Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-06-27
PRACTICAL COOPERATION
Tho Mort

The Acknowledgement Live Stock Shipping Asso-
citation has. during the year, shipped over Sl3, 900 worth
OF live stock from the immediate vicinity Of the two
towns named. The cost Of shipping was a traction over
so cents per hundredweight, which is a little over half the
ordinary cost when shipments are made Independently
by individuals. These facts were brought out at the an
nual meeting Of the association held a few days ago.
Ss In the operation Of an association Of this kind We
have an example Of practical cooperation Of the most
useful and valuable kind. The shipment Of that quantity
of stock from that locality in itself means much to the
farmers and to the entire population Of the district. and
when to this there is added the value Of shipments made
through other channels it will be seen that the live stock
industry is playing an important part in the activities Of
the southwestern part Of this county. But, gratifying
though this is, it is merely an indication Of the greater
possibilities awaiting development. And one Of the i'm
portant means Of development is the proper organization
of the shipping business through the agency Of just such
societies az this.
No industry e1enplifies more convincinklv the value
OF community cooperation than does the fruit industry.
In the apple industry especially we have at the same time
illustrations Of the value of this cooperation and Of what
results from the lack Of it. The apple industry in the
eastern states is older by generations than that Of the
west. 1t 10 a demonstrated fact that apples can be grown
as cheaply and successfully in the east as in the west, and
in some respects the fruit is Of superior quality. Yet ap-
Piles are grown in the Pacific states and shipped clear
across the continent and sold in the eastern markets un-
der the very noses Of New York state men who are but a
few hours away from the same market, but whose or
chards have been allowed to run wild because the fruit
business did not pay. What IL the answer? co-opera-
ton, and nothing else.
Western growers organised themselves for the pur-
pose of marketing their goods. They were wise enough
to realize that II they were to market successfully they
must be prepared to supply goods Of excellent quality,
sound and slightly, selected az to size and color, and prop
erly packed. In order to secure this, their shipping as
sociations took upon themselves the work Of supervising
the packing of fruit, and gradually they interested them
selves in the work Of production, in orde. that the bust
ness might have the right start. Hence these western
communities Of apple growers are cooperating from the
selection and planting Of trees all along the line until the
fruit is finally disposed Of in the eastern markets.
The eastern growers have not done this, or at least
not on any considerable scale. There has been no uni
fornity in varieties. in methods Of packing, or in any
thing else. One grower would produce fine fruit, and
his neighbor. would produce culls. A buyer could not
depend on getting good fruit in suitable quantities from
any particular locality. and he naturally preferred to
deal with the western producers, from whom he could
receive shipments by the carload or trainload, on whose
quality he could depend absolutely.
The same principles govern in the shipment Of live
stock. A carload of hogs or cattle, uniform in weight and
quality, will bring a better price than a mixed lot, and
the shipping associations, OF which there are many in the
state, can do good work not only in taking care Of ship
ments as they are offered, but in carrying on a campaign
for the raising of the kinds of stock .that are most desir-
able. in order that particular localities may become
known for particular breeds of cattle and special varieties
of other stock.
The opportunity for the development Of the work Of
these associations is practically unlimited, and there is
opportunity for similar work in the handling Of almost
everything that is grown on the farm for the general
market. 90. -.