The Coconino sun., 1919-08-15
C0CONINO FARM
 BUREAU TO HAVE
 POTATO SALESMAN

TUlHlU NALESWHIN
 It was decided at Saturdays meet
 ing of the Coconino Farm Bureau to
 employ a potato salesman to send to
 Phoenix this fall to sell Coconino
 county potatoes in that and nearby
 cities. L. E. Johnson, J. c. Kester,
 Ernest Burrus and Mrs. James Ivy
 were appointed by President Milton
 Ferrill as a committee to employ the
 salesman. V. A. Moore will probably
 be the man selected.
 The members feel that by having a salesman in the field they can dispose of their crop more quickly, and at better prices; also that they can pre- vent losses that have arisen in the past through the carelessness and un- fairness of some of the commission men. A notable instance of such a loss was cited by the chairman, whose brother last fall shipped potatoes in car the floor of which was wet when loaded. The consignee, the John Bartlett Produce Co.,, saw that the ends of the bags were damp, and so refused to accept the potatoes, claim ing that they were frozen. They were finally taken by another house at reduction of 50 cents hundred pounds.
 There were nearly 60 people at the meeting. MT. Cook, state leader of farm agents and member of the fac ulty of the University of Arizona, spoke on cooperation" He advised the farmers to get together, telling them that every other class in the country is organized, while they are the last to think of it.
 "You will be forced to organize for your own protection" he said.
 He described several existing suc- cessful cooperative buying organiza- tions. One of these, largely made up of farmers, is national. It has con- tracts with big manufacturers in every line, not only for farm supplies but for general merchandise It is establishing stores throughout the United States. Since. 1914 there have been IF of these cooperative stores established in Illinois. Not one has failed. The smallest does cash busi- ness of $500 day. The organization is being gradually extended. In the West the business is carried on through subsidiary organization, the Pacific Cooperative League, with it's headquarters at San Francisco. This league is to establish a store at Tue son, the stock being owned by about 200 railroad men. It is planned to open another store at Winslow, also for railroad men,
 MT. Cook called attention to MT. Hoover's statement that 40 per cent of all the potatoes dug in the United States never reach the consumer. He said that it is apparent that much of the extensive spoilage of eggs, poul- try, etc, in Chicago and other big markets is caused purposely by the men controlling the market, who are willing to cause these losses, even to sustain them, then to keep prices up.
 There is at present no incorporated farm association in this state. Mir. Cook advised the bureau, if it did in to go at it very carefully, 1 and with the advice of the best legal | talent procurable.
 The question of incorporating the | bureau was laid over until the next | meeting.
 The bag and twine question seems to be a hard one to solve. Secretary | Johnson had one offer of 5000 sacks at from 8 to IA cents each. He is still trying to locate bags at other points. Members wanting bags or twine were asked to give their order, with their checks, to Mir. Johnson at once.
 J. B. Francis said that he was badly stung on the sacks he ordered last year. He paid for them before they were unloaded, only to find they were not up to sample. He has $500 left. They cost him over IF cents apiece, put he said he would let them go, for ash, to any person who would take he whole lot, at 5 cents each.
 The members were advised that hey can get potato crates, each hold ng 100 pounds, from the Flagstaff Lumber Co.,, at 15 cents each.
 cave from his regular duties as hor- icultural extension specialist at the University of Arizona had expired, him to leave here.
 Dr. Bartlett, assistant state ento- nologist, read telegram from the Colorado state farm department an- ,ouncing that Francis Chisholm is to ,e sent here as county farm agent.
 A representative of the flour mill company which sent the here for the Horn Milling