Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1883-01-20

The Ice bridge has been freely used this week.
Mr.. Robinson, Of tho milling firm of A.. v.
Robinson 4 Co., thinks the Intelllgencsr did
his firm injustice In Its article, Inst week, on
mIllstuds, because their mill had for some
weeks been idle on account Of q break in the
machinery. and In consequence had not been in
the market with corn meal, and because they
have not sold bran higher than so cents whole
sale. Mr.. Robinson further states that wheat
should not have been quoted at so but at IS cents,
~ out OF l50, 900 bushels purchased here not
more than 1000 bushels were purchased at so
cents. NEST of it having cost IS cents. We in
tended our article to lie impersonal, and took
the market as we found it.. We feel very kindly
10 the owners of both our mills. and desire to
see them do well, make money and prosper, and
we are always ready, as We have endeavorea
to prove In the past, to assist them to the extent
of our ability. On the other hand we owe a duty.
to the public. We have thought for many months
that millstuns were too high In Lexington, and
finally thought 1t proper to say SO. We give
Mr.. Robinson the benefit OF his statement, but
must justify our quotation oil wheat by saying
that We got it directly from hia lips. What
wheat has cost has nothing whatever to do with
what flour sells at. What wheat costs to-day
makes the price. Millersi never fail 10 take a
rise in prices promptly; they should as promptly
follow the market in the other direction. AS to
the prices of meal and feed we took them as we
found them at the hands of the merchants who
sell the goods. What the people pay is the
price to them. Mr.. r. sells his roller -four
higher than the other mill asks because he
claims that it is better; the other mill sells its
bran higher than he does for the same alleged
reason. Meal was selling, Friday, January u,
when our article was written. at IS cents retail,
when corn had been selling for many weeks at
40 cents or less. This we thought wrong. and
we still think that it was. Mr.. L. recognized
the fact, last Saturday by putting the price down
TO w cents retail. We enormously gave the
weight OF shelled corn at 60 pounds, We should
have written 1t Sc pounds. Corn meal, by law,
is fixed at so pounds to the bushel. Our object
was to show that the 6 pounds of difference be-
tween corn and meal should pay all expenses of
manufacture. and that consequently a very
sllght advance on the price Of corn ought to be
fair profit on meal. According to our view of
the matter flour is too high in this market; bran
Is too nigh, and meal ID still high, even at the
that has taken place since our last
especially as the merchants tell us that
the mills only give 4s pounds of bolted meal to
The bushel, though where they get the authority
FOR doing 30 we do not know. We are ready as
have done for years. by our patronage be it
much or little, and by our recommendation, to
our W mlllcrs to all others. The peo-
pie here are generally the same way. In return |
our millers should do all they can to supply
heir product as cheaply US do mills ut %contigu-
BUS places; and especially IN feed, which they
almost always sell higher, while il any thing it
is not quite so good. Another thing, having
he advantage Of the market from one year to |
as merchant mills. we think they |
should try to keep a supply of feed on hand
wen when they do not have it of their own |
thus In Part repaying their customers |
or their friendship and loyalty to them at other |
Inca. |