A SURVEY OF TYPICAL COOPERATIVE STORES. 7 
religion of those participating. Although the figures were not con- 
clusive, nor sufficient for tabular presentation, they seemed to bear 
out the opinion of many of the managers that a cooperative store is 
apt to be more successful in a community which is made up of people 
of one nationality. Similarly, in industrial communities, it was 
found that stores are more successful where a large percentage of 
the membership is of the same occupation ; and at least one case was 
observed in which common church affiliation is the basis of successful 
cooperation. 
The membership ranges from 1,600 to 30, while the average for all 
the stores surveyed was 228. Although there were some notable 
exceptions, as a general rule it was found that the success of the 
stores was almost in direct proportion to the membership. This may 
be due to the fact that the well-managed store usually has little diffi- 
culty in increasing its membership, while the poorly managed store 
soon loses the support of the members with which it begins operation. 
It was surprising to find so small a proportion of the stores con- 
trolled by farmers' • organizations, such as the Grange and the 
Farmers' Union. As a matter of fact, the farmers' organizations 
have taken the initiative in starting many stores, but nt>t finding 
themselves strong enough to support the business out of their own 
membership, they have thrown the conditions of membership open. 
Even where such stores have been successful, they have frequently 
had a bad effect upon the farmers' organization. In some cases the 
farmers, expecting great things from their store, have allowed the 
local farmers' organization to fall into decay, claiming that the store 
was all the organization they required. In other cases, where the 
store fathered by a farmers' organization has been a failure, the effect 
has been even more disastrous to the association. 
The survey brought out the fact that the location has a great deal 
to do with the success of the store. The best location, however, is 
not always synonymous with the most expensive or most central loca- 
tion. Much depends upon the type of trade. In the case of stores 
dependent largely upon country trade the proximity of horse sheds 
and hitching facilities is an advantage. Such conveniences usually 
can not be had in an expensive central location. On the other hand, 
there are instances which tend to show that the store should not be 
located too far from the points where country roads converge. 
Five of the stores studied had undertaken the establishment of 
branches in outlying districts. Almost without exception, the policy 
of establishing such branch stores was found to be unsatisfactory. 
In all cases the branches were found to be a heavy drain on the work- 
ing capital of the parent store. It was also found that the members 
in the branch district were inclined to rely for success upon the 
parent association, thus weakening the branch. It appeared, too, 
