177 



which means from the standpoint of the producer the Belgimn farmer 

 is much worse off than the American farmer and is by no means so efficient. 



European farmers are regarded as a class, and in many cases a class 

 of limited rights and opportunities. The American farmer is a citizen 

 with equal rights with the consumer and cannot be controlled or forced 

 to adopt methods which will improve the condition of the consumer. 



European ideas are not new to us. We have successful co-operative 

 creameries, farmers' elevators, breeders' associations, fruit growers' 

 associations, rural credit associations, etc. 



In America these reforms will be brought about by three agencies: 



1. National laws which will give the farmers' assets standing in 

 the financial market. 



2. A favorable attitude on the part of banking interests toward 

 these assets. 



3. Co-operation with the consumer. 



National laws are now underway and proposed reforms by the Fed- 

 eral Commission are before Congress. 



Bankers are aroused and the present meeting is a result of their 

 interest. 



City and country co-operation is the keynote of this talk. 



Philadelphia's Food Situation. 



Few large American cities are fed from nearby lands. Philadelphia 

 is particularly dependent upon food-stuffs coming from a distance. We 

 must compete with other large cities, as New York, Boston, Baltimore 

 and Washington for this food. To get it we must offer favorable markets 

 and market conditions such as terminal facilities, storage, distributing 

 agencies, etc. This phase of the question is fully realized by pubUc 

 officials and is receiving constant attention. 



The lands adjacent to Philadelphia are in many respects not pro- 

 ducing 50 per cent of their possibilities and in many cases nothing at 

 all. The city is surrounded by a vast unused area only partially worked. 



Suburban values make agriculture unprofitable in most sections 

 within a radius of twenty-five miles and tends to check direct selhng 

 by personal contact with the consumer and producer in public markets. 

 Many cities have large food producing sections, nearby, notably Paris. 



Philadelphia is dependent upon 



1. Encouragement of local production. 



2. Direct selling, via parcel post, express, trolley, etc. 

 To encourage local production there is needed 



1. The improvement of surrounding farms. 



2. The encouragement of direct selling, which will give the 

 nearby producer the advantage and profit which his location 

 should justify. 



