The Washington herald., 1910-03-14
Food Prices.

Editor The Washington Herald:
Out OF the dust OF controversy about
food prices some welI-grounded eonclu-
sions are in sight: First. 1t is a fact that
the large output Of gold. coin. and other
money has caused a general rise In prices:
| second. II is clear that duties on imports
have increased some prices; third. the
removal Of many farmers and farm labor
eTs to the city has increased the price OF
farm products.
This latter IS especially noticeable near
Washington. Thirty years ago the region
within thirty miles was well stocked with
herds Of cattle. dairy cows, focks OF
sheep. poultry. especially turkeys, were
very abundant. Now more than half the
! people from this region have gone to the
! city. There are few diaries beef cattle.
or hogs. while fiocks OF sheep and turkeys
are rarely TO be seen. Abandoned fields
are 10 be seen everywhere growing I'D 70
forests. where few years ago good crops
were grown. In this connection may be
mentioned the fisheries that line the Po-
ltomac and great rivers of Virginia. They.
! too. have been given up for want OF help
to run efficiently. though their decline is
due In part 10 the want Of efficient legis-
/ lation to protect the fish.
! According 10 statistics. from 80 TO IS per
cent Of the land south Of Washington Is
held by tenants. and the average income
Of the farmer is less than s200 a year
Excepting milk. fruit. and truck crops
food production-within a radius Of fifty
miles Of Washington-is Insignificant II
these lands were worked intensively and
products delivered direct to the people OF
the city ii would yield an ample suppv OF
all staple food products. There would be
no charges for distant transportation and
a succession Of middlemen. At least 80
per cent in price could be saved. and the
producer well paid. by this direct trade.
Is is useless 10 accuse individuals or
rail at the trusts. for what is caused by
the system. We must change the system.
To illustrate by practical example Prof.
James Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture.
has recently stated that there are twenty
middlemen employed in trade where only
one is needed. Secretary Wilson is a most
capable. elear-headed man, in a position
most favorable for the study of distribu-
ton Of food products. His statement is
borne out by observation.
Any one who will make a partial count
OF the retail groceries, commission men,
and meat shops of the city will be con-
WINGED of its local correctness. at least.
If we trace a shipment OF meat from the
raiser to the consumer and note the series
Of landings. the transportation often
doubling on its track on the way to mar
ket. we shall realize the immense waste.
Somebody takes fee for useless service
ali along the line. The economies of ex-
change are sacrificed to give jobs. This
has been aquiesced in for a long time. be-
cause we are a people tolerant OF things
as we find them, no matter how false in
or wasteful in method.
Bad social systems, like certain diseases, /
are slow TO develop acute symptoms that
excite pain and cause alarm At last the /
warning has come and reused the people |
to cry out for relief. They viii find no |
permanent help except in a new system of
supplying their needs. Boycotts and
temporary trade requirements are futile /
as remedies; they are helpful only as they /
point the way to organization as a real /
remedy.
If the municipal government Of Wash /
lngton paid 1000 men to clean the streets I
where 100 men would do the work, and 4
took 100000 out Of the pockets of the /
people when $4,000 only were needed. |
there would soon be rumpus and an
sHectlVe REFORM EDWARD DANIELS.
Gunston. Va.