El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-11-02
BIZ TONY A. FERLET.
(AnthoDv. N M

kfAllll4Dllys ~ W.
- My A FEW weeks ago, at the
FL Paso chamber of commerce
- there was a meeting Of a num-
Der Of wholesale produce and com
mission men and a few visitors from
the outside, AID the united opinions
Of these men who handle the products
OF the soil, was that the farmer, the
trucker, the fruit grower, were all
Woefuuy lacking in the knowledge
and skill necessary to grow and make
ready for the market their several
prooucJs; however they were ready
at all times to pay the best market
price for valley products, even to
giving them the preference over the
foreign products. And, warming up
10 the subject, cited a number of in
stances where they had spent much
time and money in helping the farmer
across and developing his blind side.
paying him good money for his crop
which was none too good, and once
Or twice resolving but mighty poor
thanks for it. All Of which may be
sadly true; but after all, only one side
Of the question.
where the Consumer Gets His.
Several articles appeared in thu FL
Paso and Las Cruces newspapers an
swering these rather severe criticisms
upon the valley farmers by FL Paso
buyers, and the best one Of these. get
ting right down to facts and figures.
was the article Of an upper valley
4
FL PasO dealers have the advantage
of picking up bargains in transit from
california. to the east, and using this
foreign proudct- whenever opportU-
nifty offers to hammer down the local
stuff. There is also a comparative
showing Of prices paid by FL PasO
and Las Cruces buyers and the con-
sumner on the same day, and the con-
sumer paid an increase of 375 percent
on one item and 2S5 percent on an
other item, etc. The article goes on
aaTIher ana orayely defends the
-plled-together method OF barrels,
tubs and crates" as the only way that
has so far produced enough money to
the farmer to keep the sheriff from
tagging him, as quite often the cost
of packing and crates has added to the
losses rather than increased the pro-
its. There you are from both sides
Of the fence
Practical Suggestion.
I am not a small crop grower, but
It seems very possible that both sides
are correct. And as long as this re-
mains the state Of affairs in our val
leys, with Fl Paso in the center more
or less indifferent there viii not be
very much progress The chickering's
and bitterness viii only inoculate the
new comerS as they settle IN town
and country and we shall not get any
where. Therefore, I wish to submit
few ideas on the possibility Of es-
tablishing a Farmers Central Market
exchange in FL Paso.
Requires Skilled Direction.
Even the most nimble mind cannot
keep pace with the shifting conditions
which daily bring about economical
changes Our valleys and our uplands
are soon to become more and more
productive. our own agricultural coll
lege is teaching our young men how
to study the soils and how to get all
the ground viii bear by right seeding
and intensive cultivation. And so It
behOOves the farmers now in these
valleys TO think on these matters.
They have got to move up abreast Of
the advancing tide or be rudely swept
aside.
Reaching the Markets.
Yet Of what value is intensive farm
ing If markets are not aVailable2 Of
what value is intensive farming If,
with markets available, they are Of
such character as to price as to yield
no profit to the producer?
I believe 1t my be fairly stated as an
axiom that Industrial prosperity IS
based absolutely upon agricultural
prosperity. and If the farm products OF
these valleys suffer with respect TO
value, their lands viii suffer with re-
spect to value, with the inevitable re-
suit that values Of every kind in the
city viii be affected and the speed Of
general business. banking and manu-
featuring viii slow down in spite OF
Of business along
FL PasO's Plain Duty.
Therefore, as a matter Of self inter-
est and of good business, FL Paso
should hold out a helping hand and
a participating hand in every move
ment which shall be for the better
ment Of agricultural conditions 1t
should not hesitate to lend ITS aid
wherever by legislation or by its as
sistance in matters Of policy or eX-
pediency or precedent or the estab-
ushment OF new precedents, 1t may,
by such aid. be Of assistance IN build
ing up the agricultural supremacy and
the agricultural prosperity Of these
great valleys which look upon her as
their industrial queen. Its program
of efforts is already written large
with many and great endeav0rs and
this one of an interdependent food
market must be the greatest and fore
most Of all her accomplishments.
The Natural Way.
There is no question but what the
farmers can get together IN the mat
ter Of their own business and do their
own marketing mean both the val
leys in one central exchange. with sub
exchanges in the growing districts as
needed The central organization
would be established in FL PasO-but,
before submitting the plans OF organ
fZatiOn, which cannot be more than
suggestive and in skeleton form, I
would like the reader to give a recep-
tive mind TO the few facts which I
think are very important for US to
reflect upOn-as farmers and business
men
Loss From Poor Methods.
Perhaps no one can possibly estimate
or approximate in figures the enorm-
Gus annual loss TO the people Of the
United States through the lack Of or
ganizatiOn and cooperation. In a state
ment recently issued by the press IL
said, 'Of the two billion five hundred
million dollars spent by the southern
farmers for farm supplies, food, cloth
ing. ETC. one billion dollars Of this goes
each year into the hands of all classes
Of middlemen, and that ali told these