The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-02-01

Notwithstanding Enormous Pro-
daction, Price Has Continued
To Rule High
Especial to Free Press.1
n1sIxS

Washington, D. c., January Is
The potato marketing situation at
this moment appears to be serious
according to a statement just issued
by the United States department of
agriculture. The total production in
1917 is estimated to have been 442,-
$4,000 bushels, or the largest crop
ever produced in the United States.
Notwithstanding this fact, prices
from the time of digging to the pres
ent have ruled Higher than in any
previous year of which we have rec
ord with the exception of last year
when the crop was abnormally short.
The department of agriculture has
been able to compute the movement
of the present crop with more &C
curacy than has ever been possible
before and from all the information
available it appears that not more
than one third of the marketable sur
plus of the crop of 1917 has been
moved up to December 81. In other
words, there remained to be moved
upon January 1, two cars of the crop
of 1917 for every car marketed up to
uary has not been noticeably accel-
Grated. The present reserve stocks
are so widely distributed that the
transportation problems presented do
not appear to be acute. Generally
speaking, more potatoes could be
moved if offered for shipment.
What Situation Demands.
The situation demands enlightened,
patriotic and vigorous action on the
part of all concerned in the movement
of this crop. Unless large dealers
promptly move the stocks on hand in
order to speed up distribution and
bring the large reserve still on the
farms into the channels of trade,
heavy wastage of the crop appears
certain to result later in the season.
1t is believed that dealers will in the
end find it wiser to move present
holdings without profit or even at
some loss rather than to risk destruc-
tive wastage later in the season. At
the same time, present retail prices
must be somewhat reduced if potato
consumption is to be stimulated as
/ it should be-
Prices at point of production have
generally declined since digging be-
gan and many dealers are reputed to
hold large stocks purchased at prices
higher than those now prevailing This
may account in some measure for the
present slow rate of movement out
of some of the heaviest producing
areas and for the abnormally wide
difference between present whole
sale prices to the grower and retail
prices to the consumer
Potatoes Cannot Be Spotted.
Under existing and prospective
conditions no material quantity of
potatoes can be exported or converted
into non perishable products this
| season. The crop can not be carried
over. 1t must be consumed or wasted.
The food situation throughout the
world demands that it be consumed
effectively to relieve the existing
strain on the supply of cereals. 1t is
the one great food resource of the
world upon which there is now dan
ger of a heavy loss and the depart
ment is of the opinion that the stu
alton demands that farmers sell
! freely; that the larger dealers move
their stocks rapidly; and that the
retailer content himself with the
smallest possible margin of profit,
realizing that he is now the most
important factor in speeding up DO
/ tato consumption.