Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-01-19
I I

Let rs. then, consider some of the
farmers grievances, and see how far
they are renl In doing so, we should
remember that, while there have been,
and still are, instances Of purposeful
abuse, the subject should not be ap-
preached with any general imputation
TO existing distributive agencies Of de-
hoerately intentional oppression, but
rather with the conception that the
marketing Of farm products has not
been undermined
An ancient evil. and q persistent
one, Is the undsrgradlng of farm prod
ucts, with the result that what the
farmers sell AZ of one quality IL re-
sold AZ Of higher. That this sort Of
chicanery should persist on any I'M
portAnt scale In these days Of buS-
ness Integrity would seem almost in
credible, but there 10 much evidences
that 1t does % persist Rvsa - I
write, the newspapers announce the
suspension of several hrms from tAs
New York Produce Exchange for ex-
porting tn Germany AZ No 2 wheat q
whole shipload OF grossly Inferior whost
mixed with oats. char and the like.
Another evil is that Of inaccurate
weighing Of farm products, which, u
IL charged, Is sometimes a matter az
dishonest intention and sometimes e<
protective policy sl the part Of the
local buyer, who fears that he may
weigh out" more than be weighs in.
greater grievance u that At pres
ent the field farmer has little or ne
control over the time and conditions
OF marketing his products. with tho
result that he Is often underpsid for
his products and usually overcharged
FOR marketing service. The differ.
encs between what the farmer re-
ceives and what the consumer psvs
OFTEN exceeds all possibility Of jusrI.
ncation. To cite . siaEle Illustration.
Last year, according to figures attest
ed by the railways and the growers
"eorEh watermeloA-ralsers received
IN the average 10 cents for a melon
the railroads got 1877 cents for carry.
ing to Baltimore and the consumer
paid one dollar. leaving 70 8 cents for
the service Of marketing and its risks
as against POP cents for growing ana.
transporting. The hard annals of
farm-ufe are replete with such com
mentaries on the erudeness Of prrs
ent practices
Nature prescribss that the farmers
goods" must be finished within ~
or three months of the year. whit
financial and storage limitations 90,
eraliy compel him to sell them AZ tl,.
same time As rule, other industries
are IN continuous process of finish
Ing goods for the markets: they al.
tribute az they produce, and they cam
curtain production without too great
injury to themselves or the comm.
nifty but If the farmer restricts his
output, II is with disastrous consa
quences. both to himself and TO ,b.
community.
ne average farmer IL busy with
production for the major part Of the
year and has nothing to sell. The
hulk OF his output comes on the mar
ket Mt once. Because Of lack az stor
age facilities and Of financial sunpor,
me farmer. cannot carry his goods
through the year and dispose of them
rs they are currently needed In the
great majority of cases, farmers have
10 entrust Storage-n warehouses and
elevators and the financial carrying
u their products to others
Farm rr 'rcts are generally mar.
keted AZ time when there 4. q con.
estion "f both transportation and
nnance-wh"n cars and money sr.
'carce. Tn" outcome, in manv IN.
stances, Is that the farmers NOT onI,
sell under n""ssure. and therefore nj
a disnd a0'..,r. but are comneIl.d >,
axe furfh". rcductions In net returns
order I" meet the charges for the
PrNlce ~ e..' n. transporting, imam.
~ h"" ATE marketing-wh which
'harCes iH" claim are often .xc..
i've. bear cavity on both consuu.
'hh Pr"'.'"' ma are under tie cnr
troll Of tho. r"rforming the sc~gl,.
V is true '.1i they are RI '.,....'
1T.