The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-12-01

Lack of information, bad business
methods and downright dishonesty
were blamed for the present high cost
Farmers Institute Lecturer of the
State Board of Agriculture, in an adj
dress at Montgomery City last Sat
urday.
"The middle man has his place in
the program just as we'll as the pro-
Queer and consumer" he said, "and
there is a vast noed of reform and
education among all factors. There is
too much of lack of understanding
among all parties"
Mr.. Jordan suggested that market
centers be established for the pur-
pose Of disseminating information as
to the demands or needs of various
markets as to supply and demand.
He used as an illustration, Missouri,
with st. Louis, Kansas City and st.
Joseph as primary centers and such
cities as Joplin, Springfield, Hannibal,
Moberdly, Sedalia and others as sec
ondary centers, which in turn would
keep in touch with all their surround
ing towns.
"This scheme is starting with the
Government" he added, "but still is
far from hitting the spot"
Supplies Dumped to Keep Prices Up
Jordan said that he had reports that
not long ago on a certain day in Kan
sas City there were over 800 car loads
of potatoes on the tracks in that town,
and the report was that more than
100 cars had been frozen. The inti-
nation was that this had been pur-
posely allowed, for the seeming rea-
son that it was the desire on the part
of certain business men to keep down
the supply that the price might be
kept up.
Mr.. Jordan also stated that he had
been told that each season the dealers
in Kansas City set day on which no
more old potatoes could be bought by
the consumer. That after that GER
tain day only new potatoes could be
found on the market, and that the old
potatoes could be sent to the dump.
He said he could not vouch for the
truth of the statement, but the reason
for this action was that the supply
might be kept down that the price
might be kept up.
The speaker also said that he had
been told only a day or two ago by
a man who said that in st.
Louis in one year he knew Of 200,-
900 barrels of apples being thrown in
to the river by the dealers in that
town, for the apparent purpose Of
keeping the supply low and the price
high.
Cites Case Of Apple Dealer.
Mr.. Jordan told of another case that
happened a few years ago in Western
Missouri, that seems to be general
principle with many so-called business
men. An apple grower from near
Springfield wanted to sell two carloads
of apples in this western town and
agreed to place them on the track for
So barrel, and that by a little adj
vertising and use of the telephone they
could sell from the car door at $3.50
a barrel. The merchants stoutly re-
fused to consider the proposition, as
they said the town did not buy over
a half-car in the year, and they were
sure they could not sell two cars. The
grower thought they could if they
"oulu SCH az sueH PlicS as Vic SoH-
sumner thought he could pay.
The merchants said they could not
handle them on profit margin of so
cents barrel, as they sold them at
"a barrel. The shipper said he
would ship in apples and sell them
himself at So barrel. The dealers
told him if he thought he could land
such deal to go his length.
As a result he went to his hotel, got
the telephone directory and before he
had left the telephone he had en-
gagged his two cars. They were de-