.
Cooperative Automobiles.
It is said that every well-to-do Amer
can farmer has an automobile. In
Germany. where the acreage is small
Ind the farmer has less capital to in
rest in his equipment the farmer joins
With his neighbor to purchase an auto
mobile and a large number of COOP
,rdLlVG mOlOT SOClcllcS nave DCCA
ormed. These machines, however,
ire not the touring cars and runabouts
hat are ordinarily used by the Ameri-
AN farmer, but are the most prosaic
Unitarian motor trucks which can
move immense quantities of produce
,ver the hard level roads Of the Ger
nan provinces.
German scientists and inventors
AVE with great ingenuity produced
machinery that accomplishes with lit
lie effort almost everything which in
ears past called for hard labor The
Iemand for power is consequently
,reat and growing constantly. This
las led to the organization of cleo
rical supply works in connection with
Their agricultural cooperative organ
cations. OF these there are $40,
which are purely cooperative, al
hough there are in Germany over
900 companies which furnish more
r less electrical power to those inter-
sted in agricultural pursuits.
Cooperative Societies Federated.
The cooperative spirit has not
eased when it has led the farmer to
cooperate with his neighbors to form
NIL