The Wichita city eagle., 1878-08-08
Farmers Convention.

The meeting Of farmers and mechanic 8
which was called for through the EAGLE, to
inaugnrate plans, or devise ways, for the bet
ter disposal OF grain and stock, was attended
By two hundred farmers, or more, who can
vassed the question of weights, freights and
rates pretty thoroughly and II any one. after
listening to the various speeches, some of
them part Of their experience In and with
weights and measures, would presume to say
that the cases Of cheating were very few,
and those done by few irresponsible buyers
on the street, either lacks common sense or
utterly disregards truth and justice. Not
only one or two, but more than hundred,
farmers in the convention, held Saturday, en-
dorsed every statement heretofore made by
the EAGLE in resard to the crookedness in
our grain market.
Two committees were appointed at o previ-
Gus meeting-one to ask the City Council to
put in scales, and the other to see what rates
could be made, If any, with the elevators.
Albeit j. West would enter into an agree
ment to load cars through their elevator,
which embraces cleaning and weighing. q
given number of bushels, at TWO cent? per
bushel, if the farmers would agree to furnish
them certain number of bushels in given
length Of time.
N. A. English would enter into contract
at the same rates.
Russell d Furlong would elevate all the
wheat The farmers would bring them, for two
cents, or less if anybody else would do it for
less.
John Exton would do it for the same price
that any one would, aud he was building an
addition which he intended for farmers use
exclusively.
And we might add that one Of the directors
of the Grange Elevator informed us that they
would be prepared to operate within two
weeks, and that they would charge the same
price as the other elevators.
The other elevators were not heard from,
but we presume they stand ready to do the
same as the others, and we understand also
that the Wichita City Mills have offered to
make contracts.
All reserved few rights, II they entered
into contracts, regarding pay for the work,
etc.
The committee on scales was represented
by Mr.. Jewett who waited upon the City
Council and asked them to appoint commit
tee to meet and confer with the convention,
which they did. Councilmen Aidrich and
Zimmerly were present and stated that the
City Council was willing to put in or rent
scales, appoint weigh-master, and pass or
dinances protecting him, and also to place him
under bonds for a faithful and honorable per-
formance Of his duties. 1t was unanimously
voted by the convention TO accept of the
proposition
Mr.. Ransom, by request, had written to the
Superintendent of the AtchIson, Topeka Il
Santa Fe Railroad asking HIM q few questions:
whether they would furnish and allow farm
ers cars to load from wagons, and whether
they would allow farmers to bring in cars
from other roads, and if they could secure
special rates, etc., and few other direct, and,
what We co nceiye TO be, legitimate questions,
all OF which were answered after their most
approved style of answering such questions,
which, after being read furnishes no real in
formation.
The principal questions at issue and which
have been the chief cause of complaint, are
weights and prices. Adopt plan to get
honest weights and proper grades, and the
market price to prevent pools from being
formed, and not allow the buyer too much
margin. And right here we may say that there
is and has been, in all the meetings held by the
farmers SO far, spirit of kindness and OF
fairness, and they do not want to do any thing
but VIII at is far and honorable. At the same
time there is a cool determination upon their
parts to overcome and root out some of the
evils that have existed.
At late hour in the afternoon the meeting
adjourned after appointing w. II. Ransom, p.
II. Massey and I. ID. Fouts committee to
draft constitution and bylaws to govern the
Farmers Club, TO be submitted at the next
meeting, which is to be held in Eagle Hall on
the 18th Of August