Middletown transcript., 1914-01-24
PROBLEMS IN MARKETING

The many difficult and complex prob.
lens that must be solved before present
waste and loss in getting food from the
producer to the consumer can be avoided
were discussed in detail recently by
representatives of the Department OF
| Agriculture.
! David F. Houston, Secretary of Agri-
culture, opened the discussion by pointing
out that it is difficult to decide whether
the problems of production or of distri-
button are the more difficult, although
] in his opinion those of distribution are
at the present time the most urgent. In
many communities, further production,
ne stated, is discouraged by reason of
the fact that the products can not
easily be marketed or because they are
marketed at loss. Farmers send COM
modities by consignment to certain cen
tral markets and instead of securing a
profit on the shipment find they are
compelled to send checks to cover the
expense. In many cases, Secretary
Houston stated, products are sent out
rather bllndly to great distributing
centers and then not infrequently are
sent back over the same route to mar
kets which need them. One of the
great problems, he stated, was to assist
groups of producers to find the best
nearby local markets. This among
other things would greatly relieve trans
portation agencies which undoubtedly
are now unnecessarily taxed by hap
hazard and chaotic methods of market
ing.
Continuing, Secretary Houseton said:
There is so much interest-so much
excitement-th that it will be very easy
to do things hastily and to go in a wrong
direction. Wrong steps will be fatal.
They will create lack of confidence and
hamper US in attempting to solve our
i roblems.
Unquestionably, we are confronted /
with great difficulties, but we must
overcome them. The farmers must be
induced in particular communities to
develop staple products, to standardize
them, to prepare them properly for
market, to study what market to reach
at a given time, and the best and most
economical method of shipping the pro-
duct. Nothing less than concerted
action will suffice. The Individual
farmer can not solve the problem. He
can not sufficiently control the problem
Of production or of machinery for mar
keting or the transportation facilities.
OF course, l am not speaking of con-
certed action which shall have for its
object the establishment of a closed
market or the fixing of prices. I i'm
agine we shall not accept such a prin-
;iple in agriculture any more than we
would in manufacturing. 1t is as un-
as it would be undesirable. I
am simply suggesting the introduction
# business principles into farming for
pure economic ett1clency. The results
If this will be beneficial to the producer
as well as to the consumer.
We shall act as speedily as possible.
We shall zealously undertake to discover
Ill the essential facts. At the earliest
possible moment we shall disseminate
What information we have, and when
he proper time comes shall undertake
@ make an educational demonstration.
n this work, as in other directions, we
lope to cooperate with every useful
public agency. We are now preparing
o undertake cooperation in an expert
mental way with the Post Office De
'artment. We shall work in as close
larmony with the State colleges as
'ossible and shall avail ourselves of all
ssistance from college departments of
marketing and from State marketing
ureaus.
SHIPPING IN CARLOAD LOTS
Charles J. Brand, Chief of the Office
f Markets, then took up the discussion.
Tv,Iov, I