TRANSPORTATION AND MARKETING 263 



through the agency of the newly created Michigan 

 State Farm Bureau. 



The Michigan legislature of 1015 authorized the 

 State Board of Agriculture, which also has control 

 of the Michigan Agricultural College, to appoint a 

 State director of markets. It was the duty of this 

 official to investigate the production and marketing 

 of farm products, and he was given compulsory 

 powers in the securing of the necessary evidence. 

 The director was also to assist in the organization 

 of cooperative and other associations for improving 

 the relations among producers and consumers, and 

 afford them such services under adequate rules and 

 regulations as relate to standardizing, grading, pack- 

 ing, handling, storage and sale of products within 

 the state of Michigan, not contrary to law, and 

 enforce such rules and regulations by actions or pro- 

 ceedings in any court of competent jurisdiction. 

 This official should also give information to Michi- 

 gan producers regarding market conditions elsewhere 

 in the Union, and he should provide auction markets 

 for the disposal of farm products. Through bulletins 

 he was to give information to producers and con- 

 sumers in order to facilitate mutual business connec- 

 tions. It was expected, also, that he would investi- 

 gate and report to the Public Utilities Commission 

 delays and inadequate service in relation to the 

 transportation of food supplies. Similarly, he was 

 to keep the attorney-general informed regarding com- 

 binations to restrain trade and fix the prices of food- 



