Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1911-03-24
FOR THE FARMER
Railroads and MiddIemen Get
the Money, Say the
AgriCuIturiStS.

SO that the remaining 40 per cent goes to
the middlemen. For every dollar that the
consumer pays to n retailer in the general
average for his potatoes fruits and poul-
try and dairy products the farmer re-
ceives SO cents the railroad cents and
the middlemen 40 cents. l know of no
stronger indictment than this of the cost
illness and of the economic waste of our
distributive system under which farm
products are taken from the farm and
delivered to the consumer.
The railroad, generally speaking, adds a
percentage of increase to the farmers
prices that is not large. After delivery
by the railroad the products are stored a
short time. are measured into various re-
tail quantities more or less small, and the
dealers are rid of them as soon as possi-
Bile. The dealers have risks that are nrac-
tically small except credit sales and such
risks as grow out of their trying to do
an amount of business which is too small
for their number. A small business needs
to charge high rates Of profit In the
transfer OF vegetables from farm to con-
sumner 1t was found impossible to arrive
at a satisfactory railroad charge for
transportation, but the fraction of the
consumers price paid for vegetables that
Is received by the farmer can be deter
mined. This is about SO per cent. In 9TH
er words. for every dollar that the con-
sumner pays for vegetables that are trans-
ported by rail the producer receives about
SO cents.
If vegetables are added to fruits and to
poultry and dairy products and a general
average is made It is found that almost
exactly one-half of the consumers nrIca
goes to the farmer.
The Railroads Case.
The railroads side of the question
was presented at this meeting by the
industrial agents of two railroad COM
panies operating in New York state.
the Erie and Delaware and Hudson.
The representative of the latter after
calling attention to the fact that farm
ers received during 1909 the vast sum
of $250,0O0,000 for eggs, meat, pota-
toes, milk. etc, sold in New York city
alone said that the cost to consumers
was about &C per cent more than the
amount received by the farmers and
that the railroad took IA per cent,
while the balance, or sc per cent. went
to the middlemen.
Some Recommendations
Summarizing the conclusions of the
convention. its committee on market
ing and transportation submitted the
following report and recommendations
Your committee on marketing. Transport
tation and grievances offers the following
report:
We believe the greatest discoura cement
to farmers today is the fact that they get
only between 30 and so per cent of the
consumers dollar for their produce.
system has been built up and perfected,
backed by large capital. whereby nearly
no cd
through commission merchants. who dis
pose of the produce to jobbers, specu-
lators and cold storage men. They do
not to any considerable extent sell direct
ly to retail dealers or consumers. The
result is that three or more classes of
dealers take profit out of the farmer
before his produce reaches the ultimate
consumer. This system is strongly in
trenched and will fight hard to defeat any
legislation which will permit the pro-
Queer and consumer to come into closer
relations or which will establish general
and effective supervision over their busi-
ness.
We make the following recommends
tions
First.-That a law be passed amending the
general agricultural law, authorizing and
directing the state commissioner of agrl-
culture to collect and disseminate to resi-
dents of this state all information possible
and the markets for agricultural prod
ucts: that the agricultural law be further
amended so as to require all persons,
firms or corporations In this state receiv-
ing farm produce of any kind for sale on
commission to keep a correct record of
the amount and kinds of such produce
received and of the sales thereof and the
prices received therefor together with the
dates of the receipt and sale and the
names and addresses of the shipper and
purchaser. and that such record shall be
open to the inspection Of the shipper or
consignor of such goods and to the COM
missioner OF agriculture or his duly au-
thorized representative.
Second.-That law be passed requiring
all persons, firms or corporations receiv-
ing farm produce within this state for
sale on commission to take out license
from the proper state officer or depart
ment and TO give adequate bonds of sure
ty and fidelity.
Third.-That a law be passed authoriz-
ing and requiring the commissioner OF
agriculture to have general supervision OF
all sales of farm produce on commission
within this state and to investigate COM
plants of shippers or consignors within
this state regarding the sale or Transport
tation of farm produce. with proper pro-
vision for compelling the attendance of
witnesses. taking testimony under oath
and for collecting evidence In any matter
relating to the transportation or sale of
farm produce.
Fourth.-That a system be organized by
which producers and consumers may bo
brought into closer business relations
This work could well be undertaken by
the grange. so that every community
its local grange could sell the
farm produce OF that community directly
to the retail dealers. This would require
selling agents in every market town or
city to canvass the retail trade and take
orders every day TO be transmitted at
once directly or In the large cities through
n general office to the various localities
where the orders could be filed and ship,
ped direct to the retail dealers. Each sell
Ing agent would act as collector for all
produce he sold. In large cities each sell
Ing agent would cover a specified district
and would be governed by instructions
from a general office and report thereto.
The local oranges or other organizations
would receive orders and see that they
were properly filled and would keep the
ceiling agents or general offices in the
towns and cities advised of the kind and
quantity Of produce to be shipped and
would exercise general supervision over
grading and packing