The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-07
COLUMBIA YOUTHS
TO HAVE j. S. AID
in FOOD PROBLEM
Exhaustive Study Will Be Made
of Distribution of Products
In New York City.
BY International New. Service.


NEW YORK. Aug. s. - Sponsored
by the United States Government and
Columbia University, studies unique
in economic inquiry will be started
this fall in an attempt to solve New
York's food problems. Picked stu
dents, directed by Asher Hobson. as
sociate professor OF economic agri-
culture at Columbia, will conduct re-
search work in the marketing OF farm
products In cooperation with the De-
partment of Agriculture.
According to university announce
ment. the Government will place It's
machinery at the disposal of the stu
dents for the collection, tabulation
and Interpretation OF data, gathered
from original sources on specific prob
lens in the marketing OF farm prod
ucts. The research students will
be provided with desk space and the
necessary office equipment in the
New York office of the Federal
Bureau of Markets, located in the cen.
ter Of the wholesale produce district
OF the city. Such students as devote
a major portion OF their time or full
time in the work will receive a salary
not exceeding 500 a month.
Government To Aid.
Professor Hobson said yesterday
that the Government had co-operated
because of the growing acuteness of
problems relating to food marketing
In New York city. In establishing
this additional research course. he
said. Columbia emphasizes anew the
Importance OF the study OF agricul.
ture In urban centers and carries a
step further the announced polio
OF the president, Nicholas Murray
la.. nd -
work with city, State and nation in
broad fields of public service.
Each student will be required 10
work upon some specific marketing
problem, continued Prof. liobson,
who came to Columbia last year rom
the Department Of Agriculture. "He
VIII be expected TO attack this prob.
lem by the collection of first hand
data from the trade. The problems as.
signed Will have a :lirect bea ring upon
marketing practices and marketing
costs involved in the distribution OF
food products in he city Of New York,
In order that the time OF the students
may not be consumed by routine
tabulstions the necess;lry clerical as
slstance will be furnisbed for comuIla.
ton of data gathered by the seuden;s.
Publish Result of In,,uiry.
closely university research will, rns
tasks OF the city. is a departure IN
economic procedure inasmuch as N
places the students in actual contsct
with those engaged In the marketing
trades. In addition, the students will
be set to work upon current pfoblems
OF vital public interest, which can
only be approached by observing.
measuring and interpreting actual
business transactions.
Unusual facilities will be prov ided:
intensive supervision will be main.
talned, and it is expected that the re-
SUITS OF these studies will oe pub
hshed jointly by Columbia University
and the Federal Bureau Of eIarke,s'
Prof. Hobson pointed on. that, 10
meet the demand for a adjustment IN
the prices of food, improved market.
ing conditions were essential. but that
this Improvement could not be brought
about by reversion to methods cen
turtles old.