Kline 6
Since the federal government was loaning federal money to the
local co-ops it wanted to make sure they were doing things
correctly
- co-ops were non-profit organizations--a present-day
parallel would be Meals on Wheels--with local boards of
directors
- they had to be organized according to various rules
before the federal government would loan them money
- the federal government tended to have lots of rules
because they wanted to make sure the money they lent was used
properly
some places didn't want to form co-ops
rural co-ops didn't just let the government tell them what to
do--they had their own ideas
Reactions to the federal program
- the first problem was that the existing
statewide agricultural organizations (land grant colleges,
extension service, grange, farm bureaus) had received
funding from the private power companies and often didn't
cooperate with the REA. They sometimes helped the
private power companies run a few lines to the riches
farmers (spite lines), making it harder for co-ops to
organize to profitably serve all the farmers
- federal govt gives states land/money to establish state
colleges focusing on agriculture and engineering (Morrill
Act 1863)
- Hatch Act --1887--federal money for
agricultural research stations in each state
- extension service set up in each state to
carry the new knowledge to farmers
- Many people were suspicious of federal
government central planning
- REA did work through private power companies
in some states, such as New York
- did the REA have more success in areas with
stronger traditions of farmer cooperatives?
farmer's views
- some were eager for electricity
- some were worried about the cost or didn't feel the need
for anything new
- some were afraid of electricity
- or frustrated with how long it took to build the system
- wiring houses was expensive (farmers who already had
wiring from a generator had to replace it all)
cooperatives resisted federal control
local people did not feel ownership
struggle over whether women should have a voice