St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-12-21
PRESS COMMENT.
Titcomb the Right Man for Commits
sioner

sioner.
There is one recent appointment
by Governor Mead, which seems to
meet with unanimous approval. That
is the designation of John w. Tit
comb to continue as commissioner
of fisheries and game. Hardly
another state in the union, large or
small, has as competent and expe-
rienced a man for this position. Mr..
Titcomb has had wide training IN
this line of work and Vermont has
an opportunity to greatly improve
it's fish and game interests under his
skiIlful management.-[N Mortified
News
The reappointment of John w.
Titcomb as commissioner of fisheries
and games is another good exercise
of the Governors appointive power.
Vermont is fortunate in being able
to retain in this position man
like Mr.. Titcomb, whose wide ex-
perience and thorough knowledge of
the subject has made him recognize
ed authority of much more than
local reputation.-[E nosburg Stand
ard.
A Lesson for Farmers.
Franklin county, Vermont, is
considered among the best dairying
counties in New England. II Nor
witch Bulletin.
1t certainly is, but some of our
farmer friends here have yet to learn
that they do not improve to the
fullest extent the generous opportu-
nifty that Nature has provided them.
1t is an old comment on Vermont
dairying but it will bear repeating,
that one-third of the cows here are
profitable to their owners, one-third
just about pay for their keeping,
and the other third are kept at an
actual loss. Franklin county has be-
gun to wake up to the benefits OF
the cow testing associations that are
being organized throughout the state
and that are designed to let the
dairyman know whether he is sim
ply keeping COWS" or whether the
COWS are keeping him, but the pro-
gress in this direction is not yet as
fast as it might be.-[St. Adams
Messenger.
Up to Commission Men.
Do commission men always deal
fair with farmers? I say no.
speak from experience, not only as
a shipper, but as one who served 13
months in the Office of a prominent
Boston produce commission house.
Through the clerical force in other
Offices I made it my business to find
out if all commission methods were
similar. The evidence I collected
was sufficient to warrant me in max
ing the statement that only in rare
and exceptional cases does shipper
receive actual returns for produce
that is consigned to commission
houses.
The farmer seeking an outlet for
surplus produce is at the mercy OF
the commission man or house he con-
signs to- It appears to me as a one
sided game. An acquaintance of mine
recently consigned 10 crates of blue
berries to prominent commission
firm in Boston. Blueberries were
quoted at 16 to g cents per quart.
My friend received IL cents per
quart Not being satisfied with the
returns, he made a trip to Boston
and called upon retail dealer
whom he knew regarding the
future handling of his berries. On
entering this gentleman's store he
was greatly surprised to see his 10
crates of blueberries all bearing his
shipping tag. On request, the owner
of the berries turned over the ship
ping tags, together with the invoice
showing that the original consignee
had sold the berries for II cents per
quart. With this evidence he con-
fronted the original consignee,
who Immediately manifested sorrow
about the mistake and kindly wrote
a check for the difference. 1t is to
be regretted that it was necessary
to insist in this instance, that COM
mon honesty be observed.
A short time ago a neighbor ship
ped to a commission house five
bushel boxes selected Gravenstein
apples Gravensteins were quoted
at $3.50 and $3.50. He received
in return 10 cents net per bushel
Another farmer recently sent some
fine fall Porter apples, quoted at the
time $3.50 to $3.50. He received
back 20 cents net per barrel. Last
year / sent trial shipment of four
crates choice Japanese plums to
Springfield commission firm and
received in return q cent per quart
box net.
A little legislation would compel
dishonest commission men to deal
fair with the farmers. The con-
signment of each shipper on reach
ing destination is entered upon the
firms invoice book under a marx.
or number, and is sold under such
mark. The bookkeeper picks up the
account under the mark from the
scales book and renders statement,
not from the figures, but as instruct
ed by the manager of the firm.
The purchaser Nof the goods is
known by the salesman, and every