The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-02-01
The Elevators.


We give below an extract from the
report of Gen. j. H. Baker, Railroad
Commissioner, made to the Legisla-
ture. The general says:
1T is no part of the statutory part.
Of this office to look after elevators.
but there are provisions of law regu-
lating their relations to railways in
the handling and shipping Of grain,
50 that the association is i legal one,
and therefore, indirectly, we have to
do with the subject, so far As rail-
ways are concerned. Railway COM
panies should have 10 identity Of in,
tercsts with the elevators. 1t is the
besiness of railways to haul grain to
market; it is the business of elevators
to handle and store it. In any wrongs
which may exist in this system. the
railways ought to he on the side Of
the people. They should not insist
that elevators of a certain size or
character should alone ship grain; but
when the farmer can get more for his
grain than the elevator men offer, it
should be his privilege to ignore the
elevator in shipping. While the ele-
vator, if honestly handled, is great
convenience to both the farmer and
the roads. they have 1T once estal'-
lished a monopoly. This conclusion
is inevitable. Wc would, therefore,
favor the extension of side tracks.
and the free and unrestricted ed privi
lege granted to- any person to erect =
grain house on sach track: subject
only to reasonable restrictions rs tc
fire and provision for speedy ship.
ment. Any other principle involves
the creation of a monopoly. The
railways are created for the public.
and each individual has right t.
claim equal privileges il the matter
Of shipment. The control and ship
ment of wheat should not he left in
the hands of il few man, and compe-
tition stamped out by arbitrary rules.
Let any person>so desiring to eng &c
in the shipment Of grain apply to the
railroad company for the privilege of
erecting a grain house, and if refused.
let him apply to this office, and if the
board of railway commissioners, OH \
hearing of all, the facts, shall de-
termine his application to lie a rea-
sonable one, let the railway company
be required to give him \ location.
This is the way such things are done
in Massachusetts. No scheme ought
to be tolerated by the State which
drives out the Independent buyer and
prevents competition.
We admit that larger elevators are
Il convenience to both the public and
the railways; and it would appear that
y party building one should have some
protection for his money invested.
But III point Of principle lie has no
more right to such special protection
than any other person engaged in any
other business. and no unjust restric-
tions, For the information Of the
this Office has prepared a
list of the elevators iii the State.
showing their location, capacity and
l,roprie etorship. We beliexe it wou d
be we'll for The legislative authority
TO provide that elevator companies
and proprietors be required to keep
accurate statistics of the grain they :
handle. its grades, when shipped, =
etc., upon blanks to- be furnished by
This Office, 50 that the State may be
accurately informed upon the SUBJ
ect. Tiis is done. in: Illinois, and
,itess satisfaction, to the people.
,ucli' statistics, would. be Of great .
;;iiue III furnishing an inside view Of
heir operations, and give the public
.ctual fgures; Of wheat handled. The
Inspection and grading of grain is )
whiclrtloes not come with
n the sphere Of our legitimate diities.
We have taken great pSdns' to a"cer-
ain the storage capacity fof grain III
which, shows. as will be >
,een by table No. 81. the total storage
to be 1880. 600. distributed
N the several railways, as follows:
r,,th.a s, .a,nn y,sc,fr III ! E.s1.,.. s,7aa,0M
chicago, st. Paul. Minneapolis 4 Omaha ss3M,
.,,ina II .Mii,s:s,,tee 81. Paul ,OsnAps
,h;cseoE .Nnrth :ra.tarn. s,4aA0g1
i. Paul; Minneapolis 4 Manitoita. sssVO