Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-07-13

the producer Of country hides with
the recognized grades and classes of
hides and skins. Such an understand
ing will enable him to prepare and
dispose Of his products much more
inteelligently and plofitably. But
even if he should produce the best
quality of hides and skins, the small
producer is at disadvantage COM
pared with large producers like tic
packers, for example, because the lat.
ter handle large quantities of hides
and can sort and grade them acco j
ing to the demands of various ia
ncrs. The extremely scattered sourc IS
and the comparatively small indi-
vidual 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 tie
present methods of marketing country
hides can be improved since these
methods support expensive nonessent
ial Notwithstanding and speculatins
Intermediates which operate possitl:
unintentially but inevitably, to sur
press this branch of the industry and
discourage the quality of workman
ship displayed.
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
hides which any one of these individ-
uals has to sell are usually disposed
of either to a junk dealer or a local
buyer. These men, in turn, sell u
a travelling buyer. The latter passes
on his goods to the large hide deal n.
and this dealer sells to a broker or a
tanners buyer, from whom the col
lected skins are finally disposed of 20
a tannery. Thus there is maintained
4 long. circuitous distribution sys-
TEN that adds needlessly to the final
cost.
Contrast this system with the direct
methods which the packers are able
to employ. Each packer having "a
large assortment of hides is able &c
grade and classify his output so that
he can dispose of it advantageously ~
a hide broker or a tanners buyer
direct. From these men the hides
go direct to the tanner. Thus va
rious intermediate agencies and their
profits are eliminated.
So simple a distribution system IL,
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 travel
ing buyer. and in some cases with the
local dealers as Intermediates in t..e
distribution system. When the pro
ducers negotiate directly with tNe
largo hide dealer. the latter sorts
and Classics the hides sent in and is
in q position to share with the pro
duccr a part of the saving which this
simpler method makes possible At
the same time a lowering Of prices for
the final product will be the tendency
since distribution costs will be less
the use Of a local dealer as inter
mediary between the producer and
the large hide dealer in some cases Is
advisable. since he is in position to
do needed sorting and classifying.
Ethel Of these simpler methods
suggested for the producer Of country
hides-selling direct to the large
dealer or through local dealer-ap
proaches more nearly the packers
method and represents decided i'm
provement 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 &C
cept any price obtainable from local
buyers, such as general stores. pro-