Ar,l<ICUI.Tl-KAI, PRODUCTS, PRESERVIXC, PACKIXO., TRANSPORT TRADE l^bq 



Consequently farmer's elevators are not, properly speaking, co-operative 

 undertakings in the true sense of the word. 



The dividends paid by the Societies are of course very variable-. In 

 1913-1914, the position of these establishments was ver^' prosperous. Of 

 the 161 Societies about which the writer possesses information, 64 paid no 

 dividends (20 of them losing money), 66 paid a dividend below 10 %, 18 a 

 dividend between 10 and 20 ",'|, 8 between 20 and 30 '';,, and 5 a dividend 

 xceeding 30 *^^',. 



The managers of farmer's elevators were, at the beginning, often much 

 under-paid, which resulted in certain mishaps. At present the salaries of 

 managers range from .*?6o to S165 per month, with an average of 890. 

 The reports received for 1912-13 show tliat in those elevators which 

 were losing money the maiiager's salaries were about 810 per month less 

 than those of the managers of profit-earning elevators. The managers are, 

 in the majority of cases (78.2 %), required to deposit security varying, 

 according to the elevators, from i 000 dollars to 25 000 dollars. 



The writer next gives indications on the cost of handling grain in ele- 

 vators, which is variable according to the amount of bu.siness transacted, as 

 appears from the following figures : 



When farmers bulk their goods in their own elevators, they reduce the 

 cost of handling, and therefore get higher prices for their grain. Probably 

 farmer's elevators save tho.se concerned about i 000 000 dollars per annum 

 in [Minnesota. 



The farmers utili.se their elevators for the purchase of the different 

 goods the}' need ; this business is of very great importance in Minnesota. 

 In 1912-13 the purchases amounted to about 2 000 000 dollars, comprising 

 coal, flour, food, etc. : 63 % of the elevators engaged in the purchase of coal, 

 .fi % food, 40% flour, 35 °(, binding string, 18% seed, and 16 % .salt. 

 Business was also transacted relating to cement, agricultural implements, 

 timber, fencing material (including iron wire fencing), and oil. 



At the close, the Author gives advice as to the mode of organisation of 

 a Society and a specimen of by-laws. 



