The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-05-18
SOCIETIES
Do BILLION
BUSINESS
Cooperative Selling Finally
Successful, Assistant Secre-
tary PugsIey Says.

Close to $1,000, 100000 worth Of
business will be done by farmers
cooperative societies for the year
1923, according to the estimate to-
day of c. w. Pugsley, assistant
secretary of agriculture. Elimina.
ton of the middle man" and
profiteering commission merchant
| is going forward with tremendous
impetus, to the great advantage OF
both farmer and consumer, he
said.
''It is probably true that most
people do not fully appreciate the
development of cooperative market
ing which has come among the
farmers of this country during re.
cent years." Pugsley stated "The
larger scale movements among
growers OF cotton, tobacco, dairy
products, grain, fruits and vege-
tables show that the farmer is
making more and more use Of bust
ness methods in the sale OF his
products.
Headed Toward Success.
There is no doubt that the
movement is headed toward success.
The United States Department of
Agriculture, in 1921 received reports
from 3,49S cooperative associations
in the United States, which indi.
cate a total business that year Of
$444, 1877 ,009,
There were many associations
and societies that did not report
and it is safe to say that from
1921 to 1923 their number has in
creased. their total business will
reach a billion dollars.
"Of the associations reporting,
2,179 which were west OF the Mis-.
sissippi river did a business of
1886, 661 900, while the 1919 east of
the Mississippi did a total business
of $159,316,0O ~
movement among the farmers has
mentation. The pathway Of the
pioneer was difficult and tortuous.
Mistakes were made, and collapse
and ruin followed in the wake of
many Of their early adventures. But
the sturdy spirit of the American
pioneer has at last met and over
come hosts Of economic and other
obstacles, until the farmers have
reached the ponit in cooperative
buying and selling where they are
closely approaching safe and sure
ground.
Individual Shipments Ruinous.
. Farmers found that it is. ruinous
for all Of them, acting individually
1 and without. cooperation, to ship
their products to the market at
one time explained Assistant Sec
rotary Pugsley "a cooperative
marketing organization proposes to
| nnrfOrT1 IN
| way than 1t could be performed by
| a number Of individuals sending
their 'pr6ducts afmless1y Into mar
kets of which they are ignorant.
What the city consumer must
have is a easonal flow of the ne.
cessities OF life through a system
that will avoid dumping an entire
crop on him at the high tide of
the season, which. always. results
In Cutting the market for q short
time and. causing a, shortage for the
remainder of the year.
Being deeply concerned with the
problem of the tremendous losses to
both producers, and consumers bv
Wastage and decay consequent to
gluttoned markets., the United
States Department of Agriculture
has deeply interested itself for
several years in the cooperative
movement. -
ut is true that some of the
societies have met with disaster Of
one kind or another, but so have
banks, railroads, business houses
and other organizations. All in all,
the farmers cooperative marketing
associations have made a good
record for efficiency and will un.
doubleday play major part in our
economic life of the future"