The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1907-09-14
hELP|NG THE TOWN
HINTS As TO MAKING TINE nome
MARKET BErrEr.
HANDLING OF FARM PRODUCE
fnw Merchants and Fznmsrs Can Co
Operate 20 Thoif mutuxi Advsn-
tsee In = BUSINESS Way.


Many agricultural towns could be
vastly improved by xffording farmers
better markets tor the produce that
they have 20 diEnnse OF In the ra-
aus OF every country village there
n suf1cieni butter and eggs and other
PRODUCTS 10 be marketed. the hand
ling OF which would make a profitable
business.
The custom that has prevailed for
nApy years OF storekeepers indiscrim
iaately handling produce does not APP
near 10 be 20 the beat interests OF
towns or II may be said. 20 the mer-
chants or the farmers In the first
place the average stnrekeeper has
NO facilities for the proper handling
q perishable products He may not
receive sufficient 10 enable him 20 dis
pose OF the product 10 the greatest
advantage. Therefore instead OF max
Tag any profit upon what hs handles,
Hsny times he Is thR loser and looks
far his compensation in the trade that
may be given him by the farmers who
hiring in the produce.
II IL important 10 town whether
81 Is reputed 10 be good produce
market or otherwise. Where the
farmer can receive a cent or two
more for his butter and eggs he Is
kkely to turn his attention. In some
lawns there are regular buyers OF
produce, but oftsn these methods are
such as 10 be unsatisfactory and re.
salt In loss Of trade 20 the place.
Merchants generally exchange goods
fer whatever produce may be brought
to them. In many places they will
not pay cash. and IL has been known
where cash has been paid that II i'm
zediately found its way TO some other
tswn where goods was purchased.
Each town that has any consider.
able patronage from the farming com.
munity surrounding H. should have
a small cold storage plant One plan
hst has been found practicable In
nSny towns is the organization OF
produce company in which merchants
Of the town AS we'll as the farmers
are stockholders. These concerns pro.
vide every facility for the proper
packing and storage OF eggs and but
tor and other perishable produce, and
sometimes include butter renovat
hE plant Where such companies are
sperated the merchants refuse %
handle produce referring all who have
such 10 sell 10 the produce company
The company pays the highest mar
hst price for what II buys Instead
q paying cash, due bills are issued
which are accepted the same az cash
at all the stores IN town Each week
the merchants who receive these due
hills in exchange for goods have them
csshed az the Office Of the produce
company
BY paying from cent 10 two cents
a dozen more for eggs or per pound
for butter these produce companies
have been wonderful factors IN bring
ing trade 10 the place Not alone do
they benefit the town by bringing ad
ditlonal patronage ~ the merchants.
but the business can be highly profit
able II managed rightly II requires
but little capital to operate such an
establishment Il is we'll when organ
ization IS taken up 10 limit the
amount Of stock that each shareholder
receives 20 one or two shares OF
par value Of $50 or 500 An efort
should be made to have as many mer
chants as possible shareholders Also
60 secure as many shareholders among
the farmers AS can Be had II should
be understood that instead OF paying
cash farmers pay FOR their shares
Of stock IN produce AZ prevailing mar
ket prices. With all the merchants
in the town interested IN the sue
cess OF the company and the farmers
throughout the country also share
holders and participants In profits that
may be made, Il will be soon found
that the produce company will be
handling an the produce business that
originates In the community
In many localities where this plan
has been put in operation the farmers
have discovered that they could re
ceive better prices for their butter
and cream and eggs than under the
old system Being associated In
way with the business interests or the
place they become more interested In
all Affairs OF the town and are more
inclined 20 work In harmony with the
merchants towards anything that has
the Improvement OF the home town
In view One Of the desirable things
about this plan IA rs tendency 10
lessen the practice or residents OF
rural communities trading with mail
order houses and department stores
IN the large cities Another admir-
able feature IL the adding OF an
additional laborsaying industry 10
the town and the keeping OF the earn.
Tags Of the people ia circulation In
the community