Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-08-08
STATE HOUSE,
Interview with F. Embree
On Marketing Produce.
Believes MiddIemen Should Be
Done Away with Immediately.
Insurance Companies Admitted to
Do Business In This State.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Regular Meeting Of Governor and
Council, Friday, Aug. %, 1918, 10 A. M.


Marketing of farm crops served as
topic. recently, when the journal
reporter interviewed G. l.. Embree of
the Bureau of Marketing and Sup
plies of Maine. 80 far as can be
learned said MIR. Embree, there has
been no better marketing conditions
that has been tried out i'll a practical
way, than the farmers associations
by the score that have been formed
for the purpose.
Mr.. Embree further declared. that
these associations while they made
radical changes at the producing end,
the mana cement were satisfied to &C
eopt conditions as they found them at
the marketing centers. AS a result
the managers of the Farmers Unions
have found it difficult to make re-
turns to the stockholders that would
impress them with the ability of the
manager as salesman.
Until such time as we come to
realize that our whole system of mar
keting is based upon wrong prinei-
pies and we set ourselves to work to
solve the many problems confronting
as the farmers associations will no.
overcome the waste that is constant
~ taking place from the time the
product leaves the farm until II
reaches the consumer.
AT the producing end we have the
buyer who purchased the product
from the producer at u price and
owing to conditions on the marketing
end this buyer must purchase the
goods at wide margin of profit So
as to make sure of meeting possible
losses ON the marketing end.
These goods are either sold the
provision men or the commission
man who in turns sells them to the
man who sells the consumer Each
of these men must have profit and
in every case this profit adds to the
cost of producing and cuts down the
profits of the producer.
1t can readily be seen that the
farmers are not solving the market
| ing problems, but on the other hand
as before stated, they have accepted
the conditions as they found them be
| cause of lack of confidence in tbs
loyalty of the stockholders.
The agricultural department oil
Maine do not claim to be past masters
in the art of marketing. We dc
claim that we have taken a more adj
vanced position than any other de
partment of farmers in the country.
Every farm is in a way, a manu-
featuring plant and when these
manufacturing plants combine for
the purpose of marketing their
products and buying their supplies It
must be evident to all that it is Il
shortsighted policy to turn over their
goods to brokers and commission men
To sell for them.
1T is true that there are brokers III
almost every line of trade. but this
does not alter the fact that this
should not longer he tolerated by
Farmers Cooperative Associations,
and until we have found a way to
ship the product direct from the pro-
Queer to the consumer we will not
have solved the problems of mark It
ing.
TO bring about the latter we must
first overcome many difficulties which
will be placed in the way. This must
be brought about by educating the
producer and the consumer along cor
rect lines and in time they will ap-
preciate the value of cooperation and
each will form and maintain organ:-
cations for their mutual benefit and
not to maintain an army of middle
men to the great financial loss of
both producer and consumer.
Before this proposition is perfect
ed, however. we must proceed by tax
ing the middle course. viz, the esta \
fishing of selling agencies in the large
marketing centers to be under the
absolute control of the farmer at the
base of the supply. This is part OF
the plan of the Farmers Union of
Maine which is being perfected"
Transportation.
Mr.. Embree further spoke of the
transportation question, averring that
many complaints are received from
this course too. He said, During
the winter months when it is neces-
sary to use the heater cars, it costs
the bushel for transportation to
Brooklyn and New York city. Dur
ing the greater part of the last sea-
son the net price paid the farmer was
40 to As cents, but when these pota-
toes arrived at destination the cost OF
transportation had increased the
price to 60-6J cents. The prop
lem confronting the producer along
the transportation lines is serious
one.
The companies are constantly de-
handing more money and IL a matt IS
not soon called the Maine farmer VIII
have to divide equally~Wlth the rall-
roads. We do not believe that the
railroads are constantly demanding
more and higher rates simply for the
purpose of paying more diViaenos
and we do believe that under the
present methods of transportation
companies that higher rates are ne
eessarv and if a change is not made
the charge of transportation VIII he
great drawback to the agricultural
interests"
Insurance Companies Admitted.
The following companies have been