The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-11-23
OFFICE OF MARKETS
NOW IN OPERATION
Important Addition to Work
Performed by Agricul-
tural Department.
STOP THE WASTE
Lowering of the Prices of
Foodstufs One Object
in View.
WILL STOP THE WASTE
Special 10 The Tribune.

Special 10 The Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22.-Under re-
cent act OF congress, the secretary OF
agriculture has undertaken the estak.
hshment of an Office Of markets in the
department, which it is believed will
be of great benefit to the producers and
consumers, and result in the lowering
Of prices Of foodstuffs.
Congressman have been furnished the
following information by the acting
secretary Of agriculture, with reference
to the scope Of the work to be under
taken:
The broad authority is givon by con-
gress to accumulate and diffuse among
the people Of the United States useful
| Information concerning the marketing
! Of agricultural products. The problem
Of the office of markets, broadly stated,
is to study present systems Of handling
and marketing farm products with q
view to locating definitely the wastes
Of material, time, energy and money
which now operate to needlessly in
crease the cost Of farm products,
Will Lessen Waste.
1t hopes to be able to make sugges-
tlons which Will lessen some Of these
wastes and which will in some cases
shorten the time between producer and
nd ~
landings. It hopes to determine what
systems and processes are now giving
most satisfactory and economical serv-
ice and to encourage their introduction
wherever present conditions may war
rant.
To this end it will take up some spe-
eiflc studies and undertake certain de-
finite lines Of work. For example, the
study Of market grades and standards
may be established which will be un-
derstood alike by producer and con-
sumner as describing definite quantities
and qualities Of farm products, espe-
cially Of those perishable fruits and
vegetables which are now marketed In
various stages Of immaturity OF per-
fection and in packages Of every con-
ceivable size.
Supply and Demand.
Studies of supply and demand and
the collection and distribution Of IN
formation on the probable market sup
plies Of specific products from regions
OF surplus production will be under
taken, the object being to establish an
Official source Of information as to the
probable quantities Of certain products
to be marketed as distinguished from
statistics Of total production. Coupled
with this will be estimates Of the pc.
RODS during which specific areas will
furnish surpluses and the probable ca
pacity of specific markets to absorb
such surplus,
A special study will be made Of the
methods of handling and marketing
pursued by successful cooperative or
CARNATIONS, especially with view to
determining how far this success is due
to the Standardization Of their products,
their selling systems, financial organf-
zation OF other distinguishing features.
Transportation Problem.
The transportation problem as it eff
fects the distribution, quality and price
attention; and where transportation
seems to be the determining factor in
the success or failure Of an agricul-
tural enterprise, practical experiment
tai work may be undertaken to deter
mine what measures lie within the
reach of either the transportation COM
panies or the producers which may rea-
sonably be expected to relieve the Sit
uation.
The office will approach the problem
also from the viewpoint Of food marx
citing and distribution in the larger cit
les. The form of organization and pos,
sible field of usefulness Of consumers
organizations will be studied The ef,
markets and other systems Of wholesale
and rotail distribution, the extent. eff.
eiencv and economy of cold storage and
other warehousing facilities, prompt
ness or delay in handling and dhstripu-
ton at terminal points, are all phases
of the marketing problem which VIII be
studied both generally. and as ntfect-
ing the needs OF specific committees
Parcel Post a Factor.
An investigation of the parcel post
"A a method Of direct communication
between producer and consumer, 10 now
under way and the office ls rapldly nc,
cnmulatinr information as to the nnd
and ouaIity of containers necessary Tor
the successful transportation through
the mails of the more common products
of tho farm and garden
Assistance will be given to assoc1a'
tions Of producers and consumers OF
ganized on truly co-operscive nnes N
fhe solution of specific problems wnlen
nav confront them either III perLect-
;ng a satisfactory form Of organization
ar an accounting system adapted toj
ICon4iuued on Page Eleven)