St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1916-02-09
MARKETING AND
DISTRIBUTION
CONTINUED from page three.)

tional effect of this lack of comped-
ton the produce which has passed
through our own market centers on
its way to Boston is once more found
within the boundaries of the state
now in the hands Of the consumer. 1t
is not the idea of Vermont produce
being consumed by a Vermont public
that causes us concern. for that should
be the normal situation. The evil lies
in the circuitous route taken by such
Vermont produce on its journey to the
Vermont consumer. However, this
passage through the distant market of
that produce consumed in Vermont
should be, and moreover. can be pre-
vented.
The Out OF State Markets.
But is is probable that not all the
output of our Vermont farms is re-
quired to satisfy the wants of our nom
rural population. What about the
present provision for such produce as
now goes out Of the state for even If
we should satisfy the demand of our
home N arkets through the medium
of direct selling we must be sure that
we have an economical method for
sending out our surplus. Should a
more economical method be devised?
We have noted that the average farm
er in his individual capacity employs
the less-than- carload rate for his
shipments to the distant market, even
though the carload rate is so much
lower that the small shipment is fore
ed to compete at a decided disadvan-
tage. Moreover, the carload reaches
the market in less time and with less
risk of injuring the produce while in
transit. The producer is furnished
the facilities for shipment in car lots.
and yet, frequently through lack of
knowledge of this provision which has
been made. he fails to take advantage
of his opportunity.
From our earlier discussion of the
factors fixing the nationwide price
for agricultural produce we learned
that the only advantage our Vermont
farmer can secure over his western
competitor is in decreasing his cost of
haulage to the shipping point and the
cost from there to the market, and In
a more sl1illful application of his. out
put to the demands of the home mar
ket. 1t is evident then that in the en-
ployment of carload rates for the
shipment of that produce non-consum-
able in the state, taken in conjunction
with the development of our home
markets through direct selling, or, at
least, through a less circuitous route
between the producer and the con-
sumner. lies the solution of the market
ing problem in so far as the Vermont
producer can at present exert any ap-
preciable influence. Such a solution
can only be attained through coop
Grafton among Vermont producers.
Where Cooperation Helps.
Provided cooperation among pro-
ducers promises the solution of YER
mont's marketing problem we are ma
turally led to consider the channels
through which this cooperative &C
ton shall best come to effective express
sion. In the attempt to improve present
conditions under a cooperative pro-
gram we at once face the fact that this
organized action must come to express
sion in such a way as to permit pro-
ducers to take advantage of trans
portation in carload quantities for any
surplus not required within the state,
while at the same time that produce
necessary for supplying the wants of
the Vermont consumer must come to
him through the channels of the home
market, and through the home market
only. How shall we so harmonic
this double function of our co-opera-
tive program that efforts shall not be-
come fruitless through division Of pur-
pose? Moreover. we are confronted
with the fact that the present costly
system of horse haulage must be sup
planted by some agency for distribut-
ing farm produce which shall render
carriage cheaper and easier. If this
can not be accomplished. then the
other part of our program must nee
essarily largely fail in the attainment
of the desired end. How then is CO.
operation to effect the solution of the
complicated problem before us?
REIMBURSEMENT Necessary.
We need first recognize that the
significant agricultural movement of
the twentieth century is the tendency
among farmers. produce growers. and
horticulturalists, to increase their fac
ilities for direct marketing by organic
ing cooperative marketing associa-
tons. Progress in organization has
necessarily been slow. Farmers are
widely scattered and they have a great
diversity of interests, many of which
are difficult to harmonic. Busily en-
gagged in planting and harvesting his
crops the farmer has had but scant
time to affiliate with his co-workers
TO market his crops to the best adj
vantage. Moreover. it is not easy to
find a satisfactory basis upon which
to build a comprehensive organiza-
ton OF rural life to take the place of
the old basis that has been swept aside
BY the general reorganization of the
economic world. II means a read
justment of the activities of the. farm
er to present social and Industrial con-
diuons- During this age of mechani-
cal inventions II will never again be
possible to build a rural community
on the self-sufficing basis OF the past