2 BULLETIN 394, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
the summer of 1915, undertook to make a survey of a number of typi- 
cal cooperative stores. The sole purpose of the survey was that some 
disinterested agency might be informed as accurately as possible 
regarding the subject of cooperative stores, and that some measure 
of guidance might be extended to stores which are now operating and 
to those which may be formed in the future. 
No attempt was made to visit or question all the cooperative 
stores in any State visited. The investigation was confined to a 
number of representative stores which were chosen after a study 
of all available information. Care was taken to include as nearly 
as possible representatives of all existing types. Among them are 
found some of the most successful concerns, as well as others which. 
at the time of the survey, had already gone into the hands of re- 
ceivers. A study of the tables makes clear the great range of stores 
investigated. The stores selected were in 10 different States : Michi- 
gan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, 
California, Oregon, and Washington. 
A list of questions, arranged in groups, was drawn up as shown 
on page 3. The investigator made a personal visit to each store, 
went over the entire list of questions with the manager, and supple- 
mented the questionnaire by notes on points which could not be 
covered in this categorical form. 
The present bulletin covers the material collected from 60 stores, 
but almost half of these were unable to supply sufficiently accurate 
data to be included in Table X. For the most part, the tables are 
allowed to speak for themselves. The supplementary reading matter 
is intended merely to bring out facts which either can not be included 
in the tables or which might escape the attention of the student if 
specific reference were not made to them. In the questionnaire (p. 3) 
the figures represent averages for the stores answering the question, 
which number is indicated in parentheses. The results may be studied 
to better advantage by reference to the different tables. 
At the outset it must be made clear that neither the tables nor 
the observations make any pretense of finality. At the same time, 
it is believed that they are sufficiently reliable to offer timely sug- 
gestions to all who are interested in the cooperative-store movement. 
'The investigator used as much precaution to obtain accurate data as 
the limitations of the survey would permit. Nearly all of the results 
are based on certified reports. In a few instances careful estimates 
were accepted: but these, it is believed, in no case materially affect 
Note. — For further discussion of cooperative purchasing of farm supplies see Carver, 
T. N. : The Organization of a Rural Community, Department of Agriculture Yearbook. 1914 
(separate 632), and Bassett, C. E. : The Cooperative Purchase of Farm Supplies, Depart- 
ment of Agriculture Yearbook, 1915 (separate 658). 
