SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTS FOB FARMERS ' COOPERATIVE ELEVATORS. 19 

 FILING STORAGE AND SALES TICKETS. 



Another method of compiling records as a basis for the distribution 

 of patronage dividends, which is in operation in some of the elevators 

 where the Office of Markets and Rural Organization has installed its 

 system of elevator accounting, may be recommended for its conven- 

 ience. 



Under this method suitable drawers are divided into two compart- 

 ments each by transverse partitions. Each front compartment should 

 be of about one-fourth the size of the drawer. The back compartment 

 is then fitted with an A-B-C index conforming in height with the ma- 

 terial to be indexed. Two drawers of this description or a drawer 

 divided into four compartments on the same basis will be necessary. 



In one drawer are filed the storage tickets and in the other the sales 

 tickets. In some States, where no grain is taken in storage, grain- 

 purchase tickets are issued by the elevators, which bear, in addition 

 to the usual information contained on a storage ticket, the items of 

 price and value of grain. These purchase tickets are contracts to 

 buy at a certain price, but for the purposes of this compilation of 

 information they may be considered technically as storage tickets. 

 The general term "storage ticket" will therefore be used in the discus- 

 sions of both of these forms. All storage and sales tickets not paid 

 for are filed consecutively according to number in the front compart- 

 ment of the drawer designated for each. This should be done daily. 



As checks are issued for grain and payments received against sales 

 the tickets of each kind covered by these cash transactions are taken 

 from the numerical file and then are placed in the A-B-C file under the 

 name appearing at the top of the ticket. 



It often happens that a storage ticket is issued under the name 

 of one owner when in reality it is subject to joint ownership, and this 

 fact would seem to make proper filing difficult. Before purchase by 

 the elevator, however, the true condition of ownership appears. 



•As each owner is paid for his share, a slip bearing the original ticket 

 number and giving the name of the owner, the bushels, and the kind 

 of grain is filed under the proper letter. A notation is made on the 

 original ticket of this deduction, and when the last owner to settle 

 appears the original is filed under his name. Up to the point of final 

 settlement the original ticket is held in the numerical file. 



At the end of the year the A-B-C file will contain all the completed 

 transactions grouped according to patrons' names. By use of an 

 adding machine a complete list of the data upon which dividends are 

 to be paid can be compiled in a few hours. 



Using this method of filing as a basis the tickets may be entered 

 individually in the patronage ledger or, where conditions permit, the 



