The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-01-07
A FARMERS INSTITUTE
A Clearing House for the Agricultur.
ist and Permanent Exposition of
the County's Needs
(By Allan Rodgers)

fairs.
The paddock on the outside of the
door sounds its death knell as a mar
ket place, and makes it plain that its
original usefulness has gone forever.
But the building can be made to serve
a noble purpose if the city will re-
model the inside and reopen it, not
as a city market but as a farmers
institute, where samples of every-#
thing the farmers of the county grow
can be daily exposed, forming per-
manent clearing house, with no ex-
pense whatever to the farmer, and
very little to the city.
The inside of the building should be
designed for an attractive exposition
of all the products of the soil and a
competent man should be put in
charge as superintendent, whose duty
it would be to list everything a Mar
ion farmer would have for sale.
A simple method should be devised
for listing all live stock and other
products of the farm, giving the ad-
dress of the owner and brief de-
scription of the thing for sale. Thus,
if person wished to buy milk COW,
he would find number listed with
the institute with the age, breeding,
price, etc., set opposite the name of
the owner. It would be the same with
horse or mule, with hog or sheep,
or herd of any of the domestic an
imals.
In this way the merchant could go
to the institute and look over the files
and see just what product of his
county's sold he could profitabiy use
in his business. And so in like man
ner the livery man, the dairy man
and the poultry man, in short, any
man could find in this building in a
few minutes time the various kinds
of feed grown by Marion farmers,
with samples and prices of the same,
and in very few hours at most get
in touch with the owners, and do
business face to face with the tillers
of the SOIL
This would, in a limited way at
least, eliminate the middle man, who
from time out of mind has been a
burden upon the shoulders of those
who have toiled from sun to sun to
pile up the colossal wealth of this
great republic. 1t is known that
middle men in manipulating the great
Il -
neither do they spin, but have grown
into millionaires by the thousands,
while those who grew the staple in
the Southland have in this good year
of grace become paupers by the tens
of thousands.
Situated in the midst of the richest
agricultural county in Florida it is
evident that the prosperity of Ocala
must depend largely on the success
of the farmer, and nothing should be
left undone that the city could do to
encourage him in making his crops
and in disposing of them to the best
advantage. 1t is the humble opinion
of the writer that nothing better
could be devised to the mutual ben.
eft of both city and county than the
institution outlined above, and thai
the old city market would furnish ar
ideal home for permanent exposi.
ton of Marion's products.
). To this end the building should b.
furnished with public comfort con
veniences for both race and botl
sexes. Farmers should be encourag
ed to visit the building on every triI
to town, while good seats and writ
ing material should be furnished, ant
they should be made to feel that the,
were in the house of their friends.
The Board of Trade which ha
done, and is doing so much for tn
entire county could name one day il
each month when the farmers coul,
meet people of the city to discus
ways and means for getting togethe
on all questions effecting the commo
good. 1t has been stated that base
on the rates from Jacksonville t
+ Tampa Ocala pays in transportatio
$250,000 per annum more than sh
: should legitimately pay. If this j
true the merchant must add thi
Q enormous sum to the cost of hi
goods, and the farmer who buys hi
wares pays the freight. To right thi
9 great wrong the farmer should
anxious to join his city brother an
the city glad to have him join.
i We are told by the historian tina
the people of ancient Athens Assem-
:, bled daily to hear paid speakers pou
! forth in matchless eloquence til
e beauties of art, the blessings {
peace, the dignity of labor, the ms
jesty of agriculture and the necei
sity of commerce. Borne on in tn
IS spirit of such assemblages patrio
ism developed irresistible in wa
ord a 5ox,oooroau owaco Ho11rickod an