The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1913-08-30
THE B0ekLu5l METHOD.
Central Market In Progressive Town
Cost of Living Lowered-8usi-
ness Like Methods an Object
Lesson for. Other Localities.

Cost of Living Lowered-Busl-
ness Like Methods an Object
Lesson for Other Localities.
Now that the city of New |orleans
has decided to change It's market
system and other smaller cities are
looking for the most efficient and
satisfactory method of assisting the
producer in selling direct to the con-
sumer, it is interesting and benefi-
cial to learn that nearly a Year ago
lBogalusa, 'The Magic City of the
South" installed such market sys.
TEN, and that it has proven to be a
success from the beginning.
The need of central market was
felt. and this need was met by the
Great Southern Lumber Company
which, early last fall, constructed a
commodious shed and platform and
dedicated the same to the use of the
people as a public market" To this
public market come the farmers and
produce growers from miles around !;
their wagons are backed up under
the shed; produce unloaded and neat
" displayed on tables and benches
provided for that purpose. This
method is much more certain and
satisfactory to the producer than the
old haphazard manner of peddling
through the streets. He gets cash
for his load; his produce is in fresh
er, better condition, and by disposing
| Of his product in an hour or#so, for
cash, and with less effort and ex-
pense, he is enabled to sch at a
closer margin and return tos the du-
| ties of his farm, than the man who
formerly peddled all day to sell the
same load and who, when figuring up
his receipts on the way home, found
| that he had been obliged TO make
at least 25 per cent Of his sales on
credit.
The housewife in Bogalusa finds
that the public market is#sa great
help to her. The product ofsa single
farm, as represented by the Deddler's
wagon of former days, gaYesher but
a small variety from which ta choose.
She now goes to the marketsand has
| the benefit Of extensive variety,
closer prices, better measure, and
produce which has not bee- ilted by
hours of peddling in the suhs1t
For the benefit of the faSner, as
well as the purchaser, tie Great
Southern Lumber Company has ex-
tended to the market the pagnission
to use the company's eoErnissary
credit slips, and they also furnish
two cashiers from their Of to see
I that the business OF the EisssSeI is
handled satisfactorily and with the
greatest possible dispatch.
Mrs. Housewife comes to the mar.
ket, makes her purchase. and where
she does not pay in cash she gives
her credit slip. This slip is handed
to the cashiers by the farmer. They
make the proper Deductions write
up sales ticket in duplicate. retain
j ing the original and handing the du
plicate to the farmer. This dupli
cate, which bears the farmers name
is kept by him until the closing hour
at which time he adds up the various
tickets in his possession, hands them
in to the cashier and is paid face val
lie in cash at once. The lady, who
possibly had no ready cash at home
is thus enabled to make her pur.
chases, and the farmer is able to get
his cash Immediately, where other
wise he would either lose a sale OF
] be obliged to carry the account.
No charge is made to any farmer
whatever for the use of the market
or for the services of the attending
clerks. An expert is also furnished
by the company to supervise the
market in general, to see that the
produce offered is of good quality
properly Grated or punched, and that
general satisfaction is experienced by
all concerned The buslness-llke
methods used and the generosity OF
the Great Southern Lumber Company
in handling this market should be ar
object lesson and pattern to many
large corporations in other localities
The question of the middleman IN
| the public market which is vexing
other cities at the present time was
eliminated in Bogalusa at the outstart
Here the farmer and the consumer
meet personally, with the inevitable
result of better produce, lower prices
and better service generally.-H. l.
Porter, in Country Review.