Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-05-08

Capitalized Without Money.
Twelve years ago when the Tri-
folium was organized, not dollar
was furnished by the members. One
hundred farmers got together and au-
thorized a few of the leaders to bor-
row $125,000 at the bank. 1t is to be
remarked in this connection that the
banks of Denmark consider loan to
a cooperative association which mas
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 in 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 VINO
borrowed the money. The bank was
safe, both because the 100 farmers
represented were responsible finan-
cially, and because they knew 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 IL years. A larger sum than the
original $125,00O 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.
The big plant, which will then have
been paid for, will represent a sur
| plus of profit made out of the busi-
ness It is to be remembered, too,
| that this will be owned by the mem
bers in proportion to the amount OF
milk each has delivered to the COOP
erative milk association during the 20
years.
How They Run the Society.
The 100 farmers who own this big
concern have 10000 cows, and all
have entered into agreement binding
| each member to deliver all his milk,
or SO much as is needed, to the COM
pany. Over 5000 cows are milked
each day. Some of the members own
900 to 800 acres, and this particular
association has few members who are
small farmers.
The association is controlled by a
/ board of directors. These directors
are elected by the members at an an
nual meeting, each member being en-
titled to one vote, and one vote only,
irrespective of the proportion of his
/ interests in the concern. A man who
has two cows has the same voting
power as has the man who has 800
cows. This democratic system OF
voting is common to all cooperative
concerns in Denmark, and in fact it is
the universal rule throughout Europe.
Quality First.
1t 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. Il
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 milh
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 be
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 ant
under control must not be mixed witt
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 thu
flavor or quality of the milk; seventh
there must be periodical examina
ton for tuberculosis; eighth, the mill
must be cooled in some efficient wa!
as soon as drawn from the cow, 81
that meteorological growth may b.
stopped. Here, as in other co-opera
tive institutions, the quality is evi
denced by brands which have conn
to stand as guarantees of cleanliness
healthfulness and palatableness.
Do It in America.
Naturally, the question that pre-
sented itself to us Americans as W,
] looked over the plant, was whethe
or not the procedure could be dupli
| Gated under American conditions. W.
, have canvassed the situation fully
and can discover no reason why th'
, entire plan or one parallel to it coult
not be adopted in any progressiv
American city. Everywhere co-opera
J tive societies succeed, but succeed
: because they produce a product that i
; recognized as of standard quality
Cooperation in Denmark spells qual
ity.
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