Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-10-02
THINKS BAN ON
FARMER RIGID:
WOULD SOFTEN
Warden Hargest Does Not Be-
lieve ForestalIing Ordi-
nance Complete

John ]. largest. warden of the
| county prison, was for many years
| a successful truck farmer and attend
| ed the Harrisburg markets. He does
not believe the forestalling ordinance
will accomplish the purpose for which
| it was intended and is of the opinion
there should be some revision of the
measure in the interest of farmer and
| consumer. Mr.. Hargest suggests that
| fruit and vegetables should be striclS-
Ell from the forestallinE regulations
| believing that such an amendment
would increase the supplies and bring
about better market situation. He
sees nothing wrong in restraining
| forestalling with respect to eggs, but
| ter and poultry.
Effect ON Farmers.
| 1t is the opinion of Mr.. largest.
after long experience as a trucker,
that the present forestalling ordi-
nance is operating TO keep out of the
city the supplies which are needed
here, and the Inevitable result is All
increase instead of a decrease of
prices. Because farmers are not per-
mitted to wholesale their surplus pro-
ducts at the markets they are dispos-
ed to remain away entirely and sell
their produce elsewhere. Huckstcrs
are encouraged through the rigid reg
ulations now in force and it is the
opinion of Mr.. Hargest that the inev-
liable consequence is the encourage
| ment of Philadelphia and other deal
| ers to ship into Harrisburg stale sup
plies which would be unnecessary
were the farmer permitted to dispose
OF his stocks after he has provided
| for his customers at market.
Raises Surplus Produce
when used to attend market it
was not infrequently the case that L
would have two or three wagonloads
OF produce on market day. 1t was
impossible to dispose of all this stuff
at the stalls in the market and after
market hours l made it a rule to sell
what was left in wholesale way to
local dealers. The average trucker
raisers more produce than he can sell
at the sales in the markets. Only the
other day producer was compelled
to take home several baskets of let
tuce which might easily have been
disposed of to local dealers for the
benefit of Harrisburg consumers. So
long as the truckers and, farmers are
prevented from wholesaling their
surplus stocks the supply for Harris
burg will necessarily be reduced, and
the prices remain high"
Mr.. largest explained that the
farmer was opposed to the proposed
wholesale market because it would
require an increase of their labor
cost and consume valuable time which
could not be afforded under the pres
ent labor conditions. 1t is to their
benefit to sell at retail and it has
always been the rule to keep ample
produce for their market customers
only disposing of what was not need
ed in the retail stalls.
Affects Peach Crop,
Even before the forestalIing ordi-
nance became effective" said Mr..
largest "the truckers held back
enough to supply their customers;
there was no point in selling at
wholesale less than they could OBJ
tain at retail To my personal knowl-
edge the great peach growers in this
section have shipped their crop this
year out of the city owing to the
forestalling. regulations apd this has
resulted in their reduced Supplies for
Harrisburg" -.
Mr.. Hargest says tremendous
crop of fine potatoes has been raised
i'll Cumberland county. and yet the
farmers are not allowed to sell in the
wholesale way This means a re-
duction of supply and the inevitable
result of a demand greater than the
supply and unless the forestalling or
dinance is amended in some reason
able way it is the opinion of Mr..
largest that the market conditions
will grow worse instead of better
and that instead of reducing the high
cost of living the opposite is likely
to happen.