The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1865-08-04

familiar TO the public, for the sUS ha, repeatedly
given them publicity, and some Of the other jour
nails have followed In lie wake Blu, the knowledge
OF an evil Is one thing, and It's eradication 10 snoth
or. Everybody knows that city housekeepers are
most eSregously imposed upon in the prices which
'hey are compelled 70 paw for farm products, but
how can tho extortIon be svsded Unfortunately
Tor The public, slaree portion Of the city press eth
or 10 In sympathy with the extortopiss or
ir some other eason Is disposed 70 got in
This respect adversely to the interests Of consumers
While the sUN, wish TIE occasional aid Of one or
two other JournJL ha, been sndeavoring to break
down the excess vc charge Of the mddlc-msn. .
majority ofho city journals have been using their
best Efforts 70 defeat the project by the old theory
that prices are regulated ~ the inaeXible laws OF
supply aud demand. As rule, tie doctrine Ia
PROFESSIONALLY correct; but there are exec lions
T. ali rules, and the case n question 10 EXCEPTIONS
NJ attempt 10 made 10 dispute the naked fact thst
retail prices here are oItrsgeously high ss COM
par Nth country prices. No journal attempts
to raise an issuo on this point but the idea is
prominently h,ld up tha, the evil 10 without .
remedy, hat Sew York people mus. continue 70
be imra n upon, sDd that there is no escape from
tie sIAct.ons Of the relentless middle-mcn. Now
this is ell nonsense. There never ye, was an evil
that lid MT admit Of remedy or mitigation, anu
the one Alluded TO IL cer,s My no, beyond cure. Il
eanno; he rsciiaet, however, wi,bou, general and
united effort ON the part OF tbs people, and de
termination that the thing shall be done. And
how Simply by bold stroke q, tho root Of the
evil, that will result In sbolishins IA cause We
all know where tho fault lies. Not with tho pro-
Queer, for we know the p1ces that he receives for
bis produce not with the retail dealer, for we
know tho rates he pays; bu.tDo middle man, the
party who buys from tho producer and sells TO The
retailer, is tho sxtor,ouist 10 whom the excessive
prices is Haccable The remedy then, obviously,
is TO adopt the free market system and permit the
country people to sell directly 10 the consumers.
p en- markets in suitable locations, whore produc.
or, can go and dispose of their produce directly to
tho consumers, VINO now buy it from the middle.
mon, aud the days of extortion will 10 summary
brought 10 = close According TO the present sys-
tom, country people are obliged to sell ,hcr stock
before eight o'clock; they then ordered out Of
the street, aud II any produce remain unsold II is
left with the mddlcmen, who purchase IL at just
such prices the combinations Of tho fraternity
NAV agree upon,io the farmers have other alter
native but to take tho prices offered TO them. We
crediOly informed by farmers living in adjacent
counties, ths the prices paid by consumers for
vegetables, is double and often triple wha, these
farmers receive from tho rniddle-mon for tho same
articles. MIX. which the dairymcn sell on con-
tract four aud Eve cents quart is sold IN the city
a, ten cents AMI very nearly the same proportion
Of extcrtion is apparent in al kinds Of country
| prOlu-e. Country markets once or twice week
would prevent these excessive chs-rcs Of the mid
dl,-men. TINS $! s,eu is practicable ; IL has been
| long gstaUnled with satisfactory results in other
ciios It would be an advantage both to producer
AMI consumer, and s., is The only raethod ly which
the people of NV York can obtain cheaper food
II the people viii demand such ~ stem o. mark
T., tao politicians vii bo Only TO hAppy to a..
| commodslo them.