BULLETIN OF THE 



No. 236 



Contribution from the Office of Markets and Rural Organization 

 Charles J. Brand, Chief. 



May I. 1915. 



A SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTS FOR 

 FARMERS' COOPERATIVE ELEVATORS. 



By John R. Humphrey, Assistant in Cooperative Grain Elevator Accounting, and 

 W. H. Kerr, Investigator in Market Business Practice. 



CONTENTS. 



Introduction 1 



Types of elevator accounting systems 2 



Office equipment 2 



Taking an inventory 2 



Auditing the books 3 



Hedging 4 



Insurance of elevators 4 



Description of the Office of Markets and 

 Rural Organization grain elevator account- 

 ing system 4 



Instructions for operating the system 8 



Conclusion 20 



Blank forms Nos. 1 to 15, beginning at 20 



INTRODUCTION. 



The rapid growth of the business of cooperative grain elevators 

 has emphasized the importance of adequate accounting systems. 

 It has been realized that the adoption of a uniform system suffi- 

 ciently comprehensive to accommodate itself to the conditions pre- 

 vailing in the grain-producing States would be a step in advance. 

 This bulletin describes a grain elevator accounting system which 

 has been devised by the Office of Markets and Rural Organization 

 and which is now being used by representative elevators in seven of 

 the leading grain-producing States. 



In drawing up the various forms comprising this system reference 

 has been made to many other systems now in operation. A first- 

 hand study of conditions existing in the elevator business has like- 

 wise had a bearing on the final form of this system. 



Note. — This bulletin is intended for all farmers' cooperative and other elevators throughout the United 

 States. It contains copies of forms and a description of their uses for a system of accounts which is being 

 recommended by the Office of Markets and Rural Organization, United States Department of Agriculture, 

 as a uniform system for farmers' cooperative elevators. 

 -Bull. 236—15 1 



