The Huttig news., 1907-08-31
HELPING THE TOWN
HINTS AS TO MAKING THE HOME
 MARKET BETTER.
HANDLING OF FARM PRODUCE
Operate to Their Mutual Advan- tage in a Business Way.


 
 Many agricultural towns could be vastly improved by affording farmers better markets for the produce that they have to 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 ap- pear to be to the best interests of towns or it may be said, to the mer- chants or the farmers. In the first place the average storekeeper has no facilities for the proper handling of perishable products. He may not receive sufficient to enable him to dis pose of the product to the greatest advantage. Therefore instead of mak- 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.
 It is important to town whether it is reputed to be good produce market or otherwise. Where the farmer can receive 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 to the place.
 Merchants generally exchange goods for whatever produce may be brought to them. In many places they will not pay cash, and it has been known where cash has been paid that it i'm mediately found its way tc some other town where goods was purchased.
 Each town that has any consider able patronage from the farming com munity surrounding it, should have small cold storage plant. One plan that has been found practicable in many 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 ter and other perishable produce, and sometimes include 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 t-pzics for .wh haat it -lbaHs Instead of paying cash. due. bills are issued which are accepted the same as cash at all the stores in town. Each week the merchants who receive these due bills in exchange for goods have them cashed at the office of the produce company
 By paying from cent to two cents a dozen more for eggs or per pound for butter these produce companies have been wonderful factors in bring ing trade to the place. Not alone do they benefit the town by bringing ad ditional patronage to the merchants. but the business can be highly profit able if managed rightly. It requires but little capital to operate such an establishment It is we'll when organ ization is taken up to limit the amount of stock that each shareholder receives to one or two shares of a par value of $50 or $100. An effort should be made to have as many mer- chants as possible shareholders Also to secure as many shareholders among the farmers as can be had It should be understood that instead of paying cash, farmers pay for their shares of stock in produce at 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, it will be soon found that the produce company will be handling all 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 a way with the business interests of the place they become more interested in all affairs of the town and are more inclined to 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 is it's tendency to lessen the practice of residents of rural communities trading with mail order houses and department stores in the large cities. Another admir- able feature is the adding of an additional labor-saving industry to the town and the keeping of the earn ings of the people in circulation in the community.