Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-22
COM, WASHBURN
EXPLAINS REASON FOR
| HIGH POTATO PRICE

| HUI OInIV 1tIV6
| Commissioner Washburn Of the
Maine department of agriculture in a
statement given to the press yesterday
| takes issue with certain individuals
! and organizations that are deploring
| the present high prices of potatoes,
urging boycotting and ascribing such
| prices to the influence of spectators,
rather than to shortage.
| The Commissioners Statement
| 1--WE realize that the present retail
| price of Maine potatoes must be q
matter of concern to the average con-
| sumner but some of the criticisms di-
| rected against producers and dealers
! appear to be based upon misunder-
standing and likely to mislead rather
than help those who depend upon this
important Maine product as an article
of food.
From several sources the argument
has been advanced that consumption
of potatoes should be curtailed be-
cause the Spectator and not the far
mer is getting the benefit of present
prices. This argument does not APP
pear we'll grounded when we consider
the present spread in price between
the producer and consumer as COM
pared with similar difference noted
one year ago. Speaking in terms of
pecks, as the unit best known to the
consumer, we find that potatoes that
last week Melted the producer S0.S5,
sold at retail for SIPS, spread OF
S0.40 which is not unreasonable when
we consider the weight of the product
its perishable nature, the distance to
market, etc. One year ago the Maine
farmer was receiving S0.0S per peck
but the consumer paid $0.40, making
me spread almost the same when a
fair allowance is made for increased
capital and risk involved. In fact
| theirs probably never was an instance
in the marketing, of any farm products
where the actual producer was getting
so large a slice of the consumers dol
lar as in the distribution of potatoes
under present conditions.
while holdings at Boston or other
receiving centers may have beer
somewhat augmented during the past
week, this supply will no more than
tide over the approaching period OF
bad roads when haulings must practi-
cally cease for time. Again with po-
tatoes valued at $500 per car. only
the most adventurous dealer will hold
for speculative purposes.
CAS- a matter of fact the reliable
law of supply and demand appears to
re at work and will continue in effect
for the balance of the season. The
| highest estimate we have of crop or
hand places the Maine holdings today
at $500 car loads as against 5000 cars
that actually found market after
this date last year In the 10 states
which produce the surplus late crop
there were only 60,707,000 bushels OF
| merChantable potatoes on hand Janu-
airy /, 1926, as against 103 1850, 900 bu-
shells January I. 1925 and five year
average of 99,605. 900 bushels. The
Southern crop is late in getting on to
the market and seasonal conditions to
date certainly do not indicate any
very early local supply of new pota,
| toes.
Produced at Loss for Several Years
''Possibly this thought if brought
to the mind of every buyer of pota-
toes, might seem to relieve uneasiness
over what is, in any event, only q
temporary condition. There is no class
of workers in the world which more
richly deserves the reward that the
season of 1925-1926 has brought thar
our potato farmers who for several
years had produced at loss and who
had reached a point of discouragemeni
anu oppression WneTe producers III any
other line would have declined to make
a further effort. The whole history
of agricultural or industrial produc.
ton does not afford a drawer or mob.
Ter effort than that put forth by these
producers when in the spring of 1925
they marshalled their few remaining
resources and such credit as they
could command, and with the help of
sympathetic bankers, business men
and fertilizer companies made an al
most normal plant. Had they then
yielded to the weight of their misfor.
tunes, or to a natural impulse to boy
colt business that had yielded only
labor and loss, the situation Of the
, consumers would now be much worse
than 1t is.
"A study of existing conditions will
satisfy anyone that an actual short
age of potatoes will exist until the
new crop Is ready for the market and
a fair minded public will not begrudge
to the grower a reward that will in
many instances only replace the losses
of former years incurred when prices
greatly favored the consumer. Prices
and production for next year will de-
pend entirely upon acreage and
weather conditions in the large pro-
ducing states, and 1t is unwise to ad-
wise every farmer and gardener to
plant potatoes. High priced seed has
usually yielded a low priced product
and too heavy paintings this year
would mark the first turn in the cycle
of over production. loss and conse-