The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-31

AsVSA AO4~A0 SVOAAsy - ~ 49, 1850
that will bring our total up to at
least 1925. For q county contain
ing only 423 square miles, we con-
slider this . good showing. We are
now adequately financed with a
budget for next year showing
81 500 total resources. An idea OF
the healthy growth Of the farm bu-
reau can be gained by compa-i-
son Of the above budget with the
total resources in 1916, which
amounted to only 1886. With this
increase in membership. the prob
lem of serving them adequately be-
comes more acute. Group meet
ings seem to be the only possible
solution.
During the year the adviser has
had 2,2S1 consultations on subjects
varying from hog capsules to COM
munity betterment. Our work
would be greatly facilitated by
private consulting Office. A CON-
mittee was appointed at the annual
meeting to look up new location
and in the event such is secured,
the matter of a private Office will
be taken care of.
A total of $40 actual farm visits
have been made during the year.
This il not the most valuable ser
vice that can be rendered in farm
bureau work under the present
conditions. Too much time is TAX
en- in serving q few. The group
method seems imperative.
BETTER System, Is Aim.
The trend of agricultural thought
seems to be toward better systems
of marketing the farmers pro-
ducts: and while the farm bureau
is still headquarters for up-to-date
information ON better cultural
methods, better feeding, better live
stock and everything that pertains
to a more productive agriculture,
yet We feel that our big job is to
help towards perfecting a real
marketing program that will tend
to stabilize the markets for farm
products.
To this end we encouraged the
patronizins of the 10 cooperative
live stock shipping associations in
the county, have advocated and en-
couraged the idea of farmers CO.
operative elevator companies, and
organized a wool pool. Just as the
cooperative live stock shipping
association Is the local unit or
which our cooperative elevator
companies must be builded, SO. the
farmers cooperative elevator com
panies must doubtless be the locaI
unit around which our grain mar,
keting program will be erected.
From the ten different shipping
points in the county, 713 carload:
of stock were shipped with q tota
receipt Of $1.573 1862.
The farm adviser has assisted il
the organizing Of two farmers CO
operative elevators in the county
one at Reynolds, capitalized a
$4,000, with 120 stockholders, ant
one at Hillsdale, capitalized a
$4,000. with 155 stockholders.
Co.Operatire Buying.
| During the year the farm bu
reau has done considerable coop
erative buying for its members
Seed. fertilizer, feeds, spray ma
terial and equipment, flour, pota
toes. etc, have been purchased il
carload lots and less and furnishe,
to the members at cost plus
smaS handling charge. OF thi
business $4,000 worth was han
died through farm bureau funds
practically all Of the fertilizer bus
mess and good deal of the fee,
was handled by the directors in tn
different townships. The amour
OF business handled in the latte
way, it We had the figures on il
would nearly equal the aboy
amount. We ind the latter meth
cd best. The farm bureau offic
secures quotations, places order
and has the goods delivered at tn
community station. The local me
must take the orders, finance tn
proposition and deliver the con-,
modify. All of our co-opsratiy
buying will have to be handle
in this way in the future, sinc
our executive committee has yote
that farm bureau funds shall M
be used for this purpose. Al n
best. we feel that this business
more or less Of a necessary eyi
and that the proper agency for
is the farmers cooperative ole
vator, but until such time :
every community is served bv sucI
an institution, and as long a. I'll
local men are willing to handle an
finance this business. We viii cor
tnue T. cooperate with them.
r IN Lean Asseeiatleaa
The Rock Island cnurtv .,na.