Patrons Of Husbandry

The National Grange of Patrons of Husbandry began its ninth aunnal session af Louisville, Ky., on the 17th of November, a large nuniber of delégate boing in attendance. From ihe official reports we gather the following intereating figures showing the progresa of the order. At present there are a trifle over 24,000 granges, with a membership estimatod at 1,500,000, the estímate of 61 members to each grange being a moderate one, as, though in new territory, or in placos where the grange has been too mueh organized some granges are numerically weak, but few have been organized for tho past two years with less than the full complement of charter members - lirst 30, recently 40 - and there are granges by scores, notabij in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania, which count from 80 to 150 members. Of these about 700,000 are women. The minimum age is 18, but a proposition haa recently been made to establish a subordínate degree or order - the Cadets of Husbandry - so as to let in young people, Ray down to 14. The latest official statement of the strength of the order, as compared with the showing of 18(51, is appended : So. of Svb-Gravfjra. titelt Qravgc. 1874. iht.".. Alabama - 641 673 Arkanaas r2 63 California 231 262 Colorado 65 6SI Coimecticut 4 10 ftekota 5.5 66 Üclaware 13 22 Florida 108 147 Georgia (68 705 Haho 15 lfi Illinois 1,522 1,58! Indiana 1,999 2,033 Indian ïerritory 6 14 low 2,000 2,004 Kansas l.SM 1,391 Kcntucky 1,463 1,608 Louialana 209 314 Maine 415 183 Marylaurt 120 157 irasaaclmsetts 4 99 Michigan 52 J 604 Minnesota "W) 64(1Mis-isippi 681 6tili MiMOUri 2,0112 2,032 Montana... Í3 C'l Nebraska 597 C20 NeVatfa 5 15 New Uampsliire W (54 Ncw.Torsey 81 93 New York 254 S48 Horth Carolina 3 535 Ohio 1,052 1,205 Ortgoa 175 185 Pennsjlvauia 367 591 South Carolina 317 350 Tenuoesce 1,020 1,991 Texas ''' 1,19 Vermunt UW 207 Virginia 391 665 Washington ïerritory 57 66 West Virginia.... A 125 293 Wisconsin BW 513 Total 21,183 23,925 ii'rom this it will be seen that in the South and in the States of Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota the grange is practically identical with the agricultura 1 populatio'n. In the East, where farming is on a larger scale, and the agriculturists feel less powerfully the need for combiuation and co-operation, the order is not so strong numerically, though it is possessed of a powerful influence. The following table exhibits the flnancial standing of the order for 1874: Balance January 1, 1874 $13,1 52.70 Duos from State Granges 26,836.84 Interest 4,701.92 Fees for charters 179,385.00 Miscellaneous, as eale of song toooks, constitutions, etc 6,451.26 Total $229,533.72 United States bonds of the value of $70,650, and $21,703.95 in cash, were then in the possession of the order. The dues from State Granges were largely in arrears, and the receipts from the interest account were not as large as they should have been. The income for 1875 will be materially below that of the year previous. The dues from State Granges havo been 'from ten per cent. to five per cent. per capita, and tho charter tees will probably not exceed $30,000. If all dues wére promptly paid they would amount to $70,000 per year. Tho expenditures of the National Grange in1874 were as follows: Salaries, including $3,500 for 1873 $23,484.90 Expense accounts1, including $2,892.07 for iyj; m 7,10o,yo Kxptns J öf' "aunüal session i?"2S"S Printins and binding Sl'Srin Regalia, tools, ftc...; 34,996.70 Kont, gas, f nel, postage, telegraniB, msuranco, statioufi-y. lurniture, repairs, etc. Ib,jo8.0 Loans and donatioUB 18,bl4.JJ Total .$180,995.32 The grange business, in certain localities, ia of almost incredible magnitude, as, for instance, at Indianapolis. There the parchases average over 5512,000 per week. Ohio and Pennsylvania buy, on an average, !f;500,000 worth of goods annually, and in New Jersey the annual purciiases exceed $208,000. In addition to the regular State agenst there are hundredspf county agencies and associations. In countioa where there is a large grange the members of the order often umte, build a warehouse for receiving and storing goods, hire an agent and raise capital in amounts ironi $1,000 to 10,000 lor transacting business. Grange stores are quite common, and oftentimes an immense business is transacted by them. The co-operative plan is generally adopted, and a consequent saving of about 10 per cent. on dry goods, clothing, groceries, etc, and 25 per cent. on machinery, agricultural imploments, etc., used by farmers is effected tliereby. , There are 700,000 families m the order. Allowing $1,000 worth of neecssary articles for home consumption for each famüy. a saving of $175 to each would be made, or a total ol $122,500,000. As there are many States m whieh the full benetits of co operation are not attained, owing to imperfect organization, this estímate is exeessive; but that au annual saving of $25,000,000 is raado cannot he Oóüsiaered a high estiirate. The iving to the Patroiis of Husbandry in the sinrIo item of graiu sacks alono this yenr ■ exoeeda 81,100,000, while the Southern Patrons have savod $800, 00U this year by rediicing the cost of cotton ties. burder and Suicide. Bobert Sims was engaged to be married to Miss Willie, daughter of Gapt. I Gill Greer, of Bosque County. The j purents of the young lady were bitterly ! opp )ged to the match, and iuduced Jier to break the engagement. Sims swore she would never marry any one else. ie left, and was spending bis timo m ttaaBMi In the meautime, tiie young latly had l)ecomo engage.i to a young doctor DamedTiadflr. Aïriendol Sims wrote to him and explained the condition ot affairs. Sims relurned, and going to the house of Cipt. Oreer, fonnd the doctor there. He asked tho vonng ldy to take a walk with hun. This sho refused to do, but said she would seo him privately in another toom. They udjourned to the other room, and sóon i pistol shot was board in that direcüon. The mother of üie "irl %vent as rapidly :is possible to the relief of her daughter, but, by the time Hbo avrived, Sims htl shot the girl threc, times, and, placiag tlie pistul to hls head blow hia uwn brains out. He died immediately, uid the yonng Indrsorvivil Inm'only i tfew moriits. ano had some üme beiore that killed mans and this had probably rendnrod hina