Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-16
In Close Touch With Markets.

Every night these agents report by
telegraph to the Offices of the exchange
at Olney just how many potatoes there
are on that particular market, what
the demand is likely to be and what
prices have ruled during the day among
the jobbers. On the strength of these
reports prices are fixed for the day and
the local agents throughout the coun-
try are notified. Reports are made
also to farmers of what their potatoes
brought the day before.
Almost as soon as the business day
begins the sales force gets busy on
the wires and communicates with the
agents in every market. Prices are
quoted, always +. o. b. the point of
shipping. the farmers. through their
exchange refusing absolutely to take
any shipping risk. The minute a car
is loaded and sealed the buyer takes
all responsibility If the potatoes are
lost in shipment he has to fight for his
money. The farmers are sure of theirs
When the daily reports are received
the officers of the exchange decide
where their potatoes shall go that day
Acting on this decision inquiries are
| made in the selected markets and or
ders are received promptly. There is a
ready market for Star" and Gear
Wheel brand of potatoes, trademarks
of the Virginia exchange, because the
(. system Of grading is enforced strictly
| and the exchange becomes responsible
for any barrel bearing it's brand
Markets like Baltimore, Washington
and Richmond. which have contiguous
| territory producing potatoes about
! the same time that the Virginia pota-
| toes are ready. get little considera-
| ton. The exchange refuses to COM
! to. There are too many markets in
! the country where the adjacent terri
| tory does not produce potatoes when
! the Virginia crop is ready--places in
I . 81 o..
north. When the Virginia crop is on
no other potatoes are being sold. ex-
| cept for strictly local markets. The
! exchange knows every day just where
| these points are and no effort is made
TO sell at those points.
Take Washington as a case in point.
| Secretary McMath explained that Nor
folk county. Va: Montgomery and
Prince Georges counties. Nd. and
nearby counties south of the Potomac
sent their potatoes to the capital. By
keeping out of the Washington market
generally the exchange avoided selling
at prices lower than 1t could get else
where and at the same time made the
market better for the strictly local
! producers. The same principle holds
| with other markets
Every member Of the exchange has
| to stick to the exchange. His product
must be handled through 1t under
penalty of being deprived Of its priv
ileges. With Scotch cannfness. how
| ever. there Is no objection to despoiling
the Phflistfne when the opportunity IS
afforded. One Of the articles of the
constitution Of the exchange. which ex-
plains this point fully takes care OF
any situation of the sort.
| May Despoil the Philistine.
1t follows:
"All members shall be- required &c
market their farm products exclusively
through the exchange: provided, how.
| ever. that In case any member Is Of.
fered price plainly in excess of tn.
| market value OF the goods, for the
obvious purpose of inducing him t.
break off his relationship with the ex,
change. the general manager shall
have authority to direct him to &C
cept such offer without loss Of mem
bership rights"
Proper punishment is provided fol
members who violate this provision.
Other advantages to members of thu
exchange are the many ways they arr
helped in producing their crops. If :
member is up against" a bad fnan
cial time. the exchange tides him over
1t will advance money for his seed, t.
be deducted when the crop Is har
vested. 1t will give him scientific in.
formation ABOUT how thu ol;eD shouls