Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1915-11-12

comparison of prices paid for butter
fat by cooperative creameries on the one
hand and privately owned creameries on
the other will as rule show the higher
price to have been paid by the cooperative
concerns. Such comparison OF prices in
this state is not available at the time of
writing but the farmer can compare prices
received by himself with some prices paid
by Minnesota cooperative creameries dur
ing the month of April, 1916, as quoted
below: Heatwale, "a cents; Hutchinson,
SO cents; Grey Eagle, 33 " cents; Long
Prairie, 33 cents; Rose, " cents; Eagle
Bend, 80 cents; Freedom, 80 cents;
Bertha, 81 cents; Osakis, 81 cents.
These prices should perhaps not be COM
pared too closely with prices in this state
because of the fact that the Minnesota
creameries sell their butter on a more dis
eliminating market and on a market which
makes wide variance in prices paid for
butter, the price paid depending altogether
on the quality of the butter. In a few
more years though, this state will un-
doubtedly have just as discriminating
markets where they will place more en-
phasis on quality.
The chief reason why patrons of CO.
operative cream cries receive more Tor
their butter-fat is the fact that the CO.
operative creameries have the finest kind
OF raw material to work with and can con-
sequently make butter which will COM
mand the highest price Another reason
is that provision is made for dividing the
net earnings of the creamery among the
patrons in proportion to the amount of
butter-fat delivered to the creamery.
Most cooperative creameries refuse to
receive anything but sweet cream or milk
and in order to be truly successful and to
furnish the largest net returns to the
patrons they must make and enforce such
ruling. This is very important factor
in determining a creamery's success.
Aside from the fact, as mentioned above,
that from this sweet cream the highest
quality of butter can be made, is the OPP
portunity of working up good sweet
cream trade with ice cream manufactur-
ers who sometimes pay as high as 40 cents
a pound for butter-fat in sweet cream.
Another very important factor in de-
termining the success or failure is the
amount of raw material available. There
must be a sufficient amount of cream de-
livered to the creamery to insure econom-
ical m manufacture. The smallest number
of cows which should be considered is
500, although it is often stated that 400
is enough One authority on creamery or
ganization gives figures showing daily
loss of $2.04 in creamery making butter
from 400 COWS and daily profit of $1.46
in another making butter from 500 COWS.
This profit does not seem very large, but
in this case a depreciation of 10 per cent
has already been deducted and eight per
cent interest paid on the money invested.
We must also have efficient manage
ment; in fact, just as efficient manage
ment as we find in the large creameries or
centralizers. The supplies should be pur-
chased economically, perhaps receiving
bids on the amount required for a year.
These need not be shipped all at once, but
might be delivered in four lots, as desired
The selling end should also be watched
just as closely as the buying.
Last, but not least, the patrons OF CO.
operative creamery must have the CO.
operative spirit in order to make tnelr
creamery a success. They must be willing
to live up to the rules laid down by the
majority and should not be lured away
by the temporarily high price of CON-
petitor.
At the present time 80 out OF LIZ
creameries in this state are cooperative
Cooperative creameries may be organized
in this state, as provided by Section NO.
1855. 1918 Code of Washington and no
creamery may use the word cooperative
unless living up to the provisions OF thls
act.
The first thing to be done in organH-
ing is to make canvass OF the surFounu
ing country to find out whether the neces-
sary number of cows can be procured.
preliminary meeting should then be held
and IL the sentiment proves favorable
Temporary chairman and secretary shoulu
be chosen. An Organization committee
to prepare the articles of incorporation
and bylaws should be appointed as wen
as a "canvassing committee to circulate
the organization papers.
Five persons or more may Organize
cooperative association and the artlcies VI
incornoration shall set forth the follow
ing:
1. The name of the association.
The nurpose for which it was formed