Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-02-10
ATTACK ON HIGH
COST Of LIVING MADE
long Hauls Over Railroads One o.
Reasons Why Things Are Costing
Consumer so Much Money.
DIVISION OF MARKETS
INVESTIGATING AFFAIRS
Teaching Farmer not Only to Raise
More but How to Realize More
for Product as Well.
UNITED PRESS LEASED wInn.l

producing it almost in the city limits
Of Chicago. We haul goods from Cal
ifornia through Ell Paso that can be
produced in the immediate environments
of Ell Paso. We are carrying Goals to
Newcastle all the time -
That is the way Secretary of Agri-
culture Houston sizes up work confront
the Division of markets. No blare of
political trumpets heralded its inaug-
uration, but its program for 1914 and
1915 promises to be one of the admins
tration's chief assaults ON the cost of
living for both farmer and consumer
The new division with Charles j. Brand
in charge, was instituted only last May
Scores Of calls for its aid by cities al
ready have come from widely separated
sections. The city of Providence, r. l.,
requested its local market divisions be
surveyed by an expert from Washing
ton. The city is now reorganizing its
market business along the lines sug
gested. Massachusetts has asked for
assistance in the establishment of a
better system Cor marketing milk. Wis
cOnsin wants information as to the
best method of marketing butter and
cheese. Sumpter, S. G., has asked help
in solving its local market problems,
and other state and city governments,
as well as hundreds of individuals are
turning to Uncle sam for expert infor-
nation as to the sale and transporta-
tion of food stuffs.
We are adequately, or nearly so,
teaching the farmer how to raise more,
but we are not adequately teaching him
how to realize more, according to
Brand, whose special work is that very
thing Congress has been asked to ap-
propriate $l94 l40 for this work for
the fiscal years of 1914 and 1915.
Must Aid in Marketing Problem,
"It is of vital Importance that we
aid farmers to solve this problem of
marketing their products" said Secre-
tary Houston. "We must not only aid
them to discover the best nearby mar
kets, but we must also aid them to Sc
cure a just price for the specific com
modify which they offer to the public.
That there are evils and waste is OBJ.
vious. Many of the farmers do not
know just what the trouble is. They
have the feeling that they are not get
ting for their commodities what they
should, and in the absence Of any clear
knowledge Of just what the evils are
they frequently are inclined to take
radical positions and to urge radical
measures.
A great deal of pressure was
brought to bear on us to request at
least 81 100000 for this work at this
time, and there will doubtless be a good
deal Of criticism because we do not
suggest an appropriation of a million
or more dollars 1t is my Judgment
that it would be unwise to do that now.
We have set forth the plan and the
amount we think it will cost at present.
"Thc farmers must be induced in
particular communities TO develop sta.
pie products to standardi2e them to
properly prepare them for market, to
study what market to reach at given
time and the best and most economical
method of shipping the products.
"Of course, am not speaking of
concerted action which shall have for
its object the establishment of a
closed market or the fixing of prices. |
imagine we shall not accept such a
principle in agriculture any more than
we would in manufacturing. 1t is as
unnecessary as it would be undesir.
able.
To Spread Information.
A sum of $4,000 will be spent aud
disseminating information on the one
subject Of city marketing and distri'
button, which particularly concerns the
consumer Study is being made of the
utilities and limitations Of both private
and municipal markets. The practice
Of hukstering by the farmer and by
professional huksters is being gone into
thoroughly
The new division also is cooperating
| with the Postofficc Department and
has made scores of shipments Of eggs
through the parcels post cxperimeutolly
OF the first twenty-five dozen so ship.
ped only five eggs were broken, and
four OF these were in a single package
chat had been roughly handled in vio'
latiou Of the postal rules,
As a result Brand believes it may be
possible to sell eggs at four to six
cents a dozen cheaper than eggs Of the
same class are now sold for in the
retail markets.
Light freight service on trolley lines
is another thing being investigated
At present It has been found that thC
consumer navR enormous overhead