l8 UNITED STATES - CO-OPERATION AND ASSOCIATION 



central markets. The farmers have now found that by combining to pay 

 a manager and ship their own stock in carload lots, they can effect large 

 savings. Such an association needs practically no capital: success depends 

 chiefly on correct book-keeping and on the regular despatch of well-graded 

 shipments to market. In the neighbouring state of Minnesota where this 

 form of co-operation is more widely developed, a central association has 

 already been formed to promote the formation of new societies and study 

 the question of better methods for the adoption of the local societies. In 

 Wisconsin, which like Minnesota is one of the important livestock prod- 

 ucing states, the movement is capable of immense development. 



5. — Fruit Growers' Associations. 



The oldest fruit growers' association in Wisconsin is the Sparta Fruit 

 Growers' Association, formed in May, 1896. Starting with 75 members 

 it proved very successful and has now a membership of 285 and a capital 

 of $6,oo'j. 



In 1911 it sold fruit, chiefly strawberries, to .the value of $30,000. 

 So far the method adopted has been to sell through commission men who 

 charge the association 7 per cent, on gross sales. 



Other co-operative selling associations in the State are the Door County 

 Fruit Exchange, the Bayfield Peninsula Fruit Association, and the Wiscon- 

 sin Cranberry Sales Company. 



The Cranberry Sales Company, though it has only forty members 

 throughout the State, is ver^^ strongl}^ organized, and is a branch of the 

 American Cranberry Exchange, which is responsible for marketing practi- 

 cally the whole of the United States cranberry crop. During the season 

 of 1911 the Wisconsin Cranberry Sales Company sold 90 percent, of the total 

 crop, amounting to 33,000 barrels of fruit, through the Exchange, at a price 

 which yielded the growers just over $ 6 a barrel. The Exchange remits 

 80 per cent, of the receipts frcm each sale to the Company, retaining 20 per 

 cent, until the end of the season when the whole amount, less operating 

 expenses and a small contribution to a sinking fund, is handed over to the 

 company. Operating expenses, from season to season, amount only to 

 from one-tenth to one-eighth of the gross receipts — a remarkably good 

 record in the marketing of perishable fruit. 



6. — Mutual Telephone Associations. 



In 1912 there were in the State 309 mutual telephone associations 

 known to the Railroad Rate Commission, but as only those associations 

 which charge a rate to non-members are compelled to furnish reports, the 

 figures are probably incomplete. 



These 309 associations were serving 21,049 ^i-^ral families, giving an 

 average of 68 members to each association. Most of the associations are 



