93 
price for cream than had previously been charged, the cream- 
ery yields a dividend of 8 per cent, on the stock. Incidentally, 
the social intercourse, which was made possible and necessary 
by the cooperative plan, contributed greatly toward the rais- 
ing of the standards of dairy sanitation among all the mem- 
bers. After running the creamery one year, insured according 
to the ordinar}^ plan, a cooperative insurance scheme was put 
in operation. By means of a “ sinking fund,” allowed to ac- 
cumulate and loaned on first mortgages on farms, the insur- 
ance policy now pays $100 per year, instead of costing $55 a 
year, as was previously the case. 
A cooperative buying enterprise was also organized among 
the farmers with a capital stock of $2500. The society buys 
and sells for its members various kinds of farm produce, oil, 
coal, binding twine, fertilizer, etc. A cooperative grain ele- 
vator Avas erected in accordance with this scheme, and after 
passing through stormy days, Avon out financially. 
The farmers’ Avives were not satisfied Avith assisting in the 
cooperatiA^e schemes, Avhich their husbands had put on foot, 
but started among themselves Avhat Avas perhaps the first or- 
ganization of its kind on the mainland. The Avomen proposed 
to handle eggs and poultry in a cooperatiA^e Avay. During the 
first year twenty-five farmers’ Avives Avere associated in this 
work and sold 8500 dozen eggs at a price of fi\^e cents in ad- 
vance of that Avhich had previously been received. They soon 
branched out into poultry and such other farm produce as 
is frequently left to the attention of farmers’ AviA'es. In ad- 
dition to these schem;es, a stockman’s auxiliary Avas organized 
for the purpose of buying and selling beef cattle. This or- 
ganization has also met Avith pronounced success. 
During one year of operation the fiA^e cooperative schemes, 
set on foot by the farmers in the neighborhood of one little 
town, put an extra $42,350 into the pockets of the farmers. It 
eAudently pays the farmer to run his OAvn business. Adiat has 
been done in Ruthven can be done in any rural community. 
Cooperative enterprises are eminently successful, and the 
factors of success have eA^erywhere been : common sense, busi- 
ness methods, industry, a fraternal spirit and faithfulness. 
Article VIII. 
Important and extensive as is the citrus fruit industry of 
California, it had for some years ceased to be really profitable 
previous to the organization of the Southern California Fruit 
Exchange Avith dieadquarters at Los Angeles. This coopera- 
tiA'e Exchange has noAv been in operation about eighteen 
years and has proved eA^en more effectiA^e and useful than its 
organizers anticipated. In the management of the Exchange 
