The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-08-05

scarcely gets we'll under way until
the market is glutted and the best
part OF the crop rots on the ground
and the producer dealer. consumer
and carrier are the innocent victims
or a crude and viscious distribution
system. The farmer. however. wilt
now be able to I'LL his orders more
regularly during the season and agri-
cultural panics will be unknown and
business generally will feel the
steadying hand of this new influence
IN trade The volume OF business
will be largely increased and waste
turned into pro-
The Need 'und Money.
"Op the line O. cts which will
constitute the bu, the trafnc
adapted TO movemen, t-, w chan
nels of commerce, tho E<o , are
authorized to make estina,f us
the middleman gets an ave. ~
forty cents on the dollar whici. ie
consumer pays the product. In
justice to the middleman, I will say
that | consider half Of this seeming
profit is waste. 1t is toll levied by
Of business which breeds panics In
marketing and enforces speculation
in the business. The farmer is com
PEELED to do business on sixty cent
dollar while other lines of industry
have sound money
a.
THE annual profit or the middle
man Of the nation on fruit, vegetables
| and poultry approximates one billion
| dollars and the new system OF dis
| tributiOn places in the hands OF the
| producer an opportunity OF securing
a large amount Of this profit 1t
has the additional possibility of add
ing at least one-third to the volume
Of the business as | consider that
r.
class Of products never leaves the
| farm for want of a market or rots in
| the field for lack Of profitable prices
| The interests OF the producer and
| common carrier harmonic sufficient
| ly to admit Of a working basis OF CO.
| operation. The carrier receiving no
part Of the purchase price or direct
| compensation for the sale Of the ar
| ticle would not be subjected to the
| character test which the middleman
must meet in every transaction. The
desire to move the business would
naturally stimulate the carrier to ex-
ertiOn on behalf of the purchaser
and their activities would compen-
safe rather than conflict with the
producer and the Interstate Com
merce Commission, having power
over rates, can protect the interests
OF the public. heT public will reduce
the element of risk to the minimum
a
Bureau.
Il am hoping that the railroads
will also put on a market bureau
The railroads have been plowing, so
to speak, for several years and it Is
1 easy to understand their intense in
terest in increasing the tonnage and
the same reasons apply to merchants.
manufacturers and business interests
generally, but bumper crops without
| ma RI OF fo oiI how
! farmers staggering down the back al
) leys Of agriculture than all the pests
and drouths that ever cursed this
nation. Certainly a freight solicitor
, could offer no greater inducement to
, farmer than profitable sale OF the
products and indeed the railroad can
; give no greater encouragement to the
|. producer than top prices for things
he can raise. The railroads will nnd
that one good salesman in the mar
ket will do more to stimulate produc-
ton than a dozen professors In the
, field. The railroads can give agri-
culture no more serious blow than
to dump the farmers crop at desti-
? nation. which is frequently done.
! Marketlng-nOt production = il
, the problem that confronts the Ameri
9 incan farmer today and l want e
commend the Wells Fargo Company
!. for it's understanding and co-opera
: | lIOH III sowing our prOOiemS. Ou!
i transportation systems are the dray
. | aarts OF agriculture and can be made
capable peddlers of farm produce
: | The middieman has been driving the
delivery wagon. but the present plar
:, gives the farmer a hold on the reins
!, There is no other machinery nov
= constructed that Will lend itself (.
4 craftsmanship quite to readily az oul
. common carriers with offices girdlinf
II the globe and agencies in every mar
q ket.
\ Word to the Farmers.
\ THE connection of the Farmers
= Inion with this matter has been :.
= formulate and submit a general pa
70 the Wells Fargo people. 1t is u
~ lCoptioue6 on Page TWelV4