The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1922-02-10
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Let us, then, consider some of tn
farmers grievances, and see how ia
they are real. In doing so, we SHOULD
remember that, while there have been
and still are, instances of purposefu
abuse, the subject should not be up
preached with any general imputatior
TO existing distributive agencies of de
liberately intentional oppression, but
rather with the conception that the
marketing of farm products has not
been modernized.
An ancient evil, and a persistent
one, Is the undergrading of farm prod
ucts, with the result that what the
farmers sell as of one quality is re-
sold as of higher. That this sort of
chicanery should persist on any i'm
portant scale in these days of bust
ness integrity would seem almost in.
credible, but there is much evidence
that 1t does so persist. Even as |
write, the newspapers announce the
suspension of several firms from the
New York Produce Exchange for ex-
porting to Germany as No. . wheat
whole shipload of grossly inferior wheat
mixed with oats, chaff and the like.
Another evil is that of inaccurate
weighing of farm products, which, II
is charged, is sometimes a matter of
dishonest intention and sometimes of
protective policy ON the part of the
local buyer, who fears that lie NAV
weigh out" more than he weighs in"
greater grievance is that at pres
ent the field farmer has little or no
control over the time and conditions
Of marketing his products, with the
result that he is often underpaid for
his products and usually overcharged
Tor marketing service The differ,
ence between what the farmer re-
'eives and what the consumer povs
'ften exceeds all possibility Of justl.
ication. To cite single Illustration.
LAST year, according to figures attest
"a by the railways and the growers.
'eorgia watermelon-raise received |
N the average rs cents for melon.
he railroads got 1871 cents for carry |
ng 1t to Baltimore and the consumer
aid one dollar, leaving 20 s cents for
he service of marketing and its risks.
s against POP cents for growing ana
transporting. The hard annals OF
are replete with such com.
lentaries on the crudeness of pres-
ut practices.
Nature prescribes that the farmers
goods must be finished within two
three months of the year, while |
nancial and storage limitations gen
ally compel him to sell them at the
me time. AS rule, other industries
e in a continuous process of finish.
g goods for the markets; they dis
lDute as they produce, and they can
rtail production without too great
jury to themselves or the commu-
ty; but If the farmer restricts his
tput, 1t Is with disastrous conse-
enceS, both TO himself and 10 the
The average farmer is busy with
for the major part of the
mr. and has nothing to sell. The .
Tx of his output comes on the mar
at once. Becaase of laci; of stor. !
facilities ana az financial supnort =
farmer cannoi carry his goods ;,
ough the year and dispose of them :,
they are currently needed. In the :.
AT majority of cases, farmers have :
entrust 'storage-in warehouses and :,
Vators-and the financial CARVING y
heir products to others. .,
arm products ere generally mar y
ed at n time Wien there is n CON q
ton of both transportation NM, e
nce-when cars and money ara
rec The outcome in many In VI
ices, Is that the farmers NOT only &C
under pressure, and therefore Of VI
but are compelled to IN
further reductions in net returns l."
'rder to meet the charges for the az ~
ice OF storing. transporting. financ- %
ana ultimate marketing-whlcn | ui'
'ges they claim. are often excess. 'h
: bear heavily on both consumer gu
producer, and are under the con. u"
OF those performing the services tic'
true that they are relieved of III
risks of a changing market nv uNt
ns at once bat they are quite will.