STATE ORANGE OF ILLINOIS. 27 



Farm Journal for the free use of their columns to circulate 

 necessary instruction in regard to the interests of this depart- 

 ment, which they very kindly granted. Had ir not been for 

 this, this department too must have been unheard from. 



Another cause of failure was, that I had no place for the trans- 

 action of business except my own residence. Of course then I 

 could not handle a line of goods. Had I been located at Chi- 

 cago or St. Louis with facilities for the transaction of business, 

 I could have had a stock of implements from at least many 

 manufacturers, to be paid I'or as sold. I would recommend that 

 hereafter Chicago or East St. Louis be made the headquarters of 

 this department. A warehouse should be procured and business 

 transacted in a business way. If goods were furnished to county 

 agents and members of the Order at an advance of about two per 

 cent., it would go far towards defraying the expenses of the 

 agency, and at the same time, if they would lay in their sup- 

 plies from that source, the trade would be so immense that they 

 could still purchase lower than at present. There would not be 

 a local agent in the State that could begin to compete with us. 

 Another feature developed at the meeting of agents at Ottawa 

 was, that the same jealousies existing among local agencies was 

 manifest there, they being afraid to speak freely about the prices 

 paid for stock. Such a state of affairs does not speak well of 

 that system. 



If we were prepared for it, we could have a very extensive 

 trade with the Granges in the Eastern and Southern States. I 

 have frequent calls from them for flour, corn, bran, and other 

 feed, but am obliged to say, in answer, that we are not in a situ- 

 ation to co-operate with them. The Granges south would take 

 our corn and oats and give us sugar, rice, molasses, and coffee in 

 return. There is not a State in the Union where these arrange- 

 ments can be as satisfactorily made as in Illinois. We are 

 geographically situated where all important lines of transpor- 

 tation North and South, East and West, traverse our State in all 

 directions, to say nothing of the unparalleled advantages of 

 water transportation. If we uUl we aai make our State one of 

 special benefits and blessings that will enrich ourselves and flow 

 out on all sides to others, who will rise up and bless us for it. 

 Then let us not bury our talents or keep them laid up in 

 napkins. 



I am frequently asked how co-operative stores under county 

 agencies can be most successfully operated. As a general thing 

 I would say, first organize a company under the law of the State, 

 regulating corjjorations. This being done, open books for a 

 subscription to a cash capital of not less than $3,000. Let the 

 shares be §10 each, and allow any member to take as many as 

 ten, but no more. This brings it within the reach of all, ami at 



