Semi-weekly herald., 1914-02-09

the cost of living, for both farmer and
consumer. The new division With
Charles J. Brand in charge, was IN
stituted only last May. Scores Of
calls for its aid by cities already have
come from widely separated sections.
The city of Providence, R. l., request
ed its local market divisions be sur
veyed by an expert from Washing
ton. The city is now reorganizing it,
market business along the lines suR-
gested. Massachusetts has asked for
assistance in the establishment Of =
better system for marketing milk.
Wisconsin wants information az to the
best method Of marketing butter and
cheese. Sumpter, s. c., has asked
help in solving its local market prob
lens, and other state and city govern
ments, as well as hundreds Of individ.
uals are turning to Uncle Sam for
expert information as to the sale and
transportation of foodstuffs.
We are adequately, or nearly 70.
teaching the farmer how TO raise
more, but we are not yet adequately
teaching him how to realize more, ac-
cording to Brand, whose special work
is that very thing. Congress has been
asked to appropriate $194,140 for this
work for the fiscal years Of 1914 and
1915.
1T is Of vital Importance that ~
aid farmers to solve this problem Of
marketing their products" said Sec
retary Houston. "We must not ONLY
aid them to discover the best nearby
markets, but we must also aid them
to secure just price for the specific
commodity which they offer to ths
public. That there are evils and wssts
is obvious. Many of the farmers do
not know just what the trouble il.
They have the feeling that they are
not getting for their commodities
what they should, and in the absence
of any clear knowledge Of just what
the evils are they frequently are In
clined to take radical positions and 70
urge radical measures.
"A great deal Of pressure was
brought to bear on US to request 1t
least $1,000,000 for this work At this
time, and there will doubtless be .
good deal Of criticism because We do
not suggest an appropriation Of . mil
ion or more dollars. 1t il my judg-
nent that it would be unwise 70 do
hat now. We have set forth the plan
and the amount we think It will cost
1T present.
"The farmers must be induced in
particular communities to develop
itaple products, to standardize them.
70 properly prepare them for market,
to study what market to reach 1t Z
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 .
closed market or the fixing Of prices.
imagine we shall not accept such
principle in agriculture any more
than we would in manufacturing. II
is as unnecessary as it would be un-
desirable"
A sum Of $4,000 will be spent get
ting and disseminating information
on the one subject Of city marketing
and distribution, which particularly
concerns the consumer. Study IL BE-
ing made of the utilities and limita-
tions Of both private and municipal
markets. The practice Of huksterine
by the farmer and by professional
hucksters is being gone into thor
oughly.
The new division also is coopsrat-
ing with the postoffice department
and has made scores Of shipments Of
eggs through the parcel post expert
mentally. OF the first twenty-five
dozen so shipped only five eggs were
broken, and four Of these were Ia .
single package that had been roughly
handled in violation Of the postal
rules.
As = result Brand believes Il nay
be possible to sell eggs at four to II
cents a dozen cheaper than sgge II
the same class are now sold for In ~
retail markets.
Light freight service on trolley
lines is another thing being invssti-
gated. At present 1t has bssn found
that the consumer pays snormoua
overhead charges on all materials
that the farmer brings into teVn =
his wagon. Most Of this. Il h 6se3as.
cd, could be eliminated II ffelG1n1
and express service wsrs mainto11o1
by interurban trolley MAss Ae1woo
midnight and seven o'eleeh = ~
morning during which psxie1 ~ -
senssr traffie = nseiiGsAlo. Al