AN AGRICULTURAL REGISTER [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] the
issue of the Spectator for May. 28th appears a very interesting article by Mr. Norman Angell entitled " What Advertising Might Become," and as he lays stress upon farming operations, I am taking the liberty of pointing out that the method recommended by. Montaigne is actually in progress on several of the railroads of the United States.
I should tell you that prior to August 1st, 1925, I was in charge of the Traffic Department of the Erie Railroad, where the farming conditions justified the publication of a farm marketing bulletin. I attach a copy of Bulletin No. 47,
dated September 15th, 1925, from which you will note that the plan recommended by Mr. Angel is already operating,
and this is merely a continuance of the plan adopted by the Southern Railway when I was Vice-President of that road.
The letters received from farmers as the result of this community advertising demonstrate that even small and miscellaneous quantities of farm products are readily disposed of through this system. You will see that the quantities vary from 300 bushels of rye to carloads of hay and from 25 head of sheep and 40 cockerels to potatoes in 100 carload
lots. I respectfully commit this plan to the attention of your Agricultural Editor. Cannot these bulletins be properly described as " Agricultural Registers " ?—I am, Sir, &c., T. C. PowELl., President.
Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railway Co. Chicago, Ill., U.S.A.
[In the Spectator of May 28th Mr. Norman Angell suggested that Montaigne's solution of the basic problem of all com-
merce—" how to bring into effective contact the party who needs something with the party who can supply it "—should be given a trial. It is very interesting to learn that Mon- taigne's idea has been put into practice in America. Mr.
Powell sends us one of the Erie Railroad Company's Farm Marketing Bulletins, issued by its Development Service. At the top of the bulletin appears these words :- "Below is a list of parties in territory adjacent to Erie Lines who want to buy or sell agricultural products, live stock, &c. For details, interested parties should communicate direct with parties named. Prices are quoted by owner subject to change at his discretion. The railroads do not in any way guarantee any deals consummated as a result of this free bulletin service. If you wish to buy or sell products of this nature, you may have same listed free upon application to Local Railroad Agent, your County Agricultural Agent or direct to this Department.'
We commend the scheme to the attention of British agricul- turists and of British railways.—En. Spectator.)
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