CHAPTER XII. 



EARLY STRUGGLES AND THEIR FRUITION. 



TESTING THE WORK ALREADY DONE. 



Very soon after the establishment of the parent or Na 

 tional Grange, a subordinate Grange was organized at 

 Washington, numbering about sixty members. This was 

 intended, not only as a school of instruction, but also as a 

 means of testing the efficiency of the ritual. The latter 

 being found good, so far as it went, in January, 1868, a 

 second circular was sent out to various portions of the 

 States, in which the objects of the Order were announced. 



Some of these objects were stated to be, &quot; to advance edu 

 cation, to elevate and dignify the occupation of the farmer, 

 and to protect its members against the numerous combina 

 tions by which their interests were injuriously affected.&quot; 



Among the benefits to be derived, as stated by the circu 

 lar, were : &quot; Systematic arrangements for procuring and 

 disseminating, in the most expeditious manner, information 

 relative to crops, demand and supply, prices, markets, 

 transportation throughout the country, and for the estab 

 lishment of depots for the sale of special and general prod 

 ucts in the cities ; also, for the purchase and exchange of 

 stock, seeds, and desired varieties of plants and trees, and 

 for the purpose of procuring help at home or from abroad, 

 and situations for persons seeking employment; also, for 

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