The Prescott daily news., 1913-04-26
MUCH IS EXPECTED OF BUREAU OF MARKETS OF AeRlcUL-
 TURAL DEPARTMENT.
MAY CUT THE COST OF LIVING
Hoped That New Bureau VIII Brlno Consumer and Producer Into Closer Touch-Will Make an Exhaustive Study Into Market Conditions.
By GEORGE CLINTON.

mite plans for the establishment of the bureau of markets which congress authorized at It's last session. It is the hope of the secretary that as a result of his planning the producer and the consumer can be broueh in closer touch. It will be a week or two yet before the details of the system which MT. Houston has in mind are worked out, but all the department of nclals are pretty we'll informed as to the means to be used in starting campaign which they hope eventually will reduce the high cost of living
 The committee made up of bureau chiefs in the department, recently ap- pointed by the secretary of agricul- ture, to consider the formulation of survey of all the conditions that sur round the business of the farm and the people who live in the country, has completed It's work and its report has been approved by Secretary Hous- ton. The secretary of agriculture has had several conferences with the pres ident regarding the establishment of thS new bureau, and after he submits the report of the committee to Presi- dent Wilson for his approval he will begin at once the work of getting the bureau In working order.
 Can Start at Once.
 The agricultural appropriation bill. passed at the recent session of con gress, sets aside S50,000 Ito enable the secretary of agriculture to acquire and to diffuse among the people of the United States useful information on subjects connected with the marketing and distributing of farm products, and for the employment of persons and means necessary in the city of Wash ington and elsewhere to carry out this authorization" Ten thousand dollars of this appropriation was made i'm mediately available, and 80 Secretary Houston does not have to wait until the new fiscal year to take the prelim- mary steps in working out his ideas, and those of his advisors.
 The new bureau contemplates mak- ing an intensive rather than an exten- sive investigation of market condi- tions It will begin its work in a mod est way, in keeping with the appro- priation that was authorized for its establishment, and will be known as the office of market investigations, un- less the secretary thinks of a more tot Tn dnn O. tary Houston hopes that the office will grow to bureauhood and will prove it's worth. During its infancy this new branch of the department of agricul- ture Is concentrating its efforts on few specific things will center Its activities in making an exhaustive study of these three problems:
 First: The preparation of an inven- tory of all agricultural organizations with special reference to those en- gagged in marketing farm products.
 Second: Tn what way and by what means the department of agriculture can best assist the several communi- ties in perfecting organizations for marketing farm products.
 Third: Careful and critical investi- gation of state and national laws af- fecting such organizations.
 As the bureau develops it will or ganize a market news service, paying special attention to the movements of perishable products, the collection and distribution of farm products, their supply and demand ip the leading markets, the methods and cost of dis tribution, shipments en route, and transportation facilities.
 Select Three Committees.
 Tn studying the problems of trans portation. Secretary Houston proposes to select three communities-one ln the southwest, another In New Eng land and the third in the southeast and trace shipments of farm products from the time they leave the producer to their ultimate destination, paying particular attention to the methods or handling, packing and shipping of def- mite and varied commodities, the cost and the need of proper transportation facilities and the part the middleman plays in the system of food detribu- tion, coupled with general inquiry into the farmers disadvantage in re- spect to taxation, cooperative organ ization and credit, and the general business systems, He will look to the need of good road construction in this connection and will try to impress on the farmer the advantage of his CO., operation in helping him get a fair price for his products.
 Secretary Houston points to the fact that the department of agriculture has for many years concentrated it's ef-