MARKETS AND RURAL ORGANIZATION. 369 



cooperative organizations or to smaller banks who in turn loaned to 

 cooperative organizations, the security required, and the methods of 

 obtaining these loans. Circulars were forwarded to over 300 organ- 

 izations scattered throughout the country, and from those returned 

 information as to the financing of over 175 cooperative organizations 

 was secured. From a study of this material it has been possible to 

 make recommendations to various organizations throughout the coun- 

 try as to plans of financing and to make certain suggestions as to the 

 type of organization which will be most successful from a financing 

 standpoint. 



COOPERATIVE EETAIL STOEES : INVESTIGATION, BUSINESS PBACTICES. 



Owing to the prevailing interest in the present status of the coop- 

 erative retail stores, practically all of which are conducted for 

 farmers and handle supplies for the farm, it was believed that the 

 underlying principles of success and failure of these organizations 

 should be ascertained, in order that the office could be in a position 

 to state the facts relating to these enterprises. During the past fiscal 

 year personal visits were made to 15 cooperative stores located in 

 New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. A complete 

 analysis of the business of these stores was made and a detailed his- 

 tory of the organizations obtained. As it was decided to extend this 

 investigation during the fiscal year 1916, it is planned to make per- 

 sonal visits to cooperative stores located in the other sections of the 

 United States, securing a complete analysis of the business of the 

 stores visited from the time of their organization to the present day, 

 ascertaining the reasons for success or failure, the benefits derived 

 by the members, if any, and if possible to determine the exact status 

 of the cooperative store in the United States to-day. In order that 

 this movement may be looked upon in the light of the facts as to the 

 past successes and failures, and the present economic position of these 

 enterprises, it is necessary to make a complete study of these organi- 

 zations. 



STATE LAW^S RELATING TO COMMISSION BUSINESS. 



Investigations have been started relating to the commission laws 

 recently passed in the States of Alabama, Colorado, Washington, 

 and New York. These laws prescribe certain requirements of indi- 

 viduals and concerns engaged in handling agricultural products on a 

 commission basis. The purpose of these investigations is to watch 

 the operation and ascertain the effect of the requirements prescribed 

 in these laws upon the business in general, and the effect as it relates 

 to the producer and the consumer. 



SURVEY OF THE BUSINESS OF COOPERATIVE CANNING OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. 



In cooperation with the Bureau of Organization and Marketmg of 

 the Oregon State Agricultural College, a comprehensive survey of 

 the business of canning fruits and vegetables cooperatively in the 

 Pacific Northwest has been made. This survey covered the business 

 of 21 canneries located in Washington, Oregon, and California. 

 Over 80 per cent of the cooperative fruit and vegetable canneries 

 in this territory have been complete failures. In order to determine 

 the reasons for the great number of failures and the requirements 

 22814°— AGR 1915 24 



