REPORT OF THE STATE AGENT. 177 



The various official reports furnished gratifying proof of the 

 earnestness and economy with which the work of the Order had 

 been prosecuted. They are necessarily presented here in a 

 greatly abridged form. First in importance was the report of 

 the State Agent, Bro. I. G. Gardner, as follows: 



When the office was first opened, it had to contend with men 

 brought up and trained in mercantile pursuits, who looked upon 

 our movements with suspicion, well knowing that, should we pre 

 serve harmony amongst ourselves, great innovations would neces 

 sarily be made. I have spared neither time nor patience in the en 

 deavor to place the office in a position that would compel the respect 

 of its enemies, and protect, to the fullest extent, the interests of our 

 Order. 



The amount of money saved to purchasers, during the short period 

 of my agency, has reached the sum of $15,000, while the expense 

 of the same, including salary of agent, clerk-hire, etc., has been 

 $411 66, over and above its earnings, which are derived from com 

 mission alone, at one half the rate charged by commission houses. 

 During the greater portion of the time Bro. Kellogg was in the of 

 fice, no commissions were charged. The business of the agency is 

 increasing, and more confidence appears to exist in its operations as 

 experience is acquired. 



The direct savings upon actual purchases, through the agency, are 

 insignificant, compared with the indirect influence such purchases 

 have had on the general market throughout the State. 



As the accompanying statement shows the amount of business in 

 the matter of purchase done by the agency, the general effect of its 

 influence has produced the following results. Last year, when 

 there were short crops, and a large surplus of agricultural imple 

 ments, the maximum discount that could be obtained on such im 

 plements, for cash, was five per cent. ; and even this concession was 

 made only to those whose experience taught them that a discount 

 was due. In many cases, three per cent, was the greatest amount 

 allowed. 



This year, with an abundant harvest, causing a demand beyond 

 the supply of agricultural implements, through the operations of 

 this agency a discount of fifteen per cent., for cash, on the large 

 purchases of implements by said agency, has been allowed. I 

 estimate the reduction on groceries and general merchandise, by 

 the efforts of this agency, to be five per cent, on $4,000,000 a clear 

 saving to the Patrons of $200,000, over and above the present prices 

 paid by those who do not and cannot belong to our organization. 



On sacks, we have caused a reduction of one cent each, aside from 

 the still greater reduction caused by the large importation thereof 

 by E. E. Morgan s Sons, as per agreement with our Granges. The 

 consumption of sacks this year has been 15,000,000, on which a clear 

 saving has been made of one per cent., or $150,000 more. 



Through the operations of E. E. Morgan s Sons, and the various 

 other means made use of by the Executive Committee, we are en 

 abled to give the following figures as the result of our operations 

 for the first year : 

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