Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-08-07
COOPERATION PAYS IN LYON
Farmers Produce Association Saves
$500 to Farmers Since Organiza-
ton In December.

More than $500 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-
ton and the membership is increas-
ing. A. b. Hall. farmer near EN-
poria, is manager.
I'VE believe that organization among
farmers is essential. said Mr.. Hall
few days ago. Almost all other
classes are organized, and il 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 a month to
the farmers of this county since we
organized"
The association began business in
December with less than so 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 SO cars,
or ass tons. were sold, mostly to Kan
sas buyers, the first month. at about
81 ton gain over Kansas City prices.
This meant saving to the sellers of
about $1,000. including the other
business that was done, and it 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 it. In addi-
ton 30 cars of corn, oats and other
feed have been shipped in for use in
Lyon county. The success of the as
ISOLATION has been SO 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 Is. 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 the Kansas
City market from so to IS cents a
ton.
"A commission mans chief invest
ment is stenographer." said F. NJ. Ar
mold. president of the commercial State
bank Of Emporia, in discussing the
change In the rate. Besides her. he
has a desk and a 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 1t. We have dozens of let
tiers 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 associa-
ton has suggested to them that the
commission man can be eliminated on
a 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. 1t recently adjust
ed dispute between the farmers and
the Emporia Telephone company.
When farmers are organized, they
have a club that compels the public
service organizations to give them a
square deal.
Some men say that farmers cannot
get together in selling and buying, but
We have shown that they can" said
Mr.. Hail. $50 far we have a fine or
ganization of earnest farmers, and
every one is booster. We hope that
we can make our association q step
ping stone to a larger organization to
get laws to prevent gambling in farm
products"
The Lyon County Farmers Produce
association Is showing that co-opera-
ton among farmers is a success 1t is
paying in real money.