Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1916-09-29
UNCLE SAM STUDIES
MARKETING PROBLEMS
QUESTIONS REGARDING DISTRI-
BUTTON PROBLEMS TO BE
ANSWERED.

of information in regard to the mar.
keting of farm products was proving
exceedingly costly to the American
farmer and the American consumer
led to the organization, in the spring
of 1913, of the Office of markets in
the United States Department of Agri
culture. This move in the interest OF
the farmers of the nation, one OF
many made by the Wilson admins
tration during the last three years, is
discussed in recent issue of the de-
partments Weekly News Letter.
Provision for the new agency was
made by congress in the belief that
the collection and dissemination of
information in regard to efficient mar
keting practices might eliminate much
waste and return substantial benefits
both to producers and consumers.
The farmer, it was realized, was
toilfully raising his crops only to
learn in many instances, when he
undertook the business of exchang-
ing them for money. that he did not
know accurately what he had pro-
duced and did not understand how
to dispose of it to best advantage.
He was confused by the numerous
market channels through which his
products might pass, and by the real
ization at the same time that he was
not in possession of the data neces-
sary for an intelligent choice among
those various routes. He found I'M
solved marketing problems at prac-
tically every stage of the journey
made by his commodities from the
farm to the hands of the ultimate
consumer.
Marketing in Early Days.
Practically no such marketing
problems confronted farmers during
early days in the United States. If
eggs. were to be disposed of, for ex
ample, the owner rarely had more
than three possibilities before him.
He might sell them directly to con-
sumers in a nearby town, barter
them to a neighbor for some other
product, or sell or trade them at a
store. Under the complex market
ing conditions of today, on the other
hand, eggs originating on a remote
farm may be borne, after they leave
the farmers hands, by little under
stood market forces through devious
channels to some family in the heart
Of a many-storied city apartment
thousands of miles away.
The great completely in the mod
ern marketing system which is in
such contrast to the simple, direct
dealings of early days has been
brought about by the rapid expan-
sion and development of the country
The marked concentration of popula-
ton In cities has been an especially
important factor. The early towns
drew their supplies from their imme-
date vicinities. The farmer drove
with his commodities from his near
by farm and either retailed them
himself from his wagon in the mar
ket place or sold them to retail
stores. AS the towns grew into cities
with large populations, however, the
surrounding zones of farm lands
could no longer supply the food
needs. Railroads were extended and
new and more distant producing
areas were tapped. Commercial
transportation thus entered as fac1
tor in marketing.
Effects of Railway Development.
The necessity for large-scale ship
ments arose in connection with rail-
road transportation, bringing about
the entrance of commercial buyers
and shippers at the country end, and
wholesalers, commission men, job
bers. retailers, and other distributors
at the city end of the frightening
market channel Provision was made
for the storing of surplus products
and later for the cold storage of per-
ishables. These changes introduced
other complications into the market
ing system.
The use of refrigerator cars fol-
lowed and greatly increased the dis
tances over which perishables could
be transported. 1t became possible
even for a city to draw it's fruits.
vegetables, meats, and other foods
from regions thousands of miles
away. These improvements all paved
the way for the marketing of perish
able fruit and truck on the modern
elaborate plan by which the prod
ucts, as rapidly as they mature in one
region after another from the ex-
IRENE south to the northward, are
rushed to northern market points,
H.,