The Harvester World: Volume 3, number 6, June 1912

              Extracts from the President's Remarks in the Annual Report, 1911
By Cyrus H. McCoemick, President

While the gross sales for 1911 exceeded those of any previous year, general trade con¬ ditions have not been as favorable, and the net earnings are slightly less than in 1910. The domestic sales are practically the same as the preceding year. The failure of the grain and hay crops in certain sections and the general trend of retrenchment throughout the country due to the unsettled condition of business, operated against an increase in sales and naturally resulted in an increased ratio of selling expense. The foreign trade again shows a substantial gain. The rapid agricultural de¬ velopment of the Canadian Northwest produced largely increased sales, but late fall rains, immediately followed by heavy snows and a severe winter, made it impossible to fully har¬ vest the greatest crop in the history of that country; consequently, collections have been seriously delayed, and a large amount of work¬ ing capital is tied up in Canada.
The Company's foreign trade now equals forty per cent of its total sales, having increased from $10,400,000 in the year of organization to $42,300,000 in 1911. The possibilities pre¬ sented in foreign countries for still further extending that trade emphasize the necessity for continued and vigorous efforts on the part of the Government to foster and encourage trade relations between the United States and foreign countries, so that American manufac¬ turers may secure their share of the world's trade. American manufacturers of farm ma¬ chinery have played a large and important part in the extension of agriculture in the Russian Empire, and this Company is not alone in expressing the hope that the cordial relations now existing with our Russian friends will not be disturbed by a trade war which would divert the business to other countries eager for the trade. ;
During the year 1911, advantage was taken of the general decline in the raw material markets, whereby the Company was able to announce a reduction in the selling prices of its principal products for 1912 season, effective August 1, 1911. 3V
Desiring to assist and further the campaign for the betterment of American agriculture, carried on by the Government and the various state and agricultural colleges, the Company maintains a Service Bureau to disseminate, by means of printed matter and lectures, informa¬ tion concerning the preparation of soil for seeding, the planting, cultivating and harvest¬ ing of crops, and generally to aid the farmer in making his acres bring forth a better and more abundant yield.
The campaign of accident prevention is going steadily forward and the results are gratifying The establishment of safety organizations at the various Works and the education of em¬ ployes in the meaning of the words "Safety First" has the careful attention of the chief safety inspector and the superintendents.
To assist in the crusade against tuberculosis, the Company has undertaken an investigation to discover employes suffering from this disease This investigation is in charge of an expert tuberculosis doctor and nurse, assisted by the Work's physicians. Every effort is made to prevent tlie disease in the Company's Works. Instructions are given for the proper care of employes at their homes, and out-of- door work secured wherever possible for those who, by exercising care in their mode of living, can arrest the advance of this disease. Incip¬ ient and moderately advanced cases are sent to sanatoriums for treatment, and the Company has erected a ten-bed building for tubercular employes at the Edward Sanatorium, Naper- ville, Illinois.
Plans have been adopted for establishing schools for boys at the larger Works which will be conducted along the lines of the success¬ ful Cincinnati Continuation School.
The many unjust attacks made upon the Company during the past year have only tended to increase the loyalty, efficiency and spirit of co-operation throughout the entire organization, and the Board of Directors desires to express its appreciation.of the splen¬ did attitude exhibited by the employes, upon ¦ whom rests the responsibility for the success¬ ful continuation of its policies.