168 BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS. 



in every way it can consistently with its own safety. It will, as 

 soon as practicable, borrow funds with which to assist those 

 who are now in the clutches of merchants or others, if such 

 persons endeavor to oppress our members because they seek to 

 better their condition by this method of cooperation. The 

 company is organized for the benefit of its stockholders, and 

 any system of relief to them that can be devised and safely 

 carried out will be inaugurated for the common good. 



Encouraged by the success of the experiments mentioned 

 above, the Yisalia Grangers have just opened a similar insti 

 tution with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars. At 

 Grand Island, Colusa County, one has recently been inaugu 

 rated, as also one at Meridian, Sutter County; but neither of 

 these has been in operation long enough to show a balance 

 sheet. Santa Barbara just now announces an incorporation 

 with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, and we doubt not will 

 soon give a good account of herself. San Buenaventura is also 

 on the way, and sundry other places are discussing the matter, 

 with every probability of soon reaching the point of incorpora 

 tion. Everywhere the local merchants have displayed more or 

 less hostility toward these enterprises, until they become satis 

 fied that, if the Grangers were only let alone, they would pur 

 sue the even tenor of their way, &quot; without making war on any 

 legitimate business; and gradually matters have adjusted them 

 selves so as to work without friction. 



In addition to what has already been mentioned, the Grangers 

 of the Salinas Valley have constructed a narrow-gauge railroad 

 from Salinas City to Monterey, that they might get their grain 

 from the field to the ship at the nearest point, and at the least 

 cost. The Salinas is a large, fertile valley, opening out to the 

 coast with a first-class harbor, and there is no reason why its 

 products should not be shipped direct to European markets, 

 thus avoiding the expensive carrying and handling via San 

 Francisco. The Grangers saw the opportunity, seized it, and 

 have made a grand success of the project, without detriment to 

 any other interest. Other projects of a similar character are 

 under discussion, with promises of success, and we see no 

 reason why the Grangers, if they have the means, should not 

 become railroad builders as well as anybody else. 



The Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company is another 

 achievement, the present standing of wnich, after an existence 



