The sun., 1919-08-24
The High Cost of Living and What the Farmer Gets Out
Even the Moder.
ate Priced Eating
House Counts on
Doubling Money
on Food 1t Sells
How Grocer and
Butcher Figure


are getting into New York by fer,
with the motor trucks which brin,
them into close touch with the peopl.
who will take the trouble to buy direct
One OF the most interesting develon'
ments OF the situation is the establish.
ment of the so-called car trade" In
pleasant weather farmers are getting
into the habit Of putting a small tab,
or counter out in front of their gate.
ways on which samples Of their prod.
uce are temptingly displayed. It Is IN,
custom to reproach the farmer for NOT
raising more fruits and vegetables de.
spite the fact that when he sells them
to the wholesaler or the commission
merchant he gets hardly anything for
his trouble. Some Of the farmers, how.
ever, have lately been doing most
thriving business with the owners Of
the automobiles who are passing BY,
II takes only a few moments for 4
car to halt and its driver to negotiate
with the farmer or the farmers boy
for a basket or so of peaches and ber-
ries or even for strictly fresh eggs and
prime butter. The prices charged by
the farmer under these conditions are
about 20 per cent. less than the retail
rates in the city.
Parcel Post Helping.
The use Of the parcel post in mar.
keting is helping some in the solu-
ton Of the problem OF giving the
~ I'm
from what are often the extortions
of the middleman. II he is on Long
Island and in near by New Jersey he
can take care Of himself very well,
but If he is trying to do business
with the large city and happens to
be in Iowa or Ohio. and such local.
ties from which the five delegates
hailed, he is likely to be in a bad way,
II better. systems OF Transportation
and distribution were adopted the
farmer certainly could be in pos.
ton to get more for his produce and
at the same time escape considerable
censure.
The solution of the high cost Of
living problem as well as the cognats
one of giving the farmer a fair re-
turn for his labor rests in the city
of New York upon a system Of ter
minal markets in which the expense
Of transportation and handling can
be reduced to a minimum. With the
building of tunnels for trucks and
wagons and the extension Of the motor
truck there can be no doubt that
this vexed problem of Thnt-S5sR We
eat will be speedily adjusted.
There is nothing startlingly original
about the terminal market idea for
New York city. as Is shown by the
fact that administrations Of all grades
Of politics for years have had the
same idea. what we require now
to quote the words of Dr. Day, "is
heroic action. The people should,
through their Government, be free
from the grasping profiteers and Il
should be made easy for all who want.
to do legitimate business to continue
their activities without constantly be-
ing thrown upon the rocks and shoals
OF selfish interests, 1t is a duty not
only. but an opportunity rare, that
we have in the present city govern
ment been lifting the food problem
from the murk and mire where It
has been for generations and placing
it upon the high plane Of public con.
troll" y
No matter what may be the ultimate
outcome OF the puzzle Of high living
costs 1t is certain that some time the
farmer will come into his inheritance