Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1913-03-27
Will Still Continue
to Plant Idaho SpudS
What we Need Most is Better
Marketing Facilities Instead Of
Decreased Acreage.

changes are advising against the
planting of SO many potatoes the
coming season, for the reason that
the supply may be greater than the
demand. We don't believe this
theory will hold good, and if these
same papers would devote II portion
of their time to studying the trans
portation question they would find
that most of the grief comes to the
Idaho spud raiser, not through any
over production, but ON account of
the excessive freight charges and
lack Of facilities for promptly hand
ling the crop.
From the present indication there
will no doubt be as large if not
larger acreage Of potatoes planted
this season in Southern Idaho than
in former years.
In all probability this crop will
find market at great distance rs
it has in other years and the ex-
perience Of the potato grower has
proved to him that the growing Of
the crop is Of small consequence as
compared to the marketing Of the
surplus.
4 great deal Of talk has been
heard OF the profits of the middle
man as compared to the returns to
the grower and in many cases not
without Justification.
There is feature in the market
ing of potatoes from this section
that is not being considered to the
extent that it should be and that is
the question OF freight rates on pota-
toes to our natural markets
Probably seventy five per cent Of
the potatoes moved from Idaho are
shipped to points taking not less
than fifty cents per hundred freight
rate and from that up to seventy
nine cents and in some cases even
higher. The producer often hears
of the apparent high prices paid by
the consumer for his product and
wonders at his own low returns and
naturally believes that some one is
making an awful profit on his crop.
Most any Of the large shippers
and jobbcrs of POTATOES will tell you
that if they could get margin OF
ten dollars per car or three cent,
per hundred on their shipments foi
n whole season they would be well
satisfied so one can readily see that
the wide difference in prices is not
accounted for in the commiss.oi
mans profit
A little time spent in considering
the matter Of freight rates will ex
plain very quickly where a large
part of the difference between tn,
Idaho price and the price in Texai
for example can he found.
The freight rates from Southern
Idaho to Texas points averages owe
65c per cwt on thirty thousan,
pound minimum car load. Thi
freight charge remains the sam
whether potatoes are worth 25c pc
100 or 81 % per cwt. so it costs a
much to haul a cheap crop as on
which pays the grower a bette
price.
Idaho Falls section has made
record on potatoes and there is n
reason why the whole Snake Rive
Valley in Southern Idaho shoul
not soon have as good a record fo
potatoes. At the present time an
for sometime past many parts {
Southern Idaho engaged in shippin
potatoes have paid higher freigl
rate of five cents per hundred to til
same points as shippers from ldah
Falls. While there may be SON
little difference in mileage it woul
seem that the railroads could we
afford to make the same rates frol
all Southern Idaho points to con
mon points in states taking a fiji
cent or more rate from this section
Another point with regard
freight rates. > Last fall and part