Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-05-12
SUGGEST STATE
MARKETS BUREAU
Potable That Action VIII Be Sought
at the Next Session of the Hi
nois Legislature.
SHIPPING FACILITIES ARE POOR
Poor Business Management On Part
OF Local Buyers is Found to
| Exist Generally.

Springfield. ILL.,, May 12.-SeVeral
members OF the legislature have madc
inquiries at the legislative reference
bureau recently which would indi-
cate the possibility of an attempt to
have the next legislature create state
bureau of markets and rural organ
ization.
Figures compiled by Finley Bell,
secretary of the legislative reference
bureau. show that out of 1850 counties
in the United States, eight have crop
valuation cat the farm of more than
$4,000 600, and these eight include four
Illinois counties. They are; Mclean,
Livingston, Iroquois and La Sale.
Other statistics compiled under the
direction of Mr.. Bell show the agricul-
tural status of Illinois in a very favor
able light, but these also show that
there are many places in the state
which suffer from inadequate facil-
tiles for shipping; that farmers suffer
difficulties connected with the trans
pOrtation system, with the wholesale
and with the retail trade.
Among the difficulties encountered
at country shipping points, which it is
believed a bureau of markets would
help overcome are: lack of uniform
ity in packages, lack Of grading and
sorting, poor roads from farm to sta
ton ignorance of market conditions,
poor business management on the part
Of local buyers, abuse Of monopoly
where there is one buyer and absence
of price agreement where there are
several buyers.
Among those interested in agricul-
tural problems of the state the recon-
mendations Of the efficiency and econ
omy committee of the legislature con-
corning the agricultural agencies of
Illinois are frequently discussed
Recommendations Made.
With a view to possible future &C
ton by the legislature, these recon-
mendations follow:
That the state board of agriculture,
the board of directors of the farmers
institute (but not the institute itself
the board of live stock commissioners,
and the stallion registration board be
abolished
That a department of agriculture
be created, al the head of which shall
be a secretary of agriculture to be ap-
pointed by the governor with the adj
vice and consent of the senate.
That the services of the above men
toned boards, the state veterinarian,
the biological laboratory. the board
of veterinary examiners, state inspec-
tor of apiaries and those Of the state
entomOlOgist that have to do with the
inspection of trees, plants, and shrubs,
be transferred to the said department
and put under the supervision Of the
secretary OF agriculture.
THAT the following officers be Great
ed in the department of agriculture,
the incumbents of which shall be ap-
pointed by the governor or the secre-
tary of agriculture: A superintendent
of the state fair, a uperintendent OF
farmers institutes, a live stock COM
missioner, (hoard of veterinary exam
iners. state veterinarian, biological
laboratory, registration of stations
and humane agents, shall be under the
live stock bureal, an inspector OF
apiares and nurseries, all private as
sociations dealing with agricultural
and related subjects, shall make re-
quests for appropriations through the
department Of agriculture"