Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-07-28
Cooperative CreamerieS.

The movement to establish cooperative creame-
ries in Georgia marks particularly interesting
turn in the growth of the States food producing
industries. In Wisconsin there are some twenty
eight hundred creameries, most of which are con-
Quoted community enterprises Throughout the
Middle West such institutions abound, and con-
tribute great deal to the prosperity of that
region. Georgia's natural resources for undertake
ings of this kind unexcelled; nowhere is there
a more favorable climate soil. BY organizing
their common interests and opportunities in this
field, farmers can open new paths to thrifty
independence
The plan of financing a cooperative creamery
is very simple. According to Mr.. Nelson Shipp
secretary manager of the Sandersville Chamber of
Commerce, who has given much study to the sub
ject, the farmer need not put up dollar for build
ing the plant.
His shares of stock, says Mr.. Shipp, ARE
paid for in raw products which the plant
markets, after it is built. The farmer gives
his note that he will pay the products, and
the notes placed in bank. The money
loaned these notes buys the machinery and
equipment The raw products paid the
farmers notes are sold and the bank notes
taken up with the funds thus derived AS
rule years time is given by the bank for
the liquidation of the debt. For every share
of stock taken In a creamery or a cheese fac
tory, CneTe must De one COW Dack OF the
share. Therefore even If cotton goes to
twenty cents, the farmer will not stop milking
his COW, because she represents share of
stock that is at stake. In this way the cream
cry is protected from the untoward effects
which top market other products might
otherwise have. 1t is necessary that there
always be, somewhere in the section, many
six hundred cows supplying cream"
Such enterprises would be hazardous, of course
unless they were planned with due regard to the
resources and needs of the territory which they
established and unless they were conducted
on sound business principles. That is true, how
ever, of any undertaking worth while The peculiar
advantage of a cooperative creamery lies in the
fact that it enables a number of farmers to accom-
plish through concerted effort what they could not
do as individuals and to establish profitable in
dustry with no great outlay of capital.
The most serious obstacles to diversified farm
ing as opposed to the one-crop system in Georgia
has been the lack of convenient and dependable
markets for food products. That lack must be
supplied very largely through cooperative methods
on the part of the producers Some time ago The
Journal commented the efficient work of the
Southern Bell Telephone Company in helping to
organize selling associations among farmers who
raised hogs Through extensive inquiry the com
pany found that patrons of it's lines in the vicinity
of Pelham, Albany, Valdosta and Camilla were
raising approximately ten thousand hogs, the
Der on the individual farm ranging from as few
as a dozen to many as two hundred. On
the basis of this information, plans begun
for a system of cooperative marketing among the
producers in various counties or districts. The
suit so far is broadly encouraging. Regular and
reliable relations have been established between
the farmers and the packing house. Farmers
enabled to sell in carload lots and are kept
stantly informed as to market prices and condi-
tons The Atlanta Commercial Exchange is render
ing similar service on a broader scale.
The important fact is that whenever the pro-
ducers of foodstufs, whether grain hogs, cattle or
dairy products, organize, business principles for
their common needs and opportunities they can
market their products with assurance and ad-
vantage. The cooperative creamery is exam
pie of this method practically applied; and It
promises accomplish, in its particular field of in
terest a great deal for the development and pros
perity OF Georgia.