STATE GEA]^fGE OF ILLINOIS. 29 



appointment was proving satisfactory to all Patrons who did 

 business with the firm. And we have yet to learn that any 

 Patron has sufiered pecuniary loss by their unfortunate failure. 



A statement is herewith submitted showins^ the kind and 

 amount of business done by this Agencj' for Patrons in this 

 State, from the time of their appointment up to the 1st of 

 November, which will show to what extent the members of the 

 Order appreciate the business arrangements made for them by 

 those to whom the}^ have given authority, and is valuable as a 

 guide for future operations. 



At its meeting on the 28th of January, your committee very 

 fully and carefully considered the plan upon which the business 

 of the Purchasing Agency should be conducted. The plans 

 adopted in other States and in some counties in this State, were 

 presented and discussed. 



While it was generally admitted to be desirable that the 

 Agency should be established at some large business center 

 which i^ossessed facilities for the transfer and shipment of goods, 

 with an office and facilities for keeping on hand, at least, a 

 limited stock of goods, yet there was, at least, one obstacle in 

 the way which seemed insurmountable. It was evident that 

 such an Agency could not be established and continued without 

 the use of some considerable capital. Where was this money 

 to come from? The State Grange at that time was considerably 

 in debt. Even had there been sufficient funds in the State 

 Treasury, your committee did not consider that they had the 

 authority to use it for that purpose. Unfortunatel}^ we, as an 

 Order, were not in a condition to convince private parties that 

 it was for their interest to use their own money in the main- 

 tenance of such an establishment. Hence the committee felt 

 compelled to adopt such a plan as could be operated with 

 comparative!}^ little expense. Their deliberations resulted in 

 the adoption of the plan explained in the following resolution 

 of instructions to the Purchasing Agent, oflPered by Brother 

 Kennedy : 



Resolution. — " It shall be the duty of the State Agent to ascertain the 

 lowest price for which farm supplies and machinery can be purchased, 

 in cash, and to send the conditions to the Purchasing Agents in each 

 county and to the Subordinate Granges, so that Agents and Granges may 

 send their orders directly to the manufacturers for such articles as they 

 may desire." 



S. J. Frew was then selected Agent to perform the labor 

 contemplated in the above resolution, with a compensation of 

 two dollars and a half pei day for the time actually employed, 

 and expenses. His accompanying report will give an exhibit of 

 the work done at his office. On the 20th of February the 

 committee completed the consideration of amendments to the 



