Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-10-10
To Marker, To Marker.

a MAI L En- VI 1d1 -ISdCulIS import W
~ the South is tersely stated by the
a ~ Florida Times-Union when it says,
Trucking, farming and fruit raising are not
going to be fully successful until we nave
marketing facilities that will amply take
care of all products raised in the State and
bring profitable returns to the producer
The fact is, efficient marketing is as
essential to agricultural progress as is
efficient production. No matter how sclen-
tific and skilful the growers planting and
cultivation, no matter how careful the har-
vesting, nor how abundant, if he lack ade-
quate channels for dispOsing of his products,
the vital link of his own and his regions
prosperity is missing. Distribution, indeed
is basic problem in things economic. We
feel it's weight and sharp significance when
ever there is a prolonged tie-up in transport
tation. We would regard as enemies Of the
public men who unwarrantably stopped the
wheels of the country railway systems and
thereby menaced hundred Of towns and mil
lions of people with starvation. But when
we neglect to provide needful markets and
related facilities for our farming territory
we are failing to- do our proper part in the
problem of distribution and are working
serious injury to the common interests.
For without such facilities, the natural
resources that lie so richly about us will not
be developed, nor the more progressive
element of farmers encouraged. ''The pro-
ducer," as the Times Union observes, els in
tent on his crops his improvement and his
help, and is not in a position to watch the
markets, study where he can ship to the best
advantage, and find people who will buy and
pay the best prices. This must be done by
experts and specialists in that line" In
many matters it is the privilege and the duty
of civic bodies, such as most of our chambers
of commerce and boards of trade wish to be-
to give the farmers of the adjacent country
the benefit of expert and special information
on market questions. In some fields, it is
true, the growers themselves should secure
such service through cooperative organiza-
ttions of their own, in the case of the
Georgia Fruit Exchange, whereby the
orchard crops of this State have been made
regularly and highly profitable, instead of
the hazardous ventures they once were.
But there are sundry other ways in which
the mercantile and industrial interests of our
towns can aid in providing markets for the
farm output of their territory In numerous
instances they can build warehouses, or
grain elevators, or potato curing plants, or
canning factories, or packing houses, where
products which otherwise would go to waste
can be preserved and made generally salable.
Moreover, these interests can cooperate with
the State Bureau of Markets, whose service
is accomplishing valuable results in Georgia,
and also with the efforts of the telephone and
Transportation companies to promote food
production.
1t is keenly encouraging that so many
towns in this and neighborng Common
wealths have awakened to their obligation
and opportunity in this regard. To the ex-
tent that they help to solve the marketing
problem, they will develop those basic re-
sources on which their own and the common
prosperity depend.