Daily globe., 1879-01-21
ST.. PAUL, Jan. 18, 1879.

AA'''o AoA Uooh Ino AlOofty OI laying DeIOr0
this chamber a statement of fraudulent prac-
tices then in operation on the main line of
the ST. Paul & Pacific railroad in the grading
and purchase of wheat. I stated that No.
wheat was being graded No. 2, and that No.
2 wheat was being graded No. 3, and that
there was an unjust, oppressive, and arbi-
trary system of grading then in vogue, by
which the farmers were being robbed of
their hard earnings. A committee was ap-
pointed by this chamber to investigate and
report as to the truth or falsity of said
charges. 1 was appointed chairman of said
committee. Imuch regret that my respected
colleagues on said committee failed to enter
into this work with any degree of eagerness
necessary to relieve the farming interest
from the depredahions referred to. sort
of report was made during my absence from
the city, more in defence of the robbers than
in the interest of the farmers.
AS called the attention of this chamber
to great public evils solely for the purpose of
remedy for those evils, I have purposely,
in view of the near approach of the legisla-
ture, deferred further report until the
proper time had arrived-a time when the
people who have been SO deliberately and
wantonly robbed could legally and promptly,
through their chosen representatives apply
such remedies as are right and just.
wish to say before going further, that
since calling the attention of the chamber to
the abuses complained of, I have been in al
most daily contact and communication with
hundreds and thousands of farmers, not only
along the main line of the st. Paul & Pa
cltic railroad, but from all portions of the
State; that while the abuses complained of
are grievous and hard to bear, they are not
wholly local, but to a greater or less degree
are damage and curse to the wheat grow
ing interest of the entire State. All other
interests in Minnesota Except that of the
millers and wheat buyers) seem to depend
largely for their prosperity upon the pros
perity of the wheat grower. The
solution of the problem under con-
sideration depends wholly upon the
courage and ability of the great mass of the
people of Minnesota to defend and protect
themselves from the depredations of band
of spectators.
In proof of the necessity of decisive action
on the part of this chamber, and also on the
part of the legislature, hereby submit the
following sworn testimony of few of the
many victims to this unjust and arbitrary
system of grading wheat, and also some few
letters from other farmers which fully sub
stantiate the charges I made before this
chamber last fall:
STATE OF MINNESOTA,
County of Stevens. 3D.
On this 9th day of November, 1873, person.
ally appeared Emanuel Carlson, of Stevens
county aforesaid, who, being duly sworn, de-
poseth and says, that or about Sept. 18th
1878, he brought wheat to the Hancock elevator
which was tested by Mr.. Sherwood the inspec-
tor, with the swindling brass kettle; that said
wheat tested So pounds per bushel, and that it
could only be received in said elevator as No. 2
wheat. although weighing one pound above the
standard for No. l wheat; that said wheat was
dry and clean and good milling wheat.
E. M. CARLSON.
Subscribed and sworn to before me- this 9th
day of November, A. D. 1878.
O. l.. BREv1a,
Notary Public.
STATE OF MINNESOTA,
County CT Stevens. 90
G. W. Churchill of Walden, Pope county,
Minnesota being duly sworn, deposeth and
says, that on or about the 12th of September.
1878 he and B. L. Shepherd hauled two loads
Of wheat to the Hancock Elevator; that Mr..
Sherwood, the inspector, tested the wheat with
the swindling brass kettle; that Churchill s
wheat tested 56 pounds:strong; that Shepherd S
wheat tested 561a pounds; that Sherwood said
the Wheat was good No. wheat, clean and
| nice but that he could not receive it as No. 2
because he had instructions from Mr.. Valentine
to raise the grade of No. 2 wheat from Sc
| to 81 pounds, and No. from So to SO pounds,
| and that consequently this wheat would have
| to be graded No. 3, and at that time there was
difference in price between No. 2 and No. 8
wheat of about seventeen cents per bushel,
that during the season the grades have been
widened out SO as to make twenty cents diff
ference between No. and No. wheat, or in
palmer language, one bushel weighing Sc
pounds would sell for seventy cents, while an
other bushel weighing 5534 pounds, and equal
| ly clean and dry and sound would sell for onlv
| fifty cents, the buyers being the MINNEAPOLIS
Mlllers association.
And this deponent further deposes and saws.
that at this time, the farmers on line of North
ern Pacific railroad were receiving ten cents
per bushel more for same grades of wheat,
| and that unless relief is afforded either by
competition or some other way, he and his
| neighbors had better sell or give away their
farms along the st. Paul & Pacific railroad and
move to Northern Pacific region and thus
escape the tender mercies of the Minneapolis
Millers association.
G.. W. CHURCHILL.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 9th
day Of November, A. D. 1878.
o. l.. BREv1e.
Notary Public.
STATE OF MINNESOTA,
County of Stevens. ss.
The undersigned, citizens of Pope county, are
of their own personal knowledge cognizant of
the facts set forth in the foregoing affidavit of
O. w. Churchill, and we do hereby soIemnlv
swear to the absolute truth of those facts
r. L. SHEPHERD
JOHN SANDERS.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 9th
day of August, A. D. 1878.
0. L. BREvIa,
Nortary Public
STATE OF MINNESOTA,
County of Stearns. %:
VIM. Mcpherson, of county aforesaid being
duly sworn, deposeth and says that on or about
| the 10th of October, 1878, he hauled wheat to
the Morris elevator which graded No. 2; that a
few days after he hauled another load, to John
SON mill (same wheat). Said load measured
~ bushels by the standard half-bushel and
weighed out As 26-60 bushels, and after being
tolled and ground yielded 1856 pounds, good,
straight flour, which he sold in Morris for S3
per cwt., amounting to $47.5S, besides the
bran and shorts. The same wheat would only
sell to the Millers' association of Minneapolis
| for 1923. .52-showing clean steal of $24.O6. be-
sides bran and shorts. Said wheat was tested
by the elevator agent at Morris with the swind.
ling brass kettle, and weighed 571& pounds,
and being tested by the standard haIf-bushel
weighed 6O115 pounds per bushel.
Nov. a. 1878. VIM. MCPHERSON, Jr.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 22d
day of November, 1878.
H1r7n On