New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-16
Agents Made Necessary
by Increased Production
and Distribution.
PERISHABLE GOODS
REQUIRE RETAILERS
Vast Business Done at Market
Centres Demands Them, De.
clare Agricultural Men.
from The Tribune Bureau J

Washington, Aug. lS.-Just as ne
was staggering under the heavy blows
Of the Postoffice Departments farmer
TO consumer" parcel post campaign
strong reinforcements have come 70
the aid of the abused rniddleman. The
first kind word in many year Is spo-
ken for him in a bulletin made pubic
tonight by the Department OF Agrl-
culture. -
The bulletin does not indict the
middlemen as class, although II
points out some of the abuses IN the
trade. As a matter Of fact, say the
DEPARTMENTS specialists, economic laws
would not permit the long-contlnued
existence of q marketing agency whlch
was solely a parasite.
Several important factors have con-
tributed to the establishment of many
middlemen as necessary agents IN the
present system of marketing" the bull
ietin states. Production during the
last decade has increased greatly, ana
improved methods and facilities Tor
handling the increase have been nitro
duced. Keeping pace with increased
production has come the demand OF
consumers for more elaborate and ef-
fcjent service. Seldom is the fact
considered that service can become, a
very expensive luxury. with the
widening of the distance between the
city and the sources OF its fruit ana
vegetable supplies, there has arisen
the necessity for special agencies 10
meet the changed conditions.
Retail dealers are often accused oil
rot following closely the wholesale.
market quotations; that in times OF
glutted markets they do not cut prices
severely and aid in a rapid movement
from producer to consumer. But inc
responsibility for slow and uneconomlc
movement into consumptive channels
is difficult 10 trace. The large class
Of food distributors, known as mid
dlemen,' are often accused Of levyin|'
arbitrarily, heavy tribute on all food
stuffs passing from the producer 10
the consumer The attention OF the
public has been frequently directed
to increased costs of products rather
than service rendered.
"Thc present Nistributive machinery
with all its strong points and its weak
nesses, has been created of necessity:
and it has weathered the storm OF
much adverse criticism. Every part
of the country is now enjoying the
perishable products Of the most re.
mote districts. Any readjustment OF
present market practices must be
based on the fact that some agency
must continue to perform the tunc-
tions of the present-day middleman.
"The problems involved in handling
goods through a large market differ
greatly from those of production.
Usually one man or one firm cannot
handle both production and dlstrlbu-
ton and succeed at both. The vast
volume Of business transacted ut large
market centres makes necessary SONG
special agencies which can devote all
their energies to distribution. Espe-
ciallv does the machinery for efficient
marketing become necessary when per-
ishable goods are to be ha-> ed. Com
modities Of this sort must be moved
rapidly, must be distributed evenly.
and from their very nature permit of
no weakness in distributive machinery,
if they are TO be sold at profit.
with the perishable nature of a
large part of the fruits and vegetables
marketed there must be some loss.
This often totals higher than the
farmer realizes. For instance, accord
ing to the departments market spe-
cialists. the loss on such commodities
as strawberries, peaches and grapes
sometimes amounts TO 30 or 40 per
cent before they reach the hands of
the retail trade"