The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1920-09-22

MS products much more intelligently
and profitably. But even if he should
produce the best quality of hides and
skins, the small producer is at n dis
advantage compared with large pro-
ducers like the packers, for example,
because the latter handle large guam
titles of hides and can sort and grade
them according to the demands O fvar-
lous tanners. The extremely scatter
ed sources and the comparatively small
individual production of country hides
and skins makes it impossible for
country producers to sort and classify
their product in marketable lots.
Nevertheless, many features of the
present methods of marketing coun-
try hides can be improved since these
methods support expensive noncssen-
tial profit-absorbing and specializing
Intermediates which operate, possib-
ly unintentionally but inevitably, to
suppress this branch of the industry
and to discourage the quality of work
manship displayed.
Good and Bad Distribution Systems
Three principal methods of market
ing domestic hides and skins prevail
at present, as shown by studies made
by the Bureau of Markets. The one
in which the farmer, ranchman, and
local butcher usually participates is
needlessly complex and costly The
hldes which any one of these individu-
ais has to sell are usually disposed of
either to junk dealer or a local buy
er. These men, in turn, sell to a tray
cling buyer. The latter passes on his
goods to the large hide dealer, and
this dealer sells to a broker or a tan
ncr's buyer, from whom the collected
skins are finally disposed of to a tan
merry. thus there is maintained
long, circuitous distribution system
that adds needlessly to the final cost.
Contrast this system with the direct
methods which the packers arc able to
employ. Each packer having large
assortment of hides is able to grade
and classify his output SC that he can
dispose OF it advantageously to hide
broker or tanners buyer direct.
Fro mthese men the hides go direct to
the tanner. Thus various intermc-
diate agencies and their profits are
eliminated
So simple a distribution system is,
OF course, impossible for the small
producer. However, experience has
shown that the farmer and ranchman
and the local butcher can dispense
with the junk dealer and the travelling
buyer, and in some cases, with the To-
cal dealers as Intermediates in the
distribution system. When the pro-
ducers negotiate directly with the
large hide dealer, the latter sorts and
classifies the hides sent in and is in a
position to share with the producer n
part of the saving which this simpler
method makes possible. At the same
times d lowering Of prices for the Ina!
product will be the tendency, since
distribution cost will be less. The use
of local dealer as intermediary be-
tween the producer and the large hide
dealer in some cases is advisable, since
he is in position to do needed sorting
and classifying.
Either of these simpler methods
suggested for the producer of country
hldes-sclling direct to the large deal
er or through local dealer-ap-
proaches more nearly the packers
method and represents n decided i'm
provemcnt over methods now prevail
ing.
Obstacles to Overcome
Such consignment marketing, how
ever, presupposes mutual confidence
and fair dealing by both producer and
dealer and, unfortunately, this does
not always exist. Another obstacle
to the establishment of this method is
the producers preference for ready
cash. Many producers prefer to ac-
cept any price obtainahe from local
buyers, such rs general stores, produce
dealers, junk collectors, and travelling
hide buyers rather than consign their
products to distant car-lot dealers in
central markets. The place that travel
ing buyer or agents occupy in an i'm
proved system Of distribution is q
matter on which one can be less speci-
fic, since opinions of the trade differ