826 READINGS IN RURAL ECONOMICS 



system, it is to be noted that the tendency in every instance is 

 to discourage improvement in quahty and offer every inducement 

 to level downwards the standard of the product furnished. 



Moreover, this same policy has increased to a large extent the 

 expense of the middleman operations between the producer and 

 the consumer. Aside from the unnecessary outlay involved in 

 transportation expenses to primary markets on unsalable prod- 

 ucts, and aside from the enhancement of risk because of the un- 

 certainty of the proportion of loss to be deducted in estimating 

 price from primary markets, there is added a considerable expense 

 in sorting and assembling the miscellaneous product. Such opera- 

 tions are directly chargeable almost entirely to the wastefulness 

 of the "case-count" pohcy. The expense thus added can be 

 materially reduced only by adopting the policy of handling eggs 

 on a " loss-off " basis. This does not imply that the " loss- 

 off " system will entirely do away with middlemen operations of 

 this kind. It does mean that such expenses will be materially 

 lessened, however. 



The extra expense attached to the handling of eggs under the 

 " case-count " system is difficult to estimate. It means a waste 

 that amounts to many millions of dollars annually. Because of 

 the wide extent of the practice, every state in the Union pays 

 heavy tribute in the name of this antiquated policy. It is one of 

 the important factors to be considered in tabulating the present- 

 day cost of living. 



