The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-08-30
HELPING THE TOWN
HINTS AS TO MAKING THE nome
MARKET BETTER.
HANDLING OF FARM PRODUCE
How Merchants and Farmers Can Co
Operate to Their Mutual Ad~an.
tage In a Business Way.

vastly improved by affording farmers
better markets for the produce that
they have 10 dispose Of In the ra-
dius of every country village there
is sufficient butter and eggs and other
products TO be marketed. the hand
ling Of which would make profitable
business.
The custom that has prevailed for
many years OF storekeepers indiscrim-
inately handling produce does not APP
pear 10 be 10 the best interests OF
towns or II may be said. TO the mer-
chants or the farmers In the first
place the average storekeeper has
no facilities for the proper handing
OF perishable products. He may not
receive sufficient to enable him 70 dis
pose OF the product 10 the greatest
advantage. Therefore instead OF max
ing any profit upon what he handles.
many times he is the loser and looks
for his compensation in the trade that
may be given him by the farmers who
bring in the produce
IL is important TO a town whether
II Is reputed to be a good produce
market or otherwise. Where the
farmer can receive a cent or two
more for his butter and eggs he is
likely TO turn his attention. In some
towns there are regular buyers OF
produce. but often these methods are
such as to be unsatisfactory and re-
suit In loss OF trade 10 the place.
Merchants generally exchange goods
for 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 1t i'm
mediately found its way to some other
town where goods was purchased.
Zach town that has any consider
able patronage from the farming COM
munity surrounding II, should have
a small cold storage plant. One plan
that has been found practica BILE in
many towns is the organization Of a
produce company In which merchants
OF the town as well as the farmers
are stockholders. These concerns pro
vide every facility for the proper
packing and storage OF eggs and but
ter and other perishable produce. and |
sometimes include a butter renoyat- |
Ing plant Where such companies are
operated the merchants refuse to |
handle produce. referring all who have
such to sell to the produce company.
The company pays the highest mar
ket price for what IL buys. Instead
of paying cash. due bills are issued
which are accepted the same as cash
II all the stores in town Each week
he merchants who receive these due
bills in exchange for goods have them
dashed at the Office OF the produce
company.
BY paying from cent 10 two cents
dozen more for eggs or per pound
or butter these produce companies
lave been wonderful factors in bring
ng trade 10 the place. Not alone do
hey benefit the town by bringing ad
liuoIal patronage TO the merchants.
'ut the business can be highly profit
Ible II managed rightly. II requires
'ut little capital to operate such an
II is well when organ
cation is taken up to limit The
mount OF stock that each shareholder
eceiyes TO one or two shares OF a
ar value OF $50 or 800. An effort
hould be made TO have as many mer-
hants as possible shareholders. Also
secure as many shareholders among
he farmers as can be had Ii should
e understood that instead OF paying
ash, farmers pay for their shares I
stock in produce at prevailing mar
ct prices. With all the merchants }
the town interested In the sue !
ess OF the company. and the farmers u
throughout the country also share Z
olders and participants in profits that
lay be made. 1t will be soon found a
hat the produce company will be =
andling all the produce business that u
in the community. e
In many localities where this plan a
as been put in operation the farmers p
ave discovered that they could re- "
1--WE better prices for their butter al
I'd cream and eggs than under the u
a system. Being associated In a 81
ay with the business interests of the "
ace they become more interested In b'
anairs OF the town and are more ly
cilned TO work I'm harmony with the "
erchanis towards anything that has m
e Improvement OF the home town Is
view. One OF the desirable things 70
'out this plan is its tendency 10 to
ssen the practice Of residents of OF
raj communities trading with mail 70
der houses and department stores IN
the large cities. Another admir- la
lie feature is the adding OF an
ditional laborsaving industry TO
town and the keeping of the earn.
IS OF the people In circuIa ton i'm
E community. Ia