Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-05-24
A Typical Origin
of Cooperation
in DENIM ark
BY LUDWIG MOSBEK, Askov, MINI.
on a visit in Denmark 193334.

| on visit in Denmark 1933-34.
My earliest recollection of co-opera-
tive buying goes back about 60 years
when my father bought a sack OF
wheat flour before Christmas to be
divided among his neighbors. We had
never tasted or heard of white bread
from wheat before and we children
needed no butter nor cheese, it was a
treat in itself Similar cooperative
buying occurred off and on until 1888
when we organized cooperative as
ISOLATION in Stovring with A. c. Lunds-
gard as cashier and Ludwig Mosbak
as manager and president. l have
lust visited this store where | found
the old book with minutes of develop
ments from which l will draw few
interesting points of meetings of the
board of directors.
First meeting-It was decided to
borrow 500 "Kroner" ($15O. Second
to add 1870 to the price paid for
goods. Third-To keep store open two
hours from to 9 p. m. Wednesday
and Saturday; the board of directors
July IA meeting to borrow
$50 additional so we could pay cash
for goods, and a young man was hired
to do the weighing and receive go
of the profits for his work. At the
first biennial meeting it was decided
to pay a patronage dividend of 1919 on
purchases besides a certain amount
100 'KrOner"-to go to a reserve fund,
and SO to an educational fund and
the balance to so over to next years
account. Also decided to keep open
four afternoons weekly and pay 29o
in wages of gross sales.
December 10-Decided to keep store
open from 9 a. m. to p. m, six days
week. February IS, 1SS9-Decided
to keep a stock of lumber, feed and
flour. Decided to borrow sufficient
money to pay spot cash for all pur-
chases, as it was found we could buy
cheaper on a cash basis. Decided
that members must come with orders
in writing. Decided that young peo-
pie could become members for &c
but to have no voting power nor any
responsibilities. March meeting
The managers wages for last half
year to be paid with the equal of SO
of gross sales. March 22-Decided to
carry field seeds and keep open from
Z a. m. to 9 p. m. August 16-Decided
to pay a patronage dividend of Sc
$50 to reserve fund and S25 to edu-
cational fund. September 10-Voted
to pay manager in wages $50 on gen.
eral merchandise and 20 on feed,
seed, lumber and the like. February
-, borrowed $500 at 415%.
On January ~, 1890 l find the fol-
lowing statistics: The Cooperative
Consumers Society in Stovring organ
lied May 16. 1888. Membership Janu-
airy 1, 1S91-115 farmers and so
others, total of 165. Distribution of
merchandise in 1890 of 63,3O4 Kroner,
so Ore. Net profits in 1890 of 1891
Kroner Ore. Reserve fund Jan. 1,
1S91-411 Kroner Ore.
Shows Growth.
For comparison: Distribution Of
general merchandise in 1933-260.OOO
goods, $4,000 Kroner; feeds and COM
mercial fertilizers, 523,5OO Kroner
Net profits on general merchandise
$4,000 Kroner (CrOwns); net profits on
feed and fertilizer, $4,000 Kroner.
Outstanding accounts, none. Reserve
fund occupied in elaborate buildings
and merchandise and a membership
investment in their wholesale CO.
operative association. Dividend paid
last year, SO; owe for merchandise,
about 1900 Kroner.
This is pleasant picture of what
has grown from a small beginning
in 46 years in consumers cooperation
in Denmark.
In the same period about As years
ago we organized our cooperative
creameries on a basis of a ten years
unrevOcable membership in which
every member signed an agreement to
deliver all his milk or cream in that
period; 1919 of the original cost and
all running expenses to be paid off
annually, so the creamery was free of
all debt at the termination of the
agreement, when similar new agree
ment could be entered into on a SIM
liar basis.
On like basis we organized our
cooperative slaughter houses (pack-
ing houses). They are all running
strong today, and control the majority
OF farmers production along these
lines.
|
L find the farmers in Denmark
mostly well situated in the present
crisis, compared with the American
farmer.