198 



MARKET PROBLEMS 



pelling the express companies to handle our perishable goods 

 in a proper way, it would induce the growers to ship more 

 to outside markets rather than flood the market near home. 

 If the railroad companies would offer good local freight ser- 

 vice between nearby cities, it would be a step toward de- 

 creasing express rates. 



Government Aid. 



Listen to a clipping from the press of February 7, 1914, 

 Saturday last, from the Secretary of Aginculture, and then 

 judge for yourself as to whether or not we are opening the 

 eyes of the American people : 



''This is the way Secretary of Agriculture Houston sizes up 

 the work confronting the Division of Markets. Its prograni 

 for 1914 and 1915 promises to be one of the administration's 

 chief assaults on the cost of living for both farmer and con- 

 sumer. Scores of calls for its aid by cities already have come 

 from widely separated sections. The city of Providence, 

 Rhode Island, requested its local market divisions be survey- 

 ed by an expert from Washington. The city is now^ reorganiz- 

 ing its market business along the lines suggested. Massa- 

 chusetts has asked for assistance in the establishment of a 

 better system for marketing milk. Wisconsin wants informa- 

 tion as to the best method of marketing butter and cheese. 

 Sumpter, South Carolina, has asked help in solving its local 

 market problems, and other state and city governments, as 

 well as hundreds of individuals, are turning to Uncle Sam 

 for expert information as to the sale and transportation of 

 foodstuffs. 



"We are adequately, or nearly so, teaching the farmer how 

 to raise more, but we are not yet adequately teaching him how 

 to realize more. Congress has been asked to appropriate 

 §194,140 for this work for the fiscal years of 1914 and 1915. 



Importance of Marketing. 



" 'It is of vital importance that we aid farmers to solve the 

 problem of marketing their products,' said Secretary Houston. 

 'We must not only aid them to discover the best nearby- mar- 

 kets, but we must also aid them to secure a just price for the 



