Semi-weekly herald., 1913-02-27
FARM PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION

certain factS Oh tne markets DEAR
| ing on the cost to the consumer of
leading farm products and the return
to the producer are getting wide at
tenticn. If there is value in the re-
alization of condition that is waste
full and unsatisfactory it ought to come
about that the publicity of the wide
margin between the producing price
and the selling price in this class of
An effective statement of the stua-
ton was made at Hartford, Conn, re-
Gently by DR.. George NJ. Twitchell of
Auburn, Me-, his topic being, "rhe
Fruit Growers Share in the Consum-
er's Dollar"
In New York in 1910, according to
this authority, the consumers paid
SAC, 900, 900 for potatoes and the grow
ers realized $6,OOO,0O0. Eggs selling
in New Hampshire this year for 22
cents, sold in Boston the same week
for 40 cents. Apples sold in Maine
70. S1.15 to s1.50 retailed for from
lsi to So and when sold in smaller
quantities at cents each brought SIS
a barrel The instances are not ex-
ceptional in the list given by the
Maine expert, but are to the point of
showing that there is an undue cost
of distribution and consequent in
jury at both ends of the compelled
transaction.
Individual dealing with this situa-
ton carries little promise Of correc-
ton. Concerted action is clearly the
requirement. So stated, the problem
resolves itself into one of means by
which effective action to remove an
economic injustice can be brought
about. The legislature of Maine has
taken the situation in hand, with a
hearing by the committee on agri-
culture on the further improvement
of marketing farm products and pur-
chasing supplies for the farm" The
former of the two items in the topic
is the one to which public attention
lis most sharply turned because here
the great loss occurs. With competi-
!, ton existing in the sale of supplies
to the farm there is an approach to
!; fair dealing, but the failure of COM
petition in marketing has been marked
in the whole range of farm produce.
The milk situation has been made ia
| miliar to the public in the ample dis
, cussion of the past few years, but
none will boast that it has yet brought
, about good economic condition, a
) technical way of saying that the price
of milk at the farm and the price
at the door of the consumer are much
j, too far apart.
: Whether state governments can sc-
complish what both producer and CON
Q sumer are concerned to see accom-.
! plished is yet to be determined. Gov
ernment apparently affords the one
E means that can bring positive results.
, In Michigan, however, the farmers
are now engaged in state wide
farmers exchange with a capital of
: S150,000. New York is undertaking
!, a similar organization. The expert.
ence of farm exchanges in the past Of
9 fers less encouragement to the project
than could be wished The difficulties
of cooperation have been too often
5 exposed not to be familiar. But un-
der state direction the opportunity Of
r fers of a great and practical improve
/, ment. 1t is significant that bodies
like the Boston chamber of commerce
= are giving close attention to the prob
lem and that the national department
5 of agriculture is investigating it,
:, Christian Science Monitor.