CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY

With the opening of the present College year the Harvard Co-operative Society completes its first full quarter-century of business. Beginning in unpretentious fashion in 1882 with small quarters in one of the College buildings it has steadily increased its volume of business until during the past fiscal year its total sales have approximated the sum of $300,000 and have given the Society claim to rank as one of the largest mercantile establishments in Cambridge. Any member of Harvard University, of Radcliffe College, or of the Episcopal Theological School is entitled to become a participating member of the Society and thus to obtain an annual dividend on practically all purchases made during the year at the Society's store. This dividend amounted, last year, to eight per cent., and the directors expect that this rate will be maintained and possibly augmented. During the 25 years of its existence the Co-operative Society has returned to its members in dividends a sum well in excess of $100,000 in addition to its work in materially lowering the average scale of prices charged in Cambridge for students' supplies.

During the summer vacation important alterations have been made in the interior arrangements of the Society's store involving changes in the location of several departments. The second story, hitherto occupied by tenants, has been remodelled and made to afford commodious and well-lighted quarters for the two important departments of tailoring and men's furnishings, the latter including hats, shoes, and athletic goods. Access is now afforded to this second floor by the construction of a handsome interior staircase of hardwood leading from the forward part of the main floor. The old main entrance to the upper part of the building has been replaced by a large show window which affords the store some much-needed additional display space. It is expected that these two departments which in their former basement quarters were badly cramped for room will henceforth be able to carry larger and more varied stocks of merchandise thus catering to a wider range of demand. The basement floor has been given over to the furniture department which in recent years has increased its annual volume of business to large proportions. A considerable part of the stock carried by this department is now made to order for the Society, and for the present year an illustrated catalogue has been, issued annd may be had on application. The book and stationery departments retain their former convenient locations on the main floor while the attic story of the building continues to be used as the workshops of the tailoring department. All in all the Society now occupies four entire floors wih over 1200 square feet of floor space in the conduct of its business.

The Co-operative Society is conducted solely for the benefit of the University constituency and its officers have constantly striven to keep the general level of prices in all departments as low as the canons of sound business will permit. While the store does the larger part of its business on a cash basis arrangements are made whereby any member may open an account upon terms which will be explained at the Superintendent's office. The growth and success of the Society's operations have been due in the main to a genuine desire to accommodate its members in every reasonable manner. To the work of the coming year the Society brings increased resources, more commodious quarters, and 25 years of intelligent experience in catering to the demands of college men.