Part II.] STATE BUREAU OF MARKETS. 129 



(4) These bulletins might also call attention to market pros- 

 pects for the chief crops. For example, the potato market was 

 particularly bright and prospects for potato sales particularly 

 good this autumn. A bulletin setting forth the general condi- 

 tions and the possible supply would have been of advantage to 

 many of our farmers who sold storable potatoes very early. 



(5) The bureau might also issue yearly summaries of pro- 

 duction, of prices, of shipments, figures of interest to Massa- 

 chusetts farmers, and, at other times, such market information, 

 new legislation, etc, as is advisable. 



Assistance in Marketing. 



2. Furthermore, the State bureau of markets might well 

 stand as the farmers' representative in their transactions with 

 consumers or middlemen involving the purchase or sale of farm 

 products or farm supplies or equipment. Frequent misunder- 

 standings arise between the farmer and the distant middleman. 

 It seems to me that the State might well provide a disinter- 

 ested advocate who would investigate the causes of dispute and, 

 if possible, set the matter right between the contending parties. 

 Very frequently farmers have claims against middlemen, rail- 

 roads or others that they do not care to push because of the 

 cost, or because they do not well know how to set forth their 

 claims. The "Rural New Yorker," through John J. Dillon, has 

 for a number of years maintained such a department. This 

 department stands ready to investigate the claims of farmers, 

 and has brought about settlements which otherwise would have 

 resulted in very large losses to the farmers. 



Frequently when carloads of apparently good produce are 

 shipped to wholesale receivers statements are returned that 

 they arrived in bad condition. A market bureau might well in- 

 vestigate these cases at the instance of the shipper, to see 

 whether the statements are correct. These may be new func- 

 tions, but it seems to me they are very desirable. If done dis- 

 interestedly, this service would bring about justice and a better 

 understanding between producer, distributor and consumer. 



