Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-12-13
History OF the Farmers Union
in Maine Is Furnished kennebeC
Journal by Board Of Managers

Farmers Union purchased large build
ing in the heart of the city ana IS Trans
acting grocery and feed store. lts pus-
mess members estimate, will reach over
$4,000 this year.
In Bridgton. owing to shortage III ready
capital, the union leased it's building TO
the president. W. b. Gibbs. who Installed
machinery for grinding purposes ana Is
conducting a grain business. and in ract
this business has Increased far beyond
what was expected.
The Norway Farmers Union is announcer
very progressive organization. It's graz"
business has proved very profitable.
The Westbrook Farmers Union is
located at very favorable point. For
some time it did its grain business
from the car. but the members now
have their building nearly completed
and as their membership has Increased
from II at the start to nearly GO at
the present time, this union can be de-
pended upon to make rapid progress.
The Eliot Farmers Union, the Bidde-
ford Farmers Union, and the White
Rock Farmers Union are of recent or
ganization, but all three have purchas-
ed a car Of grain and are making good.
When the whole dairy district has been
| organized in the vicinity Of Portland
it is planned to take some action rel
ative to handling dairy products.
The Third Annual Report
| The managers report made before
f, the third annual meeting held in Ban
gor June 90, 1915, gave many interest
- Ie a
as follows:
1T is hardly necessary to say that
| we have passed through a year that
will go into history as the most dis
coura ging along marketing lines.
known for years However, the farm
er. as usual. has looked upon the sit
uation with composure and is now
| looking forward to another season eX-
pecting that climatic conditions will
| b., in his favor.
| From June l. 1914, to June l, 1915, we
! organized IL new unions and this was
remarkable record when the condi-
| tionS of the finances of the farmers
are taken into consideration. These 16
| new uniors made q total of G6 unions
The Farmers Union now has Affiliate
| S0 loS.iiS III tStIS CouIlIy III tile STATE
! and has truly become Statewide in its
influence. A few of the potato unions
| lost money but this was expected, for
| potato dealers with long experience
/ found it difficult to cope with the sit
| untion. In spite of the bad conditions
! the greater portion Of the shipping
unions made no loss, but unfortunate
| ly few OF them did meet with loss
! but not t" an extent TO cripple them
! AS there are no dues or assessments
PAID by the members the money neces-
sary to meet operating expenses is
/ secured from small profits In order tc
meet these expenses the Farmers I'm.
ION was given a profit of 81 per tor
on fertilizer, from Is TO % cents on
| each bushel of clover and other sma,
seed and about 10 cent uer pound mr.
! poisons. These profits will be founC
hsted in the report of the treasurer ir
this article.
Gross Business of Unions
The following figures representing The
gross business transacted by the variou:
units will prove of interest:
F., Farmers Union of Maine
! Ell ,,-.i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $153 0S5. 4
Poison ee" ''''''''''''''..'.'..'.. $50. o.
s1Gl, 155. 4
Farmers Union Grain & SUP Co.
transactions with the Unions 81. OCo O,
FG G,t VALLEY al eo Shipping Union.
Potatoes; 80. $50 br. ............ lC6, 669. s
larmers' Union Distributing Co.
Farmers Union Distributing
/ Co., Boston. Mass.
cross amount of business
| from January to June. 1922. $50. O
LOCAL UNION TRANSACTIONS.
Potatoes, 1921 cars. 7l4,7lO bu.,
Faiue Observation-Disclosures. $3.50 61a :!
| Grain ...... 200 300 90 ~ - .
Fertilizer ........................... III IA, 4
other transactions ;',.''''''''''' g. IA IA @
$500. SO OK
GROSS TRANSACTIONS OF THE
| LARGER UNIONS.
brooks brooks Farmers Union .........s 81, 1so.U
central chnnae M ld, Produce Ex- -
Eant ase E, Maaervi5le ........ s. 25o.@
! DTis!oi TURNER'S Union .......... SO. sos. on
G1 81 e.iheFS l mon .......... IS COG. on
lSSuiiloer'anu ana oxford EX. 800. 81 2l5 On
| ~ nMeoerl Srallge GO. Assn. 26, OK
, 1,ii,iooIS 'aiieI Farmers En-. IL, 05S. o.
/ 'ino Loulty FARMERS Union. 80, 500. N
n; n. Penobscot Produce Ex...... Ii, 800. o.
o ~ iiuihe rdrmers Y mon ...... IA, O40. on
Maranacook Farmers Union 10 Oi0 N
| IiaIne frouuce EX....... 13, 065. OF
! tc1inIutlI FARMERS Union. ......... 19,449. On
! SSNoywneSan FARMERS Cnion...... $4,000 on
~ A-iiicoih hranch ................ 10,456 q
| 1929, IA O.
1t was very difficult matter to get al
the locals to report their business witt
sufficient promptness to include them il
the annual report, and in fact about eigh,
of them never rendered a report. :
| Treasurer's Report
The treasurer's report is long and
covers all items and it would take
up too much room in this article. How
ever. after all expenses had been PAID
there was a cash balance of s6622. 90