The Washington herald., 1913-08-24
ECONOMIST TELLS OF AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS

apples. The usual practice has been to
pick the apples, put them into barrels.
and then to ship them to commission
merchants. The merchants open the bar
rels, sort the apples, and sell them
under brands of their own. The con-
sumers never hear of the men from
! whose orchards the apples came. They
only know John Smith, the dealer. His
apples being satisfactory. they become
his regular customers. They go to John
Smith. The growers also go to John
Smith. They hunt John Smith up. We
would have John Smith hunt them up.
'Tf the orchardists of a region were
to do their own grading under brands
of their own, they and their apples
would become known, II advertised, and
consumers would not take what John
Smith pleased to give, but would de-
mand the apples they liked, and John
Smith would keep such apples on hand.
How n Manufactures Lost Trade.
81 have used apples as an illustration.
Peaches, celery, berries. potatoes, eggs.
poultry, and al products of the land,
except standard crops, could be market
ed in the same manner. Brands would
be established, the producers would
emerge from Improbable concealment,
the consumers would know what they
were eating and the commission mer-
chants would continue to make a profit
on their transactions, though 1t might
not be so large.
"A manufacturer in New England told
me several years ago that he had been
selling shoes to dealer in st. Louis
The shoes were branded with the name
OF the maker. The dealer, an old and
good customer, finally asked that his
own name be stamped on all the shoes
that he bought The manufacturer
gladly compiled with the request He
vanished, you see, from that dealers
trade. And the dealer in a few years
built a factory OF his own and the New
england manufacturer not only lost a
customer but a market in which he had
become unknown to those who had been
wearing his shoes.
Then,' DIR. Carver went on to say
we intend to make use OF the mutual
enterprises already in operation among
American farmers. We read long maya
zine articles about the wonderful CO.
operative efforts of the farmers in some
parts of Europe. Lessons from the other
side Of the Atlantic, the articles are
called 1 venture to say that there are
more mutual undertakings in the United
States than in any other country. They
are scattered, however, and are often
hard to find. We are so busy, more
over, in looking at the rest OF the world
that We cannot see a good many excel
lent things right under our eyes.
Farmers have been insuring their
property against fire for forty years
Policies now cover in some instances
losses sustained by wind and other
causes. II farmers can manage insurance
companies, they also can run banks
Mortgage banks, I should call them
where money could. be borrowed at per
cent, interest and principal to be paid in
annual instalments, the loans to run
twenty years. Home buyers in cities
purchase property in that way. Produc-
tive lands are as sound a security, to say
the least, as are houses and lots.
Money Ready for Mutual Banks.
Farm loans today are made for short
periods. The notes ordinarily can be re-
newed. as We know, but the lender
always has the advantage. Besides, the
rate Of interest is higher than on any
other kind OF property. But where, it
may be asked. will the farmers get
money with which to establish mutual
banks? I have talked with capitalists in
the East. and have been assured that
plenty of money can be obtained for
banks that are carefully managed by
competent men. Gilt-edged railroad