Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-12-27
SAVING IN SELLING PRODUCE
Wisconsin Expert Says s225,ooo, 900
10 Lost to Consumers and Pro-
ducers Of Farm Truck.

That saving of $225. 100000 could
be made to the consumers and pro-
ducers Of the farm produce Of this
country through cooperative buying
and selling is the opinion OF John
Sinclair of the Wisconsin legislative
reference library.
For the purpose of devising some
plan whereby consumers could reduce
the cost of living by paying less for
their food products while the farmers
of the state would, at the same time,
receive more for their crops and pro-
duce, more than a year ago Mr., Sir
clair was sent by the Wisconsin
state board of public affairs, to Eng
land, Denmark and other European
countries In which cooperative mar
keting has succeeded. to study the
methods followed there, and to deter
mine whether or not these would be
applicable to Wisconsin conditions. A
report but lately issued by this depart
ment contains a summary of his find
ings which should be of unusual in
terest to the consumers and producers
of the state.
The farm produce of this country is
worth about $4,000, 100000, and as
Stunning that half of this represents
the cost OF marketing under the pres
ent system, Mr. Sinclair, in this re-
port. estimates that at least five per
cent. of the other half could be saved
by the producers by having their own
cooperative managers and sales
agents. This would mean a net gain
to the people Of $225. 100000. And the
experience Of co-operators in Ireland
and Denmark. as told in Mr.. Sinclairs
report, was that many times I'VE per
cent. could be saved.
The great aim of cooperation, &C
cording to this Investigator. is to In
crease production and to get the pro-
duct to the consumer as economically
as possible. Getting the product into
the hands of the consumer is, OF
course, a very intricate process where
growers and consumers are as FAR re-
moved from each other as they are at
the present time. Naturally enough
the large producers cannot attend
personally to all the details OF
transportation and marketing of their
output Of produce. They can. now
ever. hire competent men at regular
salaries to properly take care OF some
of these phases Of production ana
marketing. But they can only a1ord
to do this by cooperating with other
| producers.
Secretary Wilson of the depart
ment of agriculture, has estimated
that but 46 per cent. Of what the con-
sumer pays for his product ever gets
back to the farmers. II the present
charges of distributing and retailing
farm products by private concerns
were not excessive, there would be no
need of changing the system. But It Is
evident that so per cent. of the selling
price is a high rate to pay for putting
the products into the consumers
hands. Experience in other countries
and to a lesser degree In this, has al
ready gone far to show that co-opera-
tive agencies give improved service al
a largely diminished cost. How Inn
portant a further application OF THIS
principle is. may be judged from the
fact that the present annual retailing
value of farm produce In this country
is about $4,000. 100000. Assuming that
half Of this represents the cost Oh
marketing under the present system
and IL but FIVE per cent. OF the other
half could be saved to the producers
by hiring their own cooperative man
ayers and sales agents, 1t would still
mean a net gain of $225,000,000.
Cooperation can unquestionably &C
complish more through the savings
which producers may realize by con-
Quoting their own distribution, than
through increase In the wholesale
price obtained. We need better ad-
justment Of supply and demand, which
will make it possible to market com
modities when and where they VIII
bring the largest net return