Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-05-21
peoples so earnestly desire.-St. LOU
IS GlObe.DemOcrat.
HOW TO HELP THE FARMER.

HOW TO HELP THE FARMER.
Somewhere between the farm and
the dinner table there Is tremendous
waste, and one solution of the high
cos, Of living is to eli inmate this
waste. The farmer in the United
States sells $4,000, 100000 worth OF
products annually, for which the con-
sumer pays $4,000, 900. 900, or more
than twice as much as the farcmr re-
ceives, Mr.. b. +. YOakum, Of the
Frisco system, analyses the situa.
tion thus: The farmer receives 40.i
per cent, to which is added $40 per
cent before the products reach the
consumer. This 53.9 per cent he di.
vides as follows Dealers and re-
~tailcrs' expenses ara profits, 3S.l per
cent: waste under existing methods,
- per cent; railroads, 3.S per cent.
The question, therefore. is. what can
be done to abolish this waste of -
per cent, or 81 $50, OoO. 900. and divide
il between producers and consumers.
In an address before the convention
of Southwestern Growers at Dallas.
Texas, last fall. Mr.. Yoakum pointed
ont that, while our manufacturing in.
dustries are the most efficient in the
world, lin the fundamental matters
of scientific cultivation, Of economic
roads throughout the agricultural re.
gions. Of close and scientific market
ing, the farmers of the United States
are a generation behind the farmers
Of Germany and France" Much has
been done in the matter of road bet
terment and scientific agriculture, but
the field of marketing has been left
untouched except as the railroads
have improved their facilities OF
transportation. SO far as putting mar
keting on a scientific basis, the gov.
eminent has done nothing at all. Mr..
Yoakum contends that the farmer
should be as closely in touch with
his market as the steel maker, the
automobile builder or the oil produc-
err is with his market; and to this end
he recommends the establishment Of
a National Market Bureau under the
department Of Agriculture.
A bill to establish such a bureau
was introduced in the last congress
by Senator Hoke Smith of Georgia,
but failed of passage. In a letter to
Senator Smith, Mr.. Yoakum amplifies
the advantages to be gained from
such a bureau, and advances argu-
ments why the federal government,
which has done much for the farmer
in matters pertaining to seeds and
soils, should now assist him in put.
ting his produce on the market to
best advantage. A national market
bureau would call for an appropria.
ton of 100000. BY it a system of
market reports would be established
for every section of the country, local
agricultural associations would be CO.
operated with, and all Unnecessary
expenses between producer and con-
sumer eliminated. Daily bulletins
would be sent out, giving mot only
the market price and cost Of boxing
and packing, but the freight rates,
the express rates, the storage rates
and selling commissions, the different
products that can go by parcel post,
the proper way to pack fruit, vege-
tables, poultry products, ETC., and ev.
cry item Of expense from the farm
until sold at the markets"
There can be no question that this
is a legitimate field for the work of
the agricultural department. 1t will
help the farmer in giving him a more
equitable share Of the final selling
price Of his products and will benefit
all the people In that it will appr.ci.
ably lower the cost of living.-Les.
lies Weekly.