The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-09-03
General Manager ]. A. Carr
of American Seeding Ma
chine Co., Gives Views on
a Vital Question.
ARTICLE is FIRST
ONE OF A SERIES
Mr.. Carr States Richmond Is
at a Disadvantage Because
Food Exchange Facilities
Are Poor.

The following article on the high
cost of living" problem, by James A.
Carr, general manager of the Ameri-
can Seeding Machine company, is the
first of series Of articles on the same
subject that will appear in the Palla-
dium from time to time, the articles
being contributed by a number of far
mers in this county, and local mer-
chants. jobbers, manufacturers and
working men employed at various
trades.
This subject is one of vital interest
to every man and woman in Richmond
and the ideas suggested in the various
articles are interesting, helpful and
practical. Mr.. Carr's article follows:
In replying to your letter of Aug.
31st, 1t Is best perhaps to side-step any
discussion as to whether or not The
High Cost of Living is the correct
designation for present conditions. A
comparison between present and past
needs, necessities. luxuries and the
purchasing power of money then and
now, would all lead to a maze of diff
ficult statistics and would demand ex-
haustive Investigation. So ! shall take
The High Cost Of Living as the cor
rect title for condition that is we'll
known to exist.
City No Exception.
II believe Richmond is no exception
to the general rule. Some things may,
be higher hero Than at other places
but the general average is about the
same. In one respect, however, Rich
mond seems at distinct disadvantage
as compared with other cities Of like
size. 1t has not the necessary facili-
ties for easy exchange of food pro-
ducts. A central market house located
properly would prove of advantage to
producer and consumer alike. We have
not the ease OF exchange that exists in
such places as Dayton, Springfield and
Hamilton. 1t is true there are not the
number of truck gardeners hereabouts
that one usually finds near a city of
Richmond's size but it seems to me
that this Is due to lack of encourage
ment. There are market facilities for
neither producer nor consumer
think. therefore, that new commodi-
GUS market house or exchange build
ing would eventually prove to be of
considerable advantage. This lack of
facilities for easy exchange of food
products is, however, only a local eX-
ample of general lack throughout
the country
Our entire system of exchange
money for goods is wasteful. There
are too many fingers in the pie, too
many commissions to pay to middle
men, too many people who have to live
on the difference between what the
producer receives and what the con-
sumer pays. Further, in addition to
going through too many hands before
it is offered to he consumer. the same
article is carried and offered by many
more than is necessary and economi-
cal. One half of Richmond's stores
dealing in groceries. dry goods. cloth
ing, meats and drugs could supply our
needs and think of the savings affect
ed. Rents, clerks. delivery wagons.
telephones, etc, ETC., would show saw
ings and it is the consumer who is
paying for the duplication of these ex-
penses. Consider the economies in
the buying and selling. and managing
of large department stores and yet
people generally are obiecting to such
enterprises and indeed to all enter
prises of magnitude. Competition in
addition to being the life of trade is a
reason for the High Cost of Living
Too many aresselling what others pro-
duce and too few are producing.
Axiom Of Business.
"The costs to the consumer of many
articles of necessity are double what
the producer receives for them It is
almost an axiom in business that it
costs as much to sell anarticle as it
does to produce it and this in spite
of the fact that there are buyers who
want to buy and sellers who want to
SELL Evolution Is towards larger en-
terprises of every kind. manufacture
ing and selling, and. If we want low
er cost of living, such enterprises
should be encouraged and, at the same
time. intelligently restricted. If on the
other hand we desire higher cost of
living, we should see how many small
enterprises we can support and, be-
cause of them, how many middlemen
will live on tolls collected between the
producer and the consumer.
There are many other aspects to
the High Cost of Living" discussion
but to cause mere consumers to also
become essential producers would
seem step in the right direction
Yours very truly,
JAMES A. CARR" ,