The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-04-27
A Solution of the Wheat and
Credit Problem.

In connection with the manner
in which wheat is handled in this
State, our attention has been called
to the manner in which cotton is
handled in the South, and it &C.
CURED to us that it might be a good
thing for all concerned to have
wheat handled in the same way.
Now in the first place we claim that
it is for the interest of every good
citizen, be he merchant, mechanic,
agent, editor, lawyer, doctor, preach
er or any other man, to have wheat
bring the highest possible price to
the farmers, for by whatever amount
the price of our staple crop,
wheat, is increased, by that amount
is the wealth of the State advanced,
and wealth is what gives employ
ment to all. Those, therefore are
very short sighted who are anxious
to see wheat crowded out of the
hands Of the farmers at the lowest
prices in order to add to the pala-
tial fortunes of Eastern dealers. It
is even better for the merchant to
worry through the season of low
prices with the farmer than that the
farmer should be bound to sell at
prices which leave him nothing with
which to purchase the necessaries,
let alone the luxuries of life. But it
is often found impossible for the far
mer under the present system to
pay his debts and at the same time
take advantage of the highest mar
ket price; besides this the farmer is
necessarily removed from market,
busy about the work of his farm and
is unable for this reason to take ad-
vantage of the highest prices. The
farmer is also too busy to study
carefully into all matters affecting
the price of wheat and of deciding
all the probabilities in the case with
the accuracy Of the expert who
makes this alone his study and bust
ness. Now the plan followed in
the South with regard to cotton, by
which all these difficulties are avoid
ed, is as we understand as follows:
A man who is know for his financial
ability and honor, opens an Office
and offers to advance the farmer
such sums either in cash or it's equiv
alent as he may need to take him
through the season, and to store,
handle and sell for him to the very
best advantage the farmers crop;
the planter to pay the usual interest
giving security on crop, for the use
of the money and to pay fair per
cent of commission to the broker for
handling and selling the crop. In
this way the planter is able to buy
his goods for cash and also to get
the advantage Of the very highest
market price for his cotton. The
broker has an honorable and safe
business,instead ofthe uncertain gam
bling business of the wheat buyer,
and instead of being in a position
where it is his interest to cut the far
mers throat or to gouge him out of
his crops at the very lowest price, he
stands as his protector. He is not
the hired agent OF some foreign deal
er to assist IN fleeing his own fe}-
low citizens and neighbors, but he is
the agent of the farmers of his own
County and neighborhood, hired and
paid by them, and interested in see
ing that they get the highest price.
The merchant, under this plan has
to spend no time or money in COL
lecting his accounts and has no bad
debts to lose, so that he can afford
to sell cheap, and he the farmer, in
getting his goods cheap, gains ten
fold more than the interest he has to
pay for the use of his money. Now
why cannot a similar system be in
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