122 WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. 



The agency in New Orleans is now ready to receive flour, 

 corn, bacon, and other western products, in exchange for 

 sugars, syrups, etc., which the South has to spare. 



In general, it may be said that the business operations of the 

 Order have more than tripled during the past year. Business 

 agencies are established in more than twenty-five States, includ 

 ing all the Western, Southern and Pacific States; and in the 

 Eastern States such agencies are rapidly multiplying, and while 

 increasing in numbers they are perfecting their plans of doing 

 business. Col. Shankland is in constant correspondence with 

 the several agents, and is making numerous journeys to attend 

 their conventions. County and district agencies, auxiliary to 

 the State agencies, are forming everywhere, and all are increas 

 ing in efficiency as they learn the routine of business, and as 

 the members of the Order learn the facilities and savings of the 

 agencies. 



For example : In Iowa more than half the elevators are now 

 in the hands of Patrons, and elevator companies, cooperative 

 stores and mutual insurance companies are constantly increas 

 ing. Some of them, while saving largely for their customers, 

 are also making large profits for themselves. Of course their 

 success depends much on the experience, tact, zeal and honesty 

 of the agent in charge; but in a general way it may be said that 

 all are doing well and meeting the expectations of their found 

 ers. By way of illustration, a fire insurance company in Wis 

 consin, which is carrying four hundred and fifty thousand dol 

 lars of risks on the following plan payment of one dollar and 

 fifty cents for survey and policy, and one tenth of one per cent, 

 on the risk has not lost a dollar in a year. 



A State and National organization of colored men, has been 

 formed at the South, not political in its character, which claims 

 to be an auxiliary to our Order and which desires to receive its 

 supplies through our agencies. Indeed, already several car 

 loads of goods have been furnished them in this way. 



Under the special charge of Col. Aikin, of South Carolina, 

 another member of the Executive Committee of the National 

 Grange, the collating and publishing of information about the 

 crops and markets is a matter fast assuming vast consequence. 

 His reports are more complete in their statistics and more 

 prompt in their issue than the corresponding reports of the 

 Government Bureau of Agriculture. It is hoped to be able 



