The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-04-18
SAVING AT THE SPIGOT"

Editor Star: Please publish the
following article for me relative to
the article in the Evening Star of
April 13, Saving at the Spigot." /
have been asked by no less than a
dozen of my farmer friends to reply.
Now as to the state marketing bu-
| reau, it is purely an agricultural in
stitution, designed to assist the farm
er in the marketing and distribution
of farm products. 1t was created by
special act of the state legislature,
and to provide for its maintenance,
special tax" is added TO fertilizer.
The Star nor anyone else but fertili-
zer users, is asked to contribute d
tsingle penny to its support. In the
year 1920 the tax on fertilizer
amounted to more than 5000, but as
we only wanted to apply $4,000 of
this amount to the maintenance of the
bureau, the rest was placed in the
state treasury and used as general
fund. Now as to the activities of the
bureau, any one has only to read the
report of the secretary of agriculture
to the governor of Florida, to be con-
vinced of its usefulness. If that is
not enough to convince you, then
please read the governors recommen-
dation to the state legislature of
1921. Here is what he says: "The
state marketing bureau is an essential
institution, and the present legisla-
ture must stand by it and support it
without stint or hindrance."
Now l am very grateful that the
Stars "bread and butter" does not
come irect from the farm, but l as
sure you we are working toward that
lobjective-we are anxious to supply
you with food and clothing direct
from the producer and if you don't
object too seriously we will accom-
plish our aim. 1t is our earnest in
tention to supply you with every need
din ect from the farm, with no waste
or commissions. The state marketing
bureau is an essential to the accom-
plishment of our desires. and we are
supporting it ourselves without as
sistance. The farmers of thirty-two
states have instigated such institu-
tions; why not we, since they are not
only of benefit to the farmer but d
saving to the general public.
When the marketing bureau was
first established, it was, of course,
more or less of an experiment, and
think that the legislature bringing
it into existence acted wisely in not
appropriating a greater sum than
$15, 900 for its support. Now since il
has proved its usefulness without
question land | regret that the Star
is not better informed as to its ac-
tivities) it would be very unwise of
the present legislature to not give ii
an opportunity to serve more people,
That the farmers are willing to con-
tinue to give it their support is very
clearly evidenced by petitions and
resolutions from no less than twenty,
FIVE counties earnestly requesting
their representatives in the legisla-
ture to support the Singletary bill
They speak in no uncertain terms as
to whether they want the bureau OF
not. AS to concrete cases of where
farmers have been benefited through
the bureau, the Star will only have to
call on its subscribers to find them by
the dozens The extra tax that / pay
on fertilizer to maintain the bureau
is not as much as my subscription to
the Evening Star, but if it is too ex-
pensive to have the benefits of both
then as case of necessity | would do
without the paper.
During the four years it has been
in operation, the bureau has marketed
far in excess of twelve million dollars
worth of farm products, or an aver
age of more than three million year
\ ly Had this business been done on a
commission, it would have cost the
people more than $4,000 each year.
Besides this saving, hundreds of dol
lars worth of this produce was of
such a nature that the farmer would
not have risked the commission and
transportation companies to handle
II it. One instance of my own exper-
ienee was in the case of a car Of late