December 1953 page 12

of Farmers Exchange throughout its
amazing development. He, more than any
one person, is responsible for what the
organization is today.

Today the Farmers Exchange has more
than $2 million invested in land, build-
ings, and equipment used in performing
the marketing and purchasing services it
provides for its members. In 1952 the
Exchange sold over $5.5 million worth
of farm products and purchased $6.5 mil-
lion worth of feed, seed, fertilizer and
other farm supplies. The main plant and
offices embrace over 100,000 square feet
of floor area on above five acres of land
along Gilbert Street in Durham. In addi-
tion there are branches in the towns of
Pittsboro, Siler City, Carrboro, Creed-
moor, Oxford, Roxboro and Hillsboro.

Extensive facilities

Facilities of the Durham plant include
grain storage elevators with a capacity
of 100,000 bushels, a feed mill with a
yearly output of 45,000 tons of livestock
and poultry feeds; a chick hatchery which
supplies farmers with 3 million chicks a
year; a seed cleaning plant; a big mar-
keting and purchasing warehouse; an
egg marketing department; a poultry
processing plant; and a cold storage and
freezer locker plant. These are all facili-
ties which small farmers could not oper-
ate individually but when operated col-
lectively can reduce overhead costs and
operate efficiently.

The branch warehouses, operated in
connection with the central plant in Dur-
ham, all provide marketing and purchas-
ing services of a similiar nature. Their
strategic locations in the five-county area
make the services more accessible to
Exchange members.

The organization, under the manage-
ment of Mr. Tilson, began operations in
its present quarters with its manaer, a
cashier and bookkeeper, and a ware-
houseman. After a year and a half it was
a g oing business with constantly increas-

[image: man working at desk]

[image: grain storage elevators]

MANAGER TILSON joined the organization
when it was founded and is largely responsible for
its success. Below are several of the big grain
storage elevators at the extensive Durham plant.

DECEMBER, 1953 13