THE FARMER'S WAR AGAINST MONOPOLIES. 487 



system. The magnificent -success of the scheme in 

 Iowa shows that it is not chimerical, but that it is 

 based upon sound business principles, and only needs 

 the cordial cooperation of members of the Order else- 

 where to make it equally successful in other States. 



In Minnesota, where no organized system of coopera- 

 tive buying and selling has been adopted, a number of 

 separate Granges have made purchases at wholesale, 

 but they have not been able to make as favorable terms 

 as the State agent of the Iowa Grange ; but even these 

 efforts, it was stated at the last meeting of the Minne- 

 sota State Grange, had resulted in the saving of three- 

 quarters of a million of dollars to the farmers of the 

 State. 



The advantage of this feature of the Grange to the 

 farmer is incalculable. Millions of dollars can and will 

 be thus saved to the agriculturalists of the country, 

 and the beneficial effects of this saving will soon be 

 apparent. 



One of the good results of the system came under 

 the observation of the writer while these pages were 

 being written. In a certain large city of the Eastern 

 States, there is a mercantile house largely engaged in 

 the purchase and exportation of Southern cotton. 

 Among the debtors of this firm was a certain planter 

 in a Southern State, whose indebtedness amounted to 

 several thousand dollars. Wishing to close the ac- 

 count, and being in need of money, the firm applied 

 to the planter for a remittance. He having business 

 in their city, replied in person. He told them that, 

 owing to the great stringency of the money market, 

 he found himself unable to obtain ready money, and 

 would be obliged to ask their indulgence for a little 



