1926 and had severe crises to face in the decade which followed. The first of these came on the heels of an accident in which a Consumers' delivery truck collided with a passenger vehicle. When the case was brought to court, the cooperative was ordered to pay $10,000 in damages plus legal fees. An injunction was issued and the Consumers' was faced with bankruptcy, from which it was saved by Selma and Emil Panula, two faithful supporters of the cooperative, who placed their own home as surety that the money would be paid. The depression beginning in 1929 meant sales getting increasingly worse year by year, until 1933 brought a low point, gross sales amounting to only $45,326. Faced simultaneously with constantly increasing rent demanded for the premises it occupied, the board of directors showed considerable courage in risking the purchase of premises at 2315 First Avenue. At the new location business did begin a gradual improvement.

With the appointment of Niilo Mäki as business manager sales continued to improve, in spite of the depression, for he

Board of directors of Hibbing's Consumer Co-op in 1925. Front row: Oscar H. Wessman, Arvid E. Koivisto, manager, Frank Huikkala, Edi Järvi. Back row: Kalle Kivi, Armas Rautiainen, Charles Virta, Ed. Kolu, Eino Leino.

inspired even greater popular support. It was during his incumbency, in 1937, that an oil business and gasoline station were

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