Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-05-30
MARKETING PROBLEM
WHAT'S THE SOLUTION?

y
fine cabbage, standing in
Sumter county field, already
about to rot; the grower offer
ing them at prices lower than
such vegetables were ever bought
here in commercial quantities
while thousands of people in
cities pay high prices for these
same vegetables constitutes an
indictment of Georgia's market
ing system hard to ignore. The
State College Of Agriculture ad-
vises farmers to grow other crops
than cotton, and the state bu-
reau of markets processes to as
sist in the distribution of every
product produced on a Georgia
farm, yet the fact remains that
these cabbage are literally rotting
in the fields, worth less than
their freight to Atlanta or any
other consuming center, and with
no buyer, either present or pros
pectiye, willing to pay half their
value for the crop.
The story is an old one. In
one form or another the ques-
ton for finding suitable markets
for other products than cotton
is always before the Georgia
farmer. Last year an Americas
man raised approximately three
thousand bushels of fine Porto
Rico vans as were ever pro-
duced all on little farm within
three miles of a railroad station,
and, according to his statement,
actually lost money on his ven
ture. Every consuming agency
he approached had the same rea-
son for not purchasing his farm
product: The market at this
time is sglutted; come in a lit
tie later and we believe we can
use large quantities of your po-
tatoes." Those he was able to
dispose of at all, he sold at ruin
Gus prices.
Eraigb+ rates nreclude the
shipment of potatoes from Amer
icus territory to large consum-
ing markets, he claims, so thou
sands of bushels of his finest
potatoes rotted in hills where he
stored them soon after harvest.
There were too many of them
even for the hogs to eat the
surplus, and his complaint is
here printed merely as an illus
tration of similar stories Of the
experience of other farmers.
What is the solution of this
difficulty? Frankly, we don't
know The matter is one
that will require earnest thought
and deep concentration before
a correct ANALYSIS OF the sitp
uation can be arrived at. Sure
ly, the railroads are anxious to
increase their tonnage wherever
this is possible. And it is easy
for railroad officials to ascertain
the tonnage of any given article
of commerce handled from any
territory along their lines. 1t is
portable if these officials knew
the actual tonnage of potatoes,
cabbage and other products
which can easily be raised here
in huge quantities-and would
be, if accessible markets existed
for them-that a reasonable
freight rate could be established.
Such a rate would be beneficial
alike to the producer and the rail-
roads, the one realizing a profit
through producing the freight
and the other through hauling it
to consuming markets.
Again the solution might bt
| found in the orderly co-opera-
tive marketing of these products,
the railroads cooperating with
the producers and commercial
bodies throughout CHS, section
in finding markets for them.
Waste lands here in South Geor-
gia ape capable of producing
crops worth millions annually,
if an acceptable solution of the
marketing problem can be reach
1 ed. Some time the middle man
has rightful place in the
handling of commerce, and may
be the solution of this problem
can be arrived at through the
employment Of resident agents
in Atlanta, Baltimore, Washing
ton, New York, Chicago and
other cities. The peach and
melon growers seem to have at
least partially settled their mar