The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-12
BUREAU
OPERATES $4,000
MILES Of WIRE
Government Institution, Now
Huge Machine, Started Six
Years Ago With Dozen Men
in Washington Office.

CHICAGO, H., May 1.-THE United
States bureau Of markets, which came
into being six years ago with a staff
Of a dozen men, now is operating 15, 900
miles Of leased telegraph wires in the
interchange of market information for
the benefit Of farmers and dealers, ac-
cording to a report issued by the Chi
cage office OF the bureau tonight.
In facilitating distribution of farm
products, the chief purpose of the bu-
reau, special telegraph market reports
are being furnished to thousands of
farmers and merchants in all parts Of
the country, the only expense to the
recipients being the wire tolls. The
daily market news service, a supple
mentary report, nov Is being sent to
200, 900 persons. The daily reports
from Washington and the SO branch
offices which advise growers and deal
ers of the supply, demand, prices and
movements Of products are rapidly
eliminating IN enormous wastage that
formerly resulted from methods used
by farmers and distributors, the report
says.
Coward solving the problems of mar
keting the huge amount OF live stock
annually produced in America, the bu-
e has surveyed sources Of supply
and studied the facilities for t~ransporta-
ton with a view to lettering conditions"
says the report. at now maintains O
national news service which keeps pro-
ducers, distributors and in
formed Of supplies, movement, demand
and prices, Nearly all Geographic mar
ket information now emanating from
the great Chicago markets is furnished
by the bureau Of markets.
The inspection department, one Of
the most important branches of the
bureau, passed upon Is, 900 cars of pro-
duce in Is months, seeording to the
each car, this money partially cover
ing the expense of this branch. Gov
eminent supplies destined for Europe
were inspected by the bureau officials
in New York while the war vas in
progress; 49,.
a nation has been accused Of wasting
went into the garbage cam" says the
report in dealing with the inspection
department work. whole carloads Of
fruits n vegetables have stood on
railroad sidings and rotted, while ship
conditions OF the shipment, unable to
agree on a settlement. Now federal
food products inspectors are stationed
at more than 40 of the large receiving
markets and any interested person can
have q shipment inspected n certifi-
Gates issued which are accepted in the
courts. After inspection by these fed
eral officials, dealers n shippers find
1t less difficult to agree on terms. AS
a result the cars are emptied and the
produce continues to the consumer.
Waste In distribution also has been
DDS Of loading cars, Until recently rs
per cent OF the potatoes received al
large markets were not loaded prop
erly or protected from cold or heat
damage. Great improvement is taking
place along these lines"
To aid consumers In obtaining equita.
BILE market quotations Housewives
Marketing Guides" are now being pub
lished in many citiesa Those show what
products are abundant and scarce, what
retailers paid for supplies and what
prices, based on market conditions, are
fair to consumers; Millions Of bushels
OF corn. wheat and oats will be graded
this year under federal standards by
licensed inspectors, whose work Is SUI
pervised by the bureau, the report says.
Grade standards for these cereals are
In use for all interstate shipments, hav-
business by all states having state grain
inspection departments. This means
that wheat, for example, will be graded
according to the same standards when
1t leaves h producing section as when
II arrives at terminal markets. Buyers
located on the Atlantic coast can buy
wheat In the Dakotas or Kansas and
know what they are buying. The same
set Of standards will prevail through
out. The grain corporation, organized
by the government to handle wheat
under fixed prices, buys entirely on
the basis OF federal grades.
with the passing OF the war emer-
gency," the report conclues, tho bu-
reau OF markets Is looking forward to
solving many pressing marketing prob
lens and sending out scouts into for
eign lands to open up new markets for
American agricultural products. Men
have already visited Australia, China
and Siberia Some are In Europe and
others viii go to South America. 1t
is also looking forward to improving
domestic marketing conditions to the
end that America may be better fed
and clothed and that through the i'm
proyement OF rural economic condi-
lions, farm life may be made more at
t~raotive and the farms produce better
citizens. fs well As more and better
products"