206 THE PATRONS TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS. 



task. Having determined the necessity and feasibility of doing 

 something, what, how, and how much, remained to be settled. 

 While it was felt that anything that might become necessary to 

 protect the commercial interests of Patrons was consistent with 

 the scheme, it was clear that speculation was no part of a 

 farmer s business. It was, therefore, determined to limit the 

 functions of the incorporation to a factor s business, and the 

 articles of agreement were framed accordingly. As Grangers, 

 it is not intended to make war upon any legitimate business, 

 nor to interrupt commerce in any of its established channels. 

 But they do propose to protect themselves by all proper means, 

 and to avoid all unnecessary expense in the transportation of 

 their products, thereby securing better pay for their labor and 

 the use of their capital. They do not object to reasonable com 

 missions, but to extortion. 



Another question that has very generally agitated the minds 

 of Patrons, and that was thoroughly discussed by the conven 

 tion, was the relative importance of local incorporations. It 

 was deemed safe to leave it to Patrons to settle for themselves 

 according to the circumstances of their respective localities. 

 These local incorporations may become important auxiliaries to 

 the Business Association, and the Association must, when once 

 established, contribute largely to their success, by affording 

 them facilities and connections for trade at the central market 

 of the State, which, without it, they cannot have. While, there 

 fore, the benefits are reciprocal, it seems more needful first to 

 nurture the trunk, whence the branches may be sent out to cover 

 with their beneficent shade every Grange and every Granger in 

 the land. 



Some idea of the amount of business that may be reasonably 

 expected to be done by the Association during the present year, 

 may be formed &quot;By considering the amount of transactions at 

 San Francisco in agricultural and dairy products during the 

 year 1874, of which the following is a reliable statement: 

 dairy products total value, $5,000,000; wheat k 21,000,000 

 centals, at $1 70, total value, $35,700,000; wool 40,000,000 

 pounds, total value, $6,800,000; barley, oats, hay, etc., total 

 value, $5,000,000; fruit crop total value, $2,000,000; wine 

 total value, $4,000,000. 



We omit all mention of poultry, eggs, beans, potatoes and 

 other products, each of which amounts to a large business of 



