Daily globe., 1878-10-15

appointed by the chamber to investigate the
subject OF wheat buying, we report, in the
absence of MIR. Hodges, the chairman. and our
inability to communicate with him, that the
main complaints have come from farmers along
the main line of the st. Paul & Pacific railroad
that they are not being paid enough for low
grades Of wheat. We hear but little complaint
of prices being too low for No. or Q; but that
the price paid of IS cents per bushel for No. 8
less than for No. 2, is too great difference
! without doubt, especially for the best portion
OF No 3, when weighing nearly equal to No. 2.
And yet, the weight of a measured bushel must
1 same as 1T has been for many years past
We suppose it is well understood that the
board of trade of Milwaukee do now, and have
since this State first began shipping wheat, fix
and determine the grade, which grade is adopt
| ed as the standard by all the wheat producing
portions of the Northwest. It has not varied
much for many years past and has given pretty
general satisfaction up to this year, because
there has been 30 little No. 8 or poor qualities
OF wheat raised; but now, unfortunately, we
| have more of it, and the present system of grad
| ing does not suit the farmers.
| Our State being noted for it's excellent quail
ity of spring wheat, our buyers do not want
the poorer qualities. They always disliked it;
but with so little as has been raised heretofore
| have been able to dispose of it without much
seeming hardship.
| We are pleased to learn, as we have from the
office of the elevator company Of the st. Paul
| u Pacific railroad company, that the propor-
tion of lowest grade wheat upon that road is
less than we supposed.
Reports from thirteen elevators, while show
ing the last receipts ending Oct. 1st inst, of
50, 1926 bushels, show that
3,l56 bushels was No. l..
| 63, ,858 g .' No. 2.
495 No4 No 4
| being less than one-tifth part of snch receipts
| below the No. grade.
Some of the towns of the State doing mill
ing business and grinding wheat have adopted
| the more liberal plan of dividing the grade by
one pound, instead of two, which seems salts
factory to the sellers, but not SO to the buyers
for shipment, mainly because of the incon-
yenience of handling an increased number of
grades.
Complaints have been made that in few
places 1T is believed that local buyers have
| mixed with the higher grades some Of the best
wheat OF the next lower grades, still keeping
the higher grade up to standard in weight OF
| this we have no definite knowledge.
We consider it a disadvantage to the farmers
| in not finding at the elevator what the smaller
farmers are not able to have at their homes a
machine that will remove cockle smut and
| other foul growth. Both st. Paul and Mime
apolis use these machines and have them for
the free use of their customers, and thereby
| improve the quality and make much wheat No.
2 that would otherwise grade No. 3 as sold at
home. t,H
There is belief that the Millers' association
of Minneapolis get drawback on freights paid,
but we cannot learn and do not believe that
such is the case. Upon the contrary we are re-
| iably Informed that any individual upon the
line OF that railroad wanting to ship q
| tull car load OF wheat can be accommodated
promptly and at as low a rate as any company
or individual. a5f
We wish to say that we are not in sympathy
with some of the language used by Mr.. Hodges
| at the time of the appointment Of this com
| mlttee, but believe that in earnestness of char
| acter and Jealous presentation of the subject he
made use OF Language in general which he would
probably. upon more careful reflections not
have used, more especially towards the Millers'
association OF Minneapolis, which, at the time
OF Its organization, we looked upon with dis
| trust Though highly honorable set of good
business men, we feared they would work an
injury to almost every Minnesotian. But what
have we seen done by them and the buyers of
this city! Generally paying too much for
wheat to afford shipment to the Eastern mar
kets before being made into flour. by from
three to ten cents per bushel. Probably they
would meet competition in q manner to drive
1t OF IN many cases. Is this not the general
custom for men in business to look out first for
themselves, and If in doing SO they act fairly,
is it not right?
Have right to expect to compel buyers
to pay more than they are willing, or can afford
to pay for No. 8 wheat, which grade they in
common with nearly all wheat BUYERS do not
want? ff573 81 I .
All of which is respectfully submitted.
is' PASCAL SMITH,
T. s. WHITE.
st. Paul, Oct. IA, 1875 -
THE BOOM.
Mr.. McClung, from the boom COMMITTEES.
reported that subcommittee of three had
been appointed to select a point for boom,
and he expected to call the committee to-
gether when they were ready to report, which
he supposed would be within a week. He
was assured that when the boom was built
double the number of logs cut last year
would be gotten out.
THE sTURTEvANT LETTER.
Gen. Sanborn moved that the communica-
ton from the Minneapolis board Of trade be
referred to the special committee on the sub
ject already appointed.
Mr.. Lee opposed this. He thought St.
Paul should not call upon Minneapolis to
al, aid II IN this investigation. Mr.. Hodges was
competent to go through with this matter.
Wheat buyers, he thought, were no more
honest than dry goods men, and dry goods
men are about as honest as politicians.
lie cited sale of wheat which he
made in ST. Paul where he obtained five
cents above the price at which it was graded.
Ih1s agitation had done good, and it ought
to be continued. Let this COMMITTEES stir
up the shylocks and secure competition.
That was the remedy.
Gen. Sanborn thought that the communi-
cation was a respectful one and should have
respectful treatment.
MIR. McClurg moved as substitute that
the Minneapolis board of trade be informed
that we already have committee on the
subject, to whom all matters would be re-
ferred. The motion prevailed.
MR.. HODGES LETTER.
The letter of Mr.. Hodges addressed to the
chamber, was then referred to the committee
of which he is a member.
50 THE PARTIAL REPORT AGAIN.
The report of the two members of the
committee on the wheat question then came
up for consideration. Mr.. Banning moved
that the report be referred back to the COM
mittee. The report did not assume to be
complete
Mr.. White said he was only mott
fed of his appointment last Fri
day. and of course, could not. give
the matter much investigations Il Mr..
Smith had brought him the report, saying
he (Smith) wished to be relieved from the
committee, and he (White) had signed it.
His partners were engaged in buying wheat
along the main line of the St. Paul & Pacific
road, and he thought the trouble was in the
wheat not being properly cleaned. He cited
the case of Mr.. Sutclitfe who sent his wheat
down to the st. Paul elevator and had it
cleaned and obtained 13 cents more than he
was offered at Hancock.
Mr.. Pascal Smith did not want the renort |