WHAT HAPPENED IN ALBERTA 239 



willing to adjust themselves to the requirements of an 

 association for shipping stock together in carload lots 

 to be sold at the large markets. Until such demonstra- 

 tion had been made it seemed advisable to defer the 

 organization of a co-operative packing business. 



After the formation of the Co-Operative Elevator 

 Company, therefore, the Alberta farmers proceeded to 

 encourage the co-operative shipment of livestock on 

 consignment by their local unions. The Livestock 

 Department entered the field first as buyers of hogs, 

 handling 16,000 hogs in the first four months. The 

 experiment bettered prices by half-a-cent per pound 

 and the expansion of the Department began in earnest 

 the following season when nearly 800 cars of hogs, 

 cattle and sheep were handled. 



On top of all the other troubles of the first year the 

 farmers lost a valuable leader in the death of the 

 president of the Co-Operative Elevator Company, 

 W. J. Tregillus. Complete re-organization of the 

 Executive was made and the question of his successor 

 was considered from every angle. It was vital that no 

 mistake be made in this connection and two of the 

 directors were sent to study the business methods and 

 policies of the Grain Growers' Grain Company and the 

 Saskatchewan Co-Operative Elevator Company and to 

 secure a General Manager. They failed to get in touch 

 with anyone to fill the requirements and the manage- 

 ment of both the other farmers' concerns expressed 

 grave doubts as to the wisdom of a farmers' company 

 looking for a manager whose training had been 

 received with line elevator companies and who had not 

 seen things from the farmer's side. 



One of the remarkable features of the advance of the 

 Farmers' Movement has been the manner in which 





