Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-23

merchants importing vast stores of these sta
pies from distant regions and Georgia consumers
are sending away millions of dollars for the very
commodities which their State can yield in
abundance Evidently, then, the basic problem in
providing markets for Georgia food crops lies in
setting up convenient and dependable relations be-
tween those who wish to sell and those who wish
to buy such products. ..
To the solution of this problem, the Atlanta
Commercial Exchange is contributing in number
of ways For thing, it is establishing authori-
tative market quotations which buyers and sell
ers can trade with assurance. Its spot cotton quo
tations have been recognized by the United States
Government, so that Atlanta is officially listed
as one of the twelve spot cotton markets in Amer
ica The Exchange will extend this system to other
commodities notably to hay, grain, cattle, hogs
and food products in general. When that is done
and il is being done already-the Atlanta quota
lions on such products will serve as a standard to
which merchants and producers throughout the
State can look for guidance.
Heretofore there has been no adequate
standard of that kind for Georgia. farmer
would sell his potatoes or peas or hogs for
local merchant being equally uniformed as to pre-
vailng values at the time of the transaction. That
state of affairs restricts and discourages trade, be-
cause it places both the buyer and seller uncer
tain ground and exposes them both to many haz-
COmmerclal
this situation by compiling and announcing daily
figures on the current values of food commodities
values determined by market conditions in gen
eral.
The authoritative Atlanta quotations will serve
as basis for points throughout Georgia. just the
New York and Chicago quotations. when duly re-
vised serve as a basis for Atlanta With the
thentic information thus afforded, merchants and
farmers can trade inteligently and safely, and for
that very reason they will trade more freely =.
There is another and more direct means by
which the Exchange will aid in establishing
lent and dependable relations between growers
and buyers of food. products. Cooperating with
field agents of the federal Department of Agricul-
ture, the Exchange will designate responsible buy
ers at concentration points in various parts of the
State These buyers will be in position to take
small lots of food commodities from farmers in the
adjacent country paying them the current prices
of the Atlanta Exchange and assembling the indi-
vidual purchases in carload shipments Suppose,
for example ten farmers in a county have surplus
of peas or hogs which they wish to SELL none Of
them having enough to make up carload lot.
Heretofore each of these farmers was at loss for
a market, unless there CHANGED to be local de-
mand. But with the grouping facilities provided
by the Exchange. the ten farmers are enabled to
do collectively what none of them could do indi-
viduaIly. They are enabled to sell to estab-
FANoSN
which they know to be correct.
In the course of few seasons, these RESPONSE
BILE buyers located at concentration points viii lie
known to growers throughout the territory they
represent and furthermore the system which they
represent will be understood and appreciated. 1t is
probable too that these examples will lead to the
establishment of cooperative marketing associa
lions in other sections of the State, that in time
every district and county will be provided
with means for bringing the producers and the buy
ers of foodstuffs into convenient and dependable
relations.
When that is accomplished, there will be no
need of urging Georgia farmers 10 raise grain and
cattle and hogs and other food supplies; for, once
assured of markets for such crops, they will pro-
duce them in abundance Thus we shall keep at
home billions of dollars that now flow to the dis
tant West and We shall reap in due measure the
wealth of Georgia's soil. Because it marks def
mite step toward that golden era, because it is lay
ing the foundation of a broader and freer economic
system the Atlanta Commercial Exchange merits
the hearty approval of business leaders throughout
the State.