The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-04-19

lioved capable OF demonstration that
the same principle Of collective bar
gaining, applied TO purchasing, will
result in a profit of four or five umes
this amount II business methods pre-
dominate in handling the matter and
the officials are given the whole-heart-
ed support and enthusiasm Of the
members. In other words, co-opera-
tive buying will prove more beneficial
to milk producers than cooperative
selling IL carried on in "A manner
which would win success in any other
form Of business.
The plans of the N. Il. M. p. A. for
a united purchasing system contem-
plate the extension of service over
territory even wider than that cover
ed in the marketing campaign. The
idea Is that, while the work is intend
ed primarily and mainly for the dairy
men of New England, it will be
found in course of time that other
classes of farmers will desire TO take
advantage of the benefits, which, 1t is
felt, will certainly accrue from the
carrying on of this great undertaking.
Except in Maine, little is known in
New England of the benefit of coop
erative buying on large plan, al
though the method is practiced on a
considerable scale among producers
generally in New Jersey, Delaware,
Maryland and Virginia, and to some
extent on Long Island, to say nothing
of the big and enormously wealthy
fruit-growing organizations of the
Northwest and California.
As planned by the milk producers
association, the New England cam
paign probably would be the most ex-
tensive in the eastern section or the
United States and it would be de-
veloped as rapidly as circumstances
and the number Of those adopting Its
methods warranted. At least 10000
dairymen could be benefited, and half
as many general farmers would hndft
to their advantage TO get into line
with their brethren, it is believed.
A vast amount of work is necessary
before the actual work of practical
cooperative buying is begun, but the
preparatory arrangements already are
being made and the details may be far
enough advanced to aid producers in
making their purchases OF grain TINS
fall. Grain is the first commodity
which the association will undertake
to handle, but no less important fields
will be open in the future for fertiliz-
er farm machinery and numerous
household commodities, such as flour,
furniture, etc.
OF course, when buying and dis
tributing supplies for 10000 or more
families are considered, the first step
necessary is the establishment of
system Of management which Will
bring about the highest efficiency and
result in the greatest degree of econ
omy. That is now the principal work
under way, and, when it is completed,
other problems will be brought up for
solution. There are thousand and
one details TO be arranged. Not the
least important is fixing the localities
which shall be the storage and dis
tributing centers. These selections
depend on convenient railroad juno
tion points, the agricultural character
of the surrounding territory, and
other factors. There are dozens OF
partially suitable points in New Eng
land, but only few that answer every
requirement. When all the plans arr
wrought and the various problems
solved, the actual work Of arranging
with members Of the association for
carrying on the practical efforts will
be begun, and there is every reason TO
hope that the actual cooperative buy
ing will start during the coming au-
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