The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-03-31
Appeal for
Open Market in Fargo
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S'E&~%sN. "a
that we will use every legitimate
means TO let our city merchants and
consumers ~equaliye. That 1t is to our
mutual beneft to have them at as ear
" a date as possible have a farmers
public produce market established in
the city OF Fargo. But first let us con-
sider some of the objectionable feat
ures in relation to this market IN the
city of Fargo as we'll as other cities
where it has not been established. II
is this: There is a certain class OF
city merchants who have heretofore
been vendors in farmers products.
who AVE through a trust and the tel
ephone bought the farmers produce
at their w prices without any COM
petition whatever, and we as farmers
nave had no redress. These same gen
tlemen have had such an influence
with the city council to have them
pass a city ordinance to prohibit a
farmer from ~peddling his goods except
he first obtains a license, with the
plea that we pay taxes inside of the
city for improvements and the produc-
er don't. Therefore they should be re-
CURED to pay a license in lieu of the
taxes we are compelled to pay.
shoe On Other Foot.
Now, would it not be just as reas-
enable and just as lawful to require
these same merchants or their agents
side of the city limits to buy our
products, because we pay taxes IN the
country and they don't? Do you know
or stop to think of the results of this
so-called Chinese wall in the city Of
Fargo? Ask the local bankers and
you will lind that there arc thousands
Of dollars worth OF farm products
shipped right past you, into the twin
cities, instead Of golng to Fargo, which
Is and should he the natural outlet,
thereby making Fargo not only the
gateway city OF the northwest. but a
double-hinge gateway city to tho
southeast.
Now, another objection is this: The
city merchant has customers that
would never think of going into the
PUBLIC market to buy their goods. but
p w%dia on 5a'a = cb PeS . cen cents per pound Ind
iivered. Now, gentlemen, this is mis-
leading, irrelevant and immaterial.
now, all advocates of city market will
conceds this point. We don't want for
one minute to deprive the retail mer-
chant OF his legitimate business. They
are indeed very desirable factors in our
commonwealth, and we can't do with
out them, but however, l am inclined
to believe that there are at least two
other classes of very desirable citizens
in Fargo that would be greatly ben4-
flied. That is the working man and
his family and the poor.
no BGA1Fe TO retail.
AND now If, the commercial man is
and a jar of butter in hand as ho
makes his home run into Fargo on
Saturday evening, don't you think he
would take advantage Of an open mar
ket? Again, gentlemen l can assure
you that the producers have no desire
what ever to &c into the retail busi-
ness in Fargo.
And another objection is this that
Z TrN nyy& - -1-~t --l 49, F-.
mer gets the advantage OF competitive
buyers 1t would raise the price of food
products, instead of lowering. them.
Now don't let us lose sight of this
regulate the price OF food product as
1t is now, you have not the supply for
so or as per cent goes right by o in
to the twin cities, paying the extra ex-
NIT to a skin game in Fargo. At pre-
sent all that the producer gets for his
chickens Is s cents per pound and the
merchant in fifteen minutes after
pound, making s cents profit on 8 cents
purchase which is rs per cent that on"
sumner has to pay: Now, if he, the
merchant, sells 500 per week. fifty
500 profit on chickens, alone that the
consumer has TO pay and other things
in proportion. ns - e.,
+ -, Benefits OF open Markef.
And now I think we have disposed
of the principal imaginary objections
to a public market, we will now con-
slider, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, the
main issues and benefits TO be derived
from a farmers view point, in having
an open market. 1t is this: To allow
the farmers n the local merchants
along the different. lines. Of railroads
tributary to this little. gigantic city of
Fargo to bring, or send their produce
on an open market, and by so doing
they receive the benefits Of . healthy
ties, viz: The city butcher, grocery
man. the hotels and restaurants, the
laboring man and to the poor tho COS
pei of equity is preached; and if there
should come into your market more
or otherwise, there is no doubt but
the buyers in the twin cities would be
on hand to buy in carload lots, and now
again the question might be asked,
along the railway ines tributary to
Fargo? 1t Is this, are they not under
just as much difficulty to dispose of
their overplus produce, that they take
in exchange from the farmer for his
merchandise as the farmer has at pres
emit? Is 1t not a fact that if the local
merchant knew where he could at once
dispose Of diversified product, he could
cent cheaper, and by so doing, he would
be a successful competitor for the cat
alogue houses, but, as it is now, he is
under the obligation to charge from
10 to 25 per cent more than they can
be bought for. to counterfeit the loss
sustained by freezing and storing in
~unsanitary places these farm products
for lack OF proper facilities to i'm
mediately dispose Of them in a SAM
tary condition. And now, gentlemen.
in conclusion, we don't want any fake
or private institution built by private
capital, as a substitute for a farmer
public produce" market, which, In my
opinion, should be built and kept 1p
and controlled by the city aldermen
and mayor, whose duty is to appoint
an overseer, with qualifications TO act
as a commissioner and Inspector, also
power to hire an assistant when nec-
essary, which office should hold only
at pleasure Of the council.
Did this thought ever come to your
mind. how dependent one man is to
another, one county to another, one
state to another, one nation to anoth-
err? Did you ever think what was the
overruling motive of the Great Archi-
tect of this entire universe in con-
struction Of this terrestrial. globe on
account Of it's geographical construc-
ton and hence it's climate conditions?
That, we are compelled through force
of circumstances to reciprocate one
with another, SO we may learn by ex-
perience the golden rule given by IL
Creator, whatsoever We would that men
should do to you, do We even so to them,
for this fs the law n the prophets.
-F-NE.-&gEEr Ea~S A. u nBn~s<&-N a. t-"-H