MARKETS AND EUEAL OEGANIZATION. 391 



A preliminary study has been made of the outlook for the organi- 

 zation of farmers' mutual elevator-insurance companies in the grain- 

 producing States of the Middle West. The methods of the New 

 England factory mutuals have been studied in order to determine 

 whether it will be practicable to apply the experience of these com- 

 panies to the elevator-insurance problem and in some measure to 

 agricultural insurance in general. 



COMMUNICATION. 



A preliminary study has been made of farmers' mutual telephone 

 companies and some aid has been extended in this field. 



Mr. C. W. Thompson is in charge of this project, with the assist- 

 ance of Mr. Y. N. Valgren and field collaborators. 



SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. 



COMMUNITY PURVEYS AND FOLLOW-UP STUDIES. 



Three social and economic surveys have been undertaken under 

 this project. The first in Chilton County, Ala., was completed by 

 June 30, 1914, and has been followed up by experimental studies in 

 constructive organization work. 



One need revealed in connection with this survey was that of a 

 thorough educational campaign in the interests of health and sani- 

 tation, and this is now being conducted cooperatively by the county 

 medical society, board of county commissioners, county school board, 

 county demonstration agent, and Chilton County Fair Association. 

 The United States Public Health Service has rendered advisory 

 assistance. Another result secured was the appointment of a county 

 nurse. This was accomplished through the cooperation of the board 

 of county commissioners, county school board, county medical so- 

 ciety, county demonstration agent, and three village improvement 

 associations. A fund of $1,500 Avas secured and the county nurse was 

 appointed April 1, 1914. During the first year this nurse examined 

 1,500 school children for the usual physical defects and gave in- 

 structions to parents and teachers in regard to the necessity for treat- 

 ment. These studies also led to the analyses of several hundred 

 samples of water in different localities, revealing widespread sources 

 of infection for typhoid fever. As a result, the services of the county 

 health officer were secured in at least eight communities to vaccinate 

 about 500 persons. In one community alone 64 persons were thus 

 treated. Other communities and counties haA^e followed this example. 



Community clean-up days, athletic meets, and other recreational 

 days have been held, a federation of local village and farmers' organi- 

 zations has been formed, and there is now an organized demand in 

 this county for an all-time health officer and for a domestic-science 

 teacher. Finally the county has purchased a motion-picture machine 

 for use in educational and recreational activities and in promoting 

 interest in improving sanitary conditions throughout the county. 



Two other surveys carried on in cooperation with this office are in 

 progress, one in Albemarle County, Va., begun April 1, 1915, and one 

 in Orange County, N. C, begun January 1, 1915. These will be 

 followed up by such constructive organized effort as the facts 

 gathered may suggest. 



