Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1914-02-13


We have seen new farm building OF
any permanent repairs on old build
ings or any other farm improvement
inquiry invariably has revealed that Il
had been added since the farm went
into the hands OF a purcasing tenant.
| In other words. Meeghan and other
tenant purchasers feel now that in
making repairs or improvements they
are working for themselves, adding
value 10 their own property, where for
merly any improvements made were
for the benefit OF the landlord for
whom they had no particular liking.
Farmers Views on Cooperation.
We asked him what he thought OF
the cooperative society and what use
he had made Of IL. Before the coop
eratiye society was organized" he
said. 1T was difficult to procure fer
tilizers. While the department of ag-
riculture Analysed the soils and
taught the farmers. by bulletin and
otherwise. the elements which must
enter into fertilizers It was absolutely
impossible for the tenant to procure
OF the dealers fertilizer containing
these elements in proper proportion.
Fertilizers were high too"
Now. as he explained. the co-opera-
tive societies buy tho elements going
into the fertilizers and themselves
mix them In the proper proportions.
Tho cooperative association not only
guarantees the quality OF the fertilizers
furnished to their members. but sells
them at greatly reduced price. That
they are better than the manures pur-
chased of the regular traders is evil
denced by the actual effects upon the
crops.
Cooperative Credit.
II was evident that in Meeghan's es-
timation the greatest benefit to the
members OF the local organization is
from the credit society branch of IT,
The farmers in this vicinity had been
well taught and were anxious to inn
prove their stock to get better nipple
ments, to use commercial fertilizers
compounded. 20 plant better
seeds. Before the cooperative credit /
association was organized they were
unable to do anything of this sort. /
Since tho cooperative organization
has been in operation. however, It is
easy to get from the society a small
oan for any Of these purposes and tho
farmers were In consequence steadily
improving their property. In other
Words he seemed to think that the i'm.
'rovemonrs Ia rural agricultural meth
IDS which we see everywhere would
lave been absolutely impossible with.
'ul this little local credit society.
aeeghan himself through loans Sc
urcd OF the cooperative credit society /.
iad been enabled to purchase blooded
sock and had bought improved nipple
nents and tested seeds.
We found upon our return to the vii
age that school was just closing and
luinn went with us to his home, which
Though modest, was as trim and com
or,able as any village home which we
ave ever been privileged to Visit in
.merlca. He talked freely Of the az ,
airs OF the society. showed us the
eoks and records aud explained the
iethods and practices employed ia the
cooperative conduct OF the business.
a Simple Organization.
The cooperative society has no I
and consequently has no
sut TO pay The home OF the seere- /
lry Is tue olIiee OF the society. There D
he banking business as well as the :
her Affairs OF tho society are con- !
lct9d by him out OF school hours. The Z
tile society has 500 members. each i
ember having one share upon which
g has advanced about sixty cents. G
10 credit society. branch of the CO. .
peratiye association. has 16I mem. i
ers.
The society Meets he said. -four I,
mss each year. AT those times the /,
embers give Us orders for these g
lods which we handle comparatively, {
seeds, manares. Implements u
ad occasionally other srticles. We Il
, over the old accounts and arrange Z
n their payment or extension. We q
TX over the plans OF the society. We b
onsuit about local farm problems, n
bout seeds, manures and rotation OF s
ops. exchanging ideas as to methods n
meeting various questions that b
-sse. There is no cooperative store r
ere and We never keep articles IN =
ock. We order seeds. manures OF q
lplements and notify the farmer 3.