Los Angeles herald., 1891-01-25
SUNDAY. JANUARY as. 1891.
AxronArIc BUSINESS PROPOSITIONS.

AxI0MATIC BUSINESS PROPOSITIONS.
Experience teaches all classes OF trade
that middlemen are an absolute neces-
aity. Experience and training prove as
necessary in this line as in any of the
regular trades.
Combinations OF producers OF all
classes of products have from time to
time been made in all parts of the
country; the usual result has been fail
ure, caused probably from want OF ex-
perience and knowledge of how to han
die the business.
Middlemen, who buy and handle such
products, assume all risks; have exten-
sive commercial relations with all bust
ness centers, and must necessarily main
tain a systematic, intelligent bureau OF
communication which enables them to
take advantage of any favorable condi-
tions which may exist in the territory
which they can reach.
Combinations of producers are too
often organized by parties desiring
either to create positions which they
can fill to advantage to themselves, or
to forward the interests of some private
party or some company who may fail to
control the business in the regular busi-
ness way.
Combinations of this character who
confide their entire interests to single
firm or individual, expose themselves to
manipulations which they cannot un-
derstand or correct, and which are liable
to produce exorbitant profits without
risk to the managers of such scheme,
but leaving very uncertain results for
the parties responsible for the produc-
tion.
Business relations are certainly always
preferable with responsible, straight
forward firms located in our own terri
tory; firms who expend large sums OF
money in permanent buildings and pro-
viding suitable facilities for transacting
business, in an economical, systematic
manner, after such investments have
been made, and the community at large
has undoubtedly received large benefits,
directly and indirectly, and such parties
by such expenditures becoming identi-
fed with, ID made responsible to, the
community, are certainly worthy of
consideration and support.
The large amount of capital required
to successfully handle any commodity
produced in large quantities, is usually
beyond the comprehension of the ordi-
nary producer. A little thought and
reflection in this direction will be in
ktructive.
The work Of middlemen seems partic-
ularly essential in handling fruit, veget-
ables and other perishable freight, from
the care which is necessary in handling
it. Conditions of temperature at differ
ent seasons of the year must be con-
suited, as we'll as the conditions of the
different markets. Shipments ell route
must oftentimes be changed, or stopped
en- route and disposed of, as circum-
stances in the case may demand.
Effective work of this character can only
be accomplished by perfect organizations
Al ttsC OtuCIcuJ CitlCo duu bcCIlOllS vi Ilic
country traversed by the business rela-
tiOns of the successful middlcmen, who
have grown up In this business by long
years OF patient, persevering toll, and
they certainly are entitled to reason
able reward and return for such service.
One of the most impoI tant considera-
tions in connection with the service of
Iniddlemen in handling fruit and vege-
tables, is the proper and uniform prepar-
alton of such products for the market.
The public taste varies in such things,
as we'll as in fashions. 1t must be ca
tered to and followed, and only goods
which are uniformly presented to the
market in an attractive form will ever be
made permanently successful. To pro-
duce the best results in this direction,
work of the middlemen is
required.