1104 Kew Yokk State Agkicultural Society 



legislation, so that we have not been able to present entirely satis- 

 factory papers at this time, but they are under development and 

 we hope to have them ready for early use. The conference of the 

 State Standing Committee on Cooperation also recommended that 

 the state be requested to assist in the organization of the co- 

 operative shipping association either through the committee or 

 through the Department of Agriculture, there being a precedent 

 in other states and other countries for this assistance to coopera- 

 tive work in its early development. We ask our Legislative Com- 

 mittee to further the interest of this request. 



We are making our shipping initiative none too soon. The 

 State of Maine already has a fast developing system of coopera- 

 tion. The development of the trade in C^alifornia fruits and 

 Oregon apples is a familiar subject. Local cooperative societies 

 for the manufacture and sale of dairy products, for the gathering 

 and shipping of eggs, for the packing and marketing of 

 fruits, and for the sale and delivery of milk, are meeting with 

 great success in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and 

 other states. In Xew York City and its suburbs, local com- 

 munities are organizing cooperative stores to supply their mem- 

 bers Avith food supplies. Only last week the large restaurant and 

 hotel keepers in Xew^ York City organized themselves into a co- 

 operative association with a million dollars capital for the purpose 

 of buying foods without paying tribute to middlemen, food specu- 

 lators and others. All of these consumers are chafing under the 

 constantly advancing costs of food products. They are anxious 

 to buy from the producer at first hand but they must have a steady 

 su})ply and uniform grades. They will demand full weights and 

 measures. The individual shipper cannot hope to supply this 

 trade. Direct selling l)v the producer and direct buving bv these 

 large consumers will be possi])le only thi-ougli cooperation in pack- 

 ing, grading and shipping. This is an outlet now for farm food 

 products of every kind and description that New York State pro- 

 (hiccrs ought to command at once, and may command if they pre- 

 pare themselves to supply it. Someone is going to have the trade 

 and those who have it first will have the advantage in future sales. 

 I am personally acquainted with the president of the Hotelmen's 

 Company and T shall be glad to do everything that I can to con- 



