Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-04-13

to cite as one great need of the New
England farmer as well as of any other
| farmer, or, for that matter. of any man,
to consider always and consistently this
great law OF the general economy and
average advantage and TO use his power
lin politics always conservatvely and
co,ra gcously, if necessary, but ever with
la view to the sccurcmcnt of equal laws
land a general, not n class or IL sectional,
prosperity.
TIN: GREAT VALUE IN LOCAL
MARKETS.
Having noted the great effects and
changes wrought by western expansion
land competition. it is next necessary to
state. and to state emphaticaly, that
orr local markets are the best. They
constitute the points Of special interest
and invite study of what they need. what
they will pay most for and how they
lean be kept and maintained. The nearest
market is the best, because most reliable
and costs less to reach. For the same
reason it is most easily developed and
can be made to pay moro FOR products
in the order of their improved quality,
which Is especially true of dairy, poultry
ana fruit products. Visitors from the
that in some of the great hotels (and
this must be also true of many homes
and other places the milk, cream. cheese
and butter supplied is really inferior to
the same things which are easily and
much more incXpcnsively obtained at
home
The question arises why such irnmo
diatcly local markets cannot he developed
for better grades of products and at in
creased prices, and, further. why it should
not be possible To exclude many of the
so-callcd middle men. 50 as to results in
la more direct deal or exchange between
the consumer in the local market and the
producer on the farm.
A few years ago ] saw in a city of
Europe the cheese product of several
weeks work sold in open market by the
farmers Of very considerable section.
The market was regulated by govern
n1ent, which gave the farmer chance
to benefit by an open and direct conpeti-
ton of the commission merchants. There
was no opportunity for getting a corner
on the market. while every buyer was
obliged to settle his purchase on the same
day in cash. This excnplnod the condi-
ton of the old farmer mentioned by Nir-
lgil, who exclaimed How often has my
hand returned from market heavy with
gold" The idea of this cheese market
was. first provision for regular sale
days. next. open competition, third tho
removal of one or moro intermediate
profits, and. finally. sure pay in cash: in
short agriculture, as there represented.
cnioying business principles and done ac-
cordingly.
Now this is all right, whom farmers
icau .it thntr rl.ct ~,
and sell their own products in their own
way. While such n condition cannot he
expected to prevail in New England and
may not even be desirable, the illustra-
ton leads to the next point,-nothing new
but something neccssary-to wit. the
paramount necessity of securing and
keeping permanent roads.
GOOD ROADS PROPERLY MAIN
TANNED
Nothing can he done and nothing will
be doing if one can't get somewhere
20 do it, and nothing can be practically
more useful to farmers as "A class than
the making and maintenance of good
roads. No notion of false economy Of
temporary expedency or bad politics
should disturb anyone Insist on having
the good road problem solved somehow
and soon; insist on having the State in
terest itself in the subject: insist on hav-
ing public men take the question up: in
sist on a beginning, where not already
made. Good roads are a necessity a
comfort, and will save wear and tear
> They may change Their c,'Q".i"tcr or their
l service, but. surely and always, they will
give the farmer what he needs with the
rest of the world. saving of tim. and
l.s,,.
Income. Good roads mean letter and
lquickcr markets more travel, increased
school and church attendance. more liv-
. ing comlOrt,-in IA word. the good road
idea j. automatic. since it insures tho
farmer and every other man the chance
omicallv essential to growth, progress and
> prosperity. In the west and south good
: roads are made by bonding and assess-
ment. because their need is recognized
and their solution insisted on by farmers
: They ar, In" highways along which crops
sential to prices. Good roads are nearly
l as necessary as railroads. 1t Is my opin-
lion. after driving extensively in Ohio
Indiana, Minnesota, North Dakota. South
Dakota. Kansas. Nebraska. Iowa, Miss
> ouri. Oklahoma and New EnFland tina,
. pare tavorably. considering climatic con-
l. Editions and the character of the soil