The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-08
HOUSTON TELLS OF EFFORTS MADE
TO REDUCE HIGH COST OF LIVING
Annual Report Of Secretary Of Department Agriculture
Devotes Considerable Attention to Pure Food Law
Urges Need Congress for Permission to Standard
ize Foods and Drugs and Right to Inspect Foods and
Drugs in Factories Better Distribution ATTEMPTED

monstration market news service for
livestock similar to that now conduct
ed for perishable crops'
Other efforts at better distribution
methods are described as follows:
Surveys have been made Of the
marketing facilities for AGRICULTURAL
products In nine cities and advice
mas been given regarding the loca-
ZION, establishment and management
OF municipal retail and wholesale pub
nc markets. Detailed studies also
have been made of conditions in other.
Clues. investigation concerning
methods of handling and grading per-
lshable products and the practicability
of Standardization of the products and
their containers have progressed rap
idly.
The issuance of monthly cold
storage reports on apples has been
continued, and the work has been ex-
tended to include butter eggs and
cheese. These reports show the cold
storage holdings throughout the coun-
try and include comparison of the
holdings of the current year with
those of the previous year. In CO.
operation with carriers, extensive in
vestigations of the economic waste of
foodstuffs in transit have been con-
Quoted. The object of these investi-
cations is to secure better co-opera-
ton between shippers and carriers and
greater ef1ciencysin methods of hand
ling, with view to eliminate, or at
least greatly to reduce, the present
waste.
"Wel1-tested systems of accounts
and records for primary grain eleva-
tors, for livestock shipping associa-
tons, and for cooperative stores have
been issued. Systems for country
creameries and cotton warehouses
have been devised and are being tested
under commercial conditions Sys-
TENS perfected by the department for
farmers cooperative elevators and
for fruit and produce associations al
ready arc in extensive use. A plan
for adapting farmers elevator
companies to the patronage dividend
basis has been worked out and pub
lished."
Meat production has been increas-
ed, according to the report, largely
through checking of disease and par
asites and by better stock raising.
More than 40 per cent. of the original
tick infested territory has been clear
ed, the report says, and the annual
loss of $40,0OO,000 through this para
Site has been greatly reduced. Diseases
are being eliminated.
The report says of food produc-
ton:
''The> production of food crops ade-
quate to meet the consuming needs of
the country and the export demand is
matter of large Importance to the
American people. Our potential agri-
cultural resources in this respect are
so varied and ample that there can be
no doubt of our ability abhndantly to
supply our domestic wants, when CHI
matte conditions are normal and the
foreign demand is not excessive. One
of the greatest agricultural needs,
therefore, is the establishing of pro-
duction.
"Sharp f1uctuation of yield and price
from season to season tends to stimu-
late speculative and superficial farm
ing and to discourage the systematic
crop rotation and thorough cultural
practice which are essential to an
enduring and economically sound agri-