Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-10-15
Another Letter-More Facts.

| Special Correspondence of the GLOBE
Benson, Swift Co., Oct. IL, 1878.-Every-
where I go I find the farmers terri
| bly, indignant over their treatment by the
millers of Minneapolis, and this feeling is
wide spread, extending in every direction.
At this point I observed thirty teams at
| what is called the Farmers elevator, and
one at the regular or old elevator. I in
quired the cause, and learned that it grew
| out of the treatment the farmers had re-
| ceived from the agent of the ring, and they
were determined to have no more to do
with him.
In addition to the many facts I have al
ready sent you learn that in Pope county
farmers who can get only 20 cents bushel
for their wheat, are taking it back home
| again.
Trains of wheat are daily leaving Morris
for Alexandria, an inland town, where there
is no elevator, and where they get
better weight and better prices than
at Morris. There are private buyers
at Alexandria, and the farmers are better
satisfied. One mans wheat weighed 62
pounds, but the agent graded it No. 8. That
IS, reduced the price from II cents down to
about 40 cents. because tharn little
cookie in the wheat. The man took it home,
ran it through the mill, and it brought him
Il cents, or graded No. 1. The effect on the
merchants of Morris is disastrous, and the
same effect will be on all the merchants in
all the towns along the line of the road This
will soon be seen by our wholesale dealers,
who will find collections slow of the country
merchants, simply because the farmers, either
not selling their wheat or carrying it to an
other point, have reduced the volume of
trade.
Mr.. M. G. Chamberlain, of Lac qui Parle.
is very outspoken, and expresses the opinion
that the Millers' association at Minneapolis
is to blame. He has been great deal among
the farmers, and says the feeling against the
| robbery is deep and earnest.
Mr.. M. N. Merrill, of Lac qui Parle, had a
crop of 1,5OO bushels of wheat, 500 bushels
of which he contracted to sell to the agent
of the millers for IS cents per bushel.
They graded it No. 2, and offered less UNI
than 55 cents, when he considered the con-
tract off, took the wheat to mill, had it
ground into flour, which ranked A No. l..
Then Mr.. Porter, of Winona, offered Mr..
Merrill II per bushel, and took the 500
bushels, which the agent of the millers
would not give him IS cents, for which they
had contracted. That is, they sought to get
from Mr.. Merrill No. wheat for less than
55 cents per bushel, for which Mr.. Porter
subsequently gave him II cents per bushel,
making difference of over 16 cents to the
bushel in favor of Mr.. Merrill. Comment
| on this case is unnecessary. The millers are
| selling flour at So per hundred out of much
of the wheat which they grade as No. 3, and
for which they give about so cents per bush
ell, when they ought to give Is or 80 cents
and herein is the steal.
| Mr.. @. A. Winship, of Hancock. was of
fered 48 cents per bushel for wheat at the
elevator in Hancock, which he refused
shipped it to St. Paul and received 81 cents
per bushel, just 13 cents per bushel in his
favor. Agood deal of wheat is being shipped
to st. Paul, and more would be, if cars could
be obtained. The agents of the Millers' as.
ISOLATION smell mice, and have been ur
here trying to smooth down the bristles Of
public opinion, but they don't smooth worth
a cent
Z. Mars, of Pope county, near Hancock
shipped to st. Paul, two weeks ago, whea
which Melted him 10 cents clear over ani
above that which he could get at Hancock.
But, whatever doubts I may have hai
about the millers, those doubts have beer
removed to-day by transactions which hav,
passed under my observation. I entered
what is termed the farmers elevator at Ben
son, and there met a good, honest German
who kindly gave me the information s,
much desired. He showed me his books
wherein that day he had taken in forty-eigh
loads Of wheat, or LOO bushels, the averag
number of bushels per day being 1900
This immense business grows out of the de
sire of Mr.. Thornton, the proprietor, to dea
fairly with the farmer. When the wheat j
, brought in and runs 81 pounds, then tn
, elevator cleans it for few pounds on tn
) bushel, and by this means it is graded No.
< or fifty eight pounds. If it goes less tina
$ fifty eight pounds, then the difference is onl
eight cents, instead Of fifteen per bushe
! By these means the farmers get good price
q for their wheat, the elevator is popular, th
town is benefited by the trade,s and the oppe
r sition institution has abundance of time
s | mediate over its fo01iahnass
q Entering the elevator, ( asked the homes