Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-05-06

Pacific, just arrived in st. Paul by way OF
New Orleans, which cost upon the vessel, at
London, England, $28, SO per ton. have also
this day seen large invoice OF steel rails
for the Northern Pacific, placed upon the
cars at Bethlehem. Pa, $50 per ton.
AT eighty-eight tons to the mile, the
c cne rss cot sssso thus The Aa shase
two roads speed their way across the
continent, side by side, the American line
handicapped with an additional dead weight
OF ~, 765 more per mile, less ocean freight,
than its British competitor. This is only for
the track. The same relative difference fol-
lows in every piece of iron, from spike to a
locomotive, which is used in the equipment
This will all reappear to the farmers of
America in the cost Of freight. Let the big
manufacturers help the farmer unload this
huge tariff on steel rails and so cheaper
freightS to the sea- Here both parties can
labor for mutual benefit.
NEW AND ARBITRARY SCHEME FOR THE
GRADING AND PURCHASE OF WHEAT.
This tariff problem is fairly to be considered
in connection with other projects of the great
millers. On the 18th of December last the
large mllers, shippers and others in interest,
met at Minneapolis and formed an association
whose objects were uniform system of grad
Ing and OF buying wheat throughout this
state and Dakota. The plan was new and
arbitrary. Its evident purpose or practical
result was to shut out competition. Under
its operation wheat brought less than its real
value. Arbitrary grades were established and
arbitrary prices maintained. The millers took
the good wheat at their prices, and the ship
pers in the combination got the
balance at a figure lower than
the true market value. Wheat
which was graded here as No. 8, was sent to
Milwaukee and received as No. 9. The grades,
1t is alleged, were not legitimate nor the
prices fair. 1t was a combination for profit
against parties (farmers) who do not seem to
have the faculty of combining for their inter-
ests. AS we examine this movement and or
ganjzation, 1t is not referable to wet weather
and damp wheat. 1t does not propose to dis
band when the wheat ia dry or the crops bet
ter. 1t is system which has probably come
to stay. 1t is so much of real grievance in
its operation and history that it has excited
prejudice on the part of the farmers towards
the miller's association. We can but regard
this step as siugularly unfortunate, for the
combination swept away all healthy compe-
tition.
THE SCHEME PROGRESSES AND THE CORDS
TIGHTEN.
The next step in this net work which was
Tightening its control over the wheat of the
state, was the purchase of the elevators by
this same combination. II we are correctly
informed, nearly, or quite all of the vast sys-
tenn of elevators along the Manitoba and
Northern Pacific lines, and their railway feed
ers have been bought and are now owned and
controlled by these parties. One purchase after
another has been made until they have absorb
ed them all. Where none existed they are now
building. Practically the miller's association
have got control of the elevators, which are
the great instrumentalities for handling and
shipping the grain of the country. The mil
lers' association to-day own and control more
than 140 of these elevators in the best wheat
regions of the Northwest, and are rapidly
building more. The system is gigantic and
far-reaching. 1t is buying the independent Ell
eyators and crushing out all competition. 1t
is laying its powerful hand upon every bushel
of wheat to be grown in the Northwest. In
that they afford facilities for storing and ship
ping grain, they are blessing. 1t is the inev-
table .abuse which follows power in great
corporations, which is to be dreaded. This
association has just completed the purchase
of thirty more elevators of Barnes & Magill
on the line of thei Northern Pacific. When
they shall have extinguished all rivalry they
can lay tribute upon the chief production OF
the Northwest. A manipulation of cents a
bushel would amount to $2.000,000 on the
next crop. We do not impute to the gentle
men controlling these great agencies an evil
purpose, but with such concentration of pow
er they are in possession of great temptation.
And now, swift upon the heels Of these de-
vices, comes plan for abolishing the tariff
upon foreign wheat, SO that untold thousands
of bushels of Manitoba grain may
farmer at his own door. We must
take these separate links as constituent parts
of ''stupendous whole" There is in it
all either purpose or possibility of the
great flour manufacturers obtaining absolute
control OF the wheat markets of the North
| west.
Looking at all the facts in the case, we think
| that every unbiased mind must concede the
strength of the position to be with the farm
ers, viz: That the present tariff on foreign
| wheat should stand without further debate.
| That the great mills are prospecting as well as
our farmers are, aad that a change in the
! wheat tariff would seriously injure the vast
body of American producers and benefit only
select few. That the mills need not be idle
for American grists, and that common cause
exists for both in supreme effort to cheaper
| transportation to sea.
CONCLUSION.
I disclaim discussing these problems in a
| spirit of unkindness to the enterprising men
who have achieved so much in this State for
| the manufacture of -four. They have. proudly
measured ability with the ancient millers OF
Europe, and vanquished them in the markets
of the world. They have done all this, too,
with American wheat. Let them continue
their triumphs with American wheat.
Their victory at Budapesth did more
for mankind than Napoleon at Austerlitz.
The more legitimate profits of the great mil
lers of our state do not lie in the direction Of
depressing the price of Minnesota wheat, bat
in securing cheaper transportation to the
ocean and to Europe. Let profit and patriot
| ism travel the same path. In such battle,
the farmer and manufacturer can unite their
efforts, and the kindly spirit which would
grow out of it would Danish antagonisms and
solidify the commonwealth.
]. II. BAKER,
Railroad Commissioner.
Fatal Accident In Duluth.
Especial Telegram to the Globe.J
L