Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-24
RICHMOND, THE LEADER
AS MARKET FOR PRODUCE
Greater Distributing Point and Con-
sumcr-Urgcnt Demand Creates
Higher Prices for Producer.
FEW COMPARATIVE FIGURES
Suggested That System I'm Vogue in
North Carolina Bc Adopted Here.
Merchants and Chamber of Com
mcrce Might Work 1t Out.

| The Extension Division OF the North
Carolina Agricultural Department pub
| fishes weekly bulletin which claims
to show the prices paid by merchants
and others for farm products in the
leading markets of the State. and this
| bulletin Is sent out broadcast. pre-
sumably reaching all tho farmers who
have anything to sell.
| 1t is claimed that this has proven a
| most excellent plan for letting the
farmers in the different sections know
what il being done in "A business way
in other parts of the State. and in what
| markets they can get the best prices
for their products.
a recent issue OF this bulletin. which
| has found its way TO The Times
| Dispatch office, shows very wids
variation of prices for the products OF
the farm. For instance. No. white
| corn was quoted at Sl.l0 at Salisbury.
the lowest place in the list, and al
s2.lo a. Charlotte, the highest; and
yet these two points arc only about
| ,hirty-four miles apart On the same
line OF road Two points. Asheville and
Newton. quoted No. white corn at
SIPS. while VIC next lowest place was
Winston Salem. at $3.50.
| The price for sweet potatoes for tho
| week ranged from as cents at Newton
and Lumbcrton UP to 81 and $l.l0 else
where, with si.25 at Monroe, the high
est point reported. The range OF prices
for dressed hogs vas from $500 at
Asheviilc and Charlotte, the two lowest;
points. up to So at Tarboro. the high
est point.
II has been suggested that a system
somewhat after the plan OF this North
Carolina system of market reporting
would be n good thing for Richmond
to adopt. II is also suggested that a
U h H.,
men and probably the Chamber Of
Commerce might make It very valu-
able to Richmond.
II is argued that it probably can be
shown AZ any time that this city pays
better prices for pretty much every
thing in the eating line the farmer
has TO sell than any other city or town
in the State. For instance, last week
turkeys brought higher prices here
than in any other Virginia or North
Carolina town. IL the reports in the
daily papers were correct in every in
stance. Eggs were higher here than
in any other town in the State cxcep.
Norfolk, and they were no higher there
than in Richmond. II is known so
the dealers say, that Etoragcs in some
other Virginia towns have sought to
sell apples and other fruits through
Richmond this season because of the
better figures obtainable here. All of
this is due TO the fact that Richmond,
being the greater distributing point. as
we'll as the greater consumer, the de-
mand here is greater for most OF the
articles the farmer and the fruit
grower may have TO sell.
Thousands OF circular letters go out
from Richmond, sent by commission
merchants and others to farmers and
dealers in produce all over the State.
but they quote only Richmond prices.
II Is argued that bulletins that would
give the quotations OF other markets
and let the farmer and the village and
small town dealers and shippers com
pare them for themselves. would in
evitab!y work TO the advantage OF
Richmond: and certainly this would be
TO the benefit OF the producer. who is
at all times entitled to the best prices
the markets afford