The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1914-02-05
THE PROBLEM
OF MARKETING

sumer can be avoided we're discussed 4
in detail recently by representatives,
Of the Department OF Agriculture.
David F. Houston. Secretary OF
Agriculture, opened the discussion
by pointing out that 1T is diriicult to
decide whether the problems OF pro-
duction or OF distribution are the
iLnre difficult, although IN his opiD-
ion tho,e If distribution are at the
present time the most urgent. In
many communities, further produce
tion, he stated is OF couraged by
reason Of the fact uhat the products
cannot easily be marketed or because
they are marketed at loss. Farm
ers send commodities by consignment
to certain central markets and in
stead Of securing II profit on the ship
ment hnd they are compelled to send
checks to cover the expense. In many
cases, Secretary Houston stated,
products are sent out rather blindly
to great distributing centers ana
then not infrequently are sent back
over the same route to markets which
need them. One Of the great pror-
lens, he stated, was TO assist groups
OF prod ucers to find the best nearby
local markets. This among Other
things would greatly relieve trans
pnrtatiOn agencies which undoubted-
ly are now unnecessarily taxed by
haphaZard and caotic methods OF
marketing
UnQuestionably We are confronted d
with great dia'culties, hut w. must
overcome them. The farmers must
he Induced In particular communities
to devel p staple products, 10 staCd-
ardlze them, to prepare them proper
ly for market, to study what marke,
to reach at given time, and the
best and most economical methods of
shipping the product Nothing less
thaa concerted action will suffice.
Tne individual farmer cannot solve
the problem. He cannot sufficiently
control tue problem Of production or
OF machinery for marketing or the
transportation facilities.
or course, am not speaking of
concerted action which shall have for
is object the establishment Of clos
ed market or the fixing OF prices. l
imagine we shall not accept such a
principle in agricul ure any more
than we would in manufact curing. 1t
Is as unnecessary as it would be un-
desirable. l am simply suggesting
the introdu uction OF business princi-
Piles into farming for pure economic
efficiency. The results OF this will be
bene dcial to the producer as well as
to the consumer.
We shall act as speedily as possible.
We shall zsaloCsly undertake to dis
cover all the essential fac S. AZ the
earliest possible moment We shall dts
seminate what Information we have,
and when the proper time comes
shall undertake to make an educa-
tional demonstration. In this work
as in other directions We hope 10 CO.
operate with every useful agency.
We are now preparing to undertake
cooperation IN an experimental way
with the Post Office Department. We
shall work in as Close harmony with
the State colleges as possible and shall
avail ourselves OF all assistance from
college departments OF marketing and
from State marketing bureaus.
Charles J Brand, Chief OF the
Once OF Markets, on the subject of
"Cooperltive production -and mark.
citing" said:
There seems to be no question that
efficiency In maketing aud distribu-
tion can be secured only by SONS
method Of getting producers together
30 that they eau handle the products
in other than fractional lots. TDey
must ship In car lots practically, to
get ths advantage Of large markets,
lower railroad rates, ard similar ad-
vantages. There Is not 4 great deal
of information available 81 present
for groups of producers who SisH to
get together. For that reason 1t is
necess iry to make STUDY Of coOpera-
ton as 1t exists in the United States
today, To collect consti utious, by
laws, knowledge OF the necessary
machinery, and to prepare bulletins
which will SHOW producers how they
eau get together. At present. they DO
not knoS what theV way d aud do
not know what Others nave Gone and
are doing. There is greet deal OF
cooperation in this country but it is
scattering The department, there
fore, must collect this infur n ion
and make it available ] il mus.
Include a study Of the methods OF ac-
counting and auditing used by lrgan-
izAeions which have made the great
est success The depsrtm ent viii 20
90 far as TO wors out sctua' forms 10
be used by these associations. Ia ad-
dition. the department is assisting
universities and colleges in outlining
courses On cooperation aHd market
Ing.
Asa preliminary - he develop
ns1t o. tue parcel plst in ma ketins