The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1914-05-14

NOE040O4 cUiC SOA VI Y3,AcS,OeS'
Profits to the Farmer.
At the time when the milk is deli7-
cred to the concern the farmer is
paid a little over two cents quart
This is exactly the same price Whlcn
others are paid for their milk by the
distributing companies. In case OF
the man who delivers to one OF the
joint stock companies this is all that
the farmer ever receives for his milk.
The farmer who is q member Of this
cooperative concern, however, at the
end Of the half yearly period receives
a dividend which amounts to about
one cent per quart. At the end Of
the year there is generally a small
additional surplus, so that the farmer
has altogether received over three
cents quart for his milk, almost one
cent more quart than the person
selling to the private distributors.
But this is not all. The farmer has
invested absolutely no money in this
cooperative concern. Yet at the end
of the 20 years the 100 farmers are
in possession Of a plant which is prob
ably worth 100000 and which has
been accumulated out Of the profits OF
the establishment. This is the prop
erty Of those who have delivered the
milk to the concern. It belongs to
them in proportion to the amount OF
milk which they have delivered, taking
into account, in every case Of course,
the quality Of the milk as well as the
quantity. The average farmer has
then from his milk, in addition to the
price which he has already received,
made profit of $4,000 for the 20
years.
Cheap to the Consumer.
On the other hand, the prices paid
to the cooperative concern by the pri-
vate taker is extremely moderate. For
the ordinary quality OF milk, which
corresponds to our certified milk, he
pays about six and one-third cents
per quart For the special milk, the
infants milk and the hospital milk
which is Of a quality seldom found in
American cities, the consumer pays
seven cents per quart.
Capitalized Without Money.
Twelve years ago when the Trl'
foIium was organized, not a dollar
was furnished by the members. One
hundred farmers got together and au-
thorized a few Of the leaders to bor-
row S125,000 at the bank. 1t is to be
remarked in this connection that the
banks of Denmark consider a loan to
a cooperative association which has
no capital stock and no tangible prop
erty as perfectly good loan. 1t has
been demonstrated again and again
that these associations are planned IN
such a way that they are worthy OF
credit. It is considered as safe as
any American industrial bond. In this
case as id all others, only a few OF
the leaders signed the note at the
bank, although Of course the entire
number who were in the organization
agreed to stand back Of those who
borrowed the money. The bank was
safe. both because the 100 farmers
represented were responsible fnan'
cially, and because they knew a CO.
operative concern such as this was to
be was a sound business venture.
The arrangement with the bank
was that the money was to be PAID
back out Of the profits in annual in.
stallments running over 20 years.
The rate of interest was low.
The association has been in opera
ton 12 years. A larger SUI. than the
original s125,000 has been advanced
because the volume Of business has
been so great that it was necessary
to make additional investment. The
concern has now 100000 invested
Nevertheless the entire Indebtedness
will be wiped out within the 20 years
Quality First.
It is to be noted that this co-opera-
tive milk company succeeds, not be-
cause it is cooperative, but it sue
ceeds because it stands, as do other
cooperative concerns, for the highest
possible quality in its product. 1t
strictly enforces rigid rules relative
to quality and takes every precau-
ton to insure cleanliness and purity.
Some Of the requirements which it en-
forces upon those who furnish milk
to it are as follows:
First, there must be monthly IN
spection Of the COWS by the Veter-
mary representing the distributing
company; second, all unhealthy or de-
fective COWS must be instantly with
drawn; third, any slight sickness De-
tween monthly visits must be reported
to the company and the milk kept sep
arate; fourth, all sanitary directions
as to ventilation, cleanliness, etc.,
must be followed; fifth, milk from
cows others than those inspected ana
under control must not be mixed WIN
the milk furnished to the company
sixth, milk intended for infants use
or hospital use must be produced
from cows from which are excluded
all feeds and folders injurious to the
flavor or quality Of the milk; seventh
there must be periodical examlna-
ton for tuberculosis; eighth, the milk
must be cooled in some efficient way
as soon as drawn from the COW, so
that meteorological growth may be
stopped. Here, as in other co.opera-
tive institutions, the quality is evil
denced by brands which have come
to stand as guarantees Of cleanliness,
healthfulness and palatableness.
Do II in America.
Naturally, the question that Pre-
sented itself to US Americans as we
looked over the plant, was whether
or not the procedure could be dupli-
Gated under American conditions. We
have canvassed the situation fully
and can discover no reason why the
entire plan or one parallel to it could
not be adopted in any progressive