The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-08-22
Increasing Demand for More
Elaborate and Efficient Ser
vice Figures in Cost.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. 21--
The present abundance of fresh veg
etables and fruits brings with 1t the
perennial necessity for their l-pfd.
econ omical distribution and for en-
couraging a generous and steady
consumption. The machinery for
moving these food products is COM
pick and retail dealers are often &C
cused of not following closely the
W hoIesale market quotations; that in
times Of glutted markets they do not
cut prices severely and aid in rap
i'd movement from producer to con-
sumer.
But the responsibility for slow
and uneconomic movement into con-
sumptive channels is difficult to
trace. The large class of food dis
tributors known as middle men
are often accused of levying. arbi-
trarily a heavy tribute on all 1000
stuffs passing from the producer to
the consumer The attention Of the
public has been frequently directed
to increased costs of products rath-
er than service rendered. The new
United States Department of Agr1-
culture Bulletin Nc. 267, Methods
OF Wholesale Distribution of Fruits
and Vegt tables on Large Markets,
does not indict the middle men
as a class, although it points out
some OF the abuses in the trade AS
a matter of fact, says the depart
ment's specialists, when discussing
the present marketing organization.
economic laws would not permit the
1onp continued existence of mar
keting agency which was solely
~'t Several Important Factors.
Several important factors have
contributed to the establishment OF
many middle men as necessary
agents in the present system OF
marketing. Production during the
last decade has increased greaIly.
and improved methods and facilities
for handling the increase have been
introduced. Keeping pace with IN
creased production has come the De
mand of consumers for more elao :
crate and efficient service. seldom
ia the fact considered that service
can become a very expensive lux
ury. With the widening OF the d1s-
lance between the city and the
sources of it's fruit and vegetaole
supplies there has arisen the neces-
sity for special agencies to meet the
changed conditions.
The present distributive machtn-
cry, with all its strong points anu
its weaknesses, has been created o.
necessity. and it has weathered the
storm of much adverse criticism. Ev-
cry part of the country is now en-
toying the perishable products OF
the most remote districts. ANY re-
adjustment of present market prac-
tees must be based upon the fact
that some agency must continue 70
perform the functions of the present
day middle man.
The problems involved in handling
goods through a large market diner
greatly from those of production,
Usually one man or one Arm cannot
handle both production and dlstrt-
button and succeed at both. The vast
volume of business transacted at
large market centers makes neces-
sary some special agencies which
can devote all their energies to dis
tribution. Especially does the ma
chinery for efficient marketing be-
come necessary when perisha bic
goods are to be handled. Commo-
dities Of this sort must be moved
rapidly, must be distributed even
ly, and from their very nature. per
NIT of no weakness In distributive
machinery, If they are to be sold at
profit,
Some Causes of Loss and Waste
With the perishabIe nature Of a
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