The daily sentinel., 1914-03-05
GREATEST NEED
IS FOR PROPER
DISTRIBUTION
F. {. Barney Suggests Agency
TO Watch Distribution Of the
Fruit in Eastern Markets.
Editor of The Sentinel:


Editor of The Sentinel:
There is considerable discussion
Just now about the Central Selling
Agency. as you say this is good
common sense
1t will undoubtedly save the grow
ers many thousands OF dollars in
salaries and platform expenses. but
in order that the greatest good can
come from this new arrangement
there must be central distributing
agency. Who is not familiar with
the high prices secured for the
first fruits reaching the market?
And who is not familiar with the low
prices when there is break" in the
market? What causes the break
Exactly the same reason that causes
a break in "A dam, a flood. And a
flood of fruit in one place causing
a break in the market is as disas-
trous as any other flood. the mar
kets are generally affected and more
or less demoralized. and prices sell
dom recover their former strength.
Why not prevent these breaks by
proper distribution and thus always
receive fair prices?
In travelling through the Middle
Western states and in Canada the
past year ! visited the fruit markets.
In Chicago, Milwaukee, St Paul,
Minneapolis and Winnipeg | found
all western fruits selling at fabu-
lously high prices. Fruit was scarce
and apparently not ! per cent of the
population could be supplied, not on
ly because the fruit was lacking. but
because the price was SO high only
per cent of the people could afford
to purchase.
became thoroughly convinced
when | saw thousands of people hun
cry for fruit and unable to buy that
there never had been an oyerproduc-
tion and never would be. In talking
with people about the low prices OF
fruit in 1912, they were invariably
surprised.
They had not noticed but what
they had paid as much that year as
any other. Retail merchants were
astonished when ] informed them
that many growers that year did not
receive enough for their fruit to pay
for the boxes in which 1t was
shipped.
There was demand for our big
crop that year. which If supplied.
would have materially reduced the
number of foreclosures in this and
other fruit section. Is there any
assurance that these foreclosures Will
cease as long as the present unscien-
tific. to say the least. methods OF
distribution continue2 ] do not WISH
to be construed as criticising the
management of association. They
can be ever so honest. capable and
ship the growers fruit to honest COM
mission men, and yet under the pres
ert custom the grower Will often re-
ceive low prices. What is the pres
ent custom? Suppose Pittsburg. for
instance offers high market for
pears. Different commission men,
without notice to their competitors,
notify various associations in the
west that they can handle ten cars
each of pears. These are shipped on
different railroads. none of the COM
mission men know what is coming,
and probably no two of the associa-
tions shipping are aware OF the BULK
of pears on the road to Pittsburs.
The flood is on the way. why not
have party in Omaha, not particu-
larly interested in any association or
commission firm. This party could
be advised by the association snip
ping. of the number OF cars OF d1f-
| ferent fruit moving on a given day
and their destination. When the
distributor saw flood going to any
one place he could wire the associa.
tions shipping to divert portion OF
their cars to another market.
| Would this kind of an arrange
ment not have a tendency to bring
i back the element of stability. which
| is at present so lacking in fruit ter
ritories? If this is not done how can
We consistently guarantee the new
conner safe Investment in our
lands. and assure him reasonable
return on such Investment? | firm
ly believe that when our fruit Is
properly distributed 1t will always
find a good market and that we Will
not be able to supply the demand.
Yours truly,
+. T.. BARNEY.