Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-08-10
FARMERS FINO COOPERATIVE
HAULING OF PRODUCE PAYS
Motor Truck Associations Have Many
Advantages in Marketing
Crops

I'LL SdSlu6 Va
shippers are looking toward the
motor truck for the solution of their
transportation problems. Farmers
are included in this category, and It
may therefore be we'll to point out,
as the result of actual experience OF
Others. the things they should con-
slider in connection with the use Of
motor trucks to haul their produce to
market.
In very few instances, say experts
OF the Bureau of Markets, United
States Department of Agriculture, is
1t advisable for a farmer to purchase
and operate a motor truck soley for
his own needs, a. the initial invest
ment, cost Of upksep, and the limited
time the truck 10 likely to be in use
mae the venture expensive and
disproportionate to the convenience
secured.
Where trucks are operated by pri-
vate individuals for profit the owner
OF the truck usually operates between
certain points on fixed schedule. The
farmer assumes no risk. He. simply
pays whatever the rate for carriage
may be. and may find the use Of this
means of transportation an advan-
tage over the railroad or over haul
ing his produce to market himself by
team. At the same time 1t has often
occurred that when the farmer had
learned to depend upon this service
the rates would be raised to point
that the farmer could i'll afford topay.
or that another motor-truck operator
would enter the field with the result
that both operators were compelled
to go out of business, leaving the
farmer without any truck service at
all.
1t may be we'll to consider the
basis upon which farmer may secure
motor-truck transportation at a nomi-
nal cost and create service upon.
which he can place full reliance n
motor-truck associations in existence
OF which perhaps The Farmers Co.
operative Co., of Hartford County, Md,
has had the largest measure of sue
cess. The territory served by the
association is a very productive agr;-
cultural region. Many Of the farmers
ship milk to Baltimore, some raise
truck crops, and others practice gen.
eral farming.
The association rates on many COM
modities are decidedly lower than
those of the railroad. The members
say that the saving of time in mar
keting their produce is a big advan-
tage, also. For example, when the
farmers hauled their produce to mar
ket by wagon they had to start out
at midnight and did not return home
until 9 o'clock the next morning. Now
At least 8 hours of that time is saved
for other work.
But while the Hartford County Co.
has had considerable succsee. it would
not have been possible had the con-
dition not been favorable for the OPP
Grafton of cooperative motor-truck
route. This fact should not be lost
sight Of; and for the benefit of those
contemplating the establishment OF
cooperative motor-truck associations
the following points should receive
careful considerations:
A careful survey should be made to
determine the adequacy of present
transportation facilities, the reason
ableness of the rates charged, the ap-
proximate daily tonnage available for
movement in each direction, the char
acter of the roads over which the
trucks must be operated, and the gen.
eral sentiment of the community to-
ward such an association. The dis
lance from market should not be
more than 40 miles, and there should
be sufficient volume of produce 10
warrant reasonably constant opera
ton of the trucks throughout the year
1t having been concluded that the
cooperative enterprise will be de-
cided advantage, only men who have
demonstrated their business ability
in handling their private affairs and
who exercise a good influence among
the members of the community should
be selected as directors. The secre-
tary should be a man with energy
tact, business ability, and high
appreciation of the farmers interests
The capitalization of the association
should be large enough to permit the
issuance of enough stock to pay FOR
the trucks in cash, to assure sufti-
Gent amount Of cash on hand as work
ing capital, and to have enough un-
issued stock to provide for future
sound extension of the business, as
we'll as a depreciation fund to replace
WORKOUT equipment.
The trucks should be selected only
after a thorough and unbiased con-
sideration of the various makes