New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-07-15
ADDRESS Of the State Alliance tt
the Farmers of Minnesota.

A1V1tStOSOCtts
In view of the recent action of the
Board Of Railroad and Warehouse Com
missioners regarding the system of
''dockage'' which has prevailed in this
State for the past eight or ten years.
which system we are thoroughly con-
WINGED has proved decidedly disadvan-
tageous to the farmer in many ways
while it probably has been beneficial in
some respects, it has been detrimental
in others after having given the mat
ter thorough and complete investiga-
ton, we are decidedly of the opinion
that the system of dockage, as has been
practiced heretofore, is wrong in prin-
ciple and pernicious in practice, and the
view taken of it by the board is sound
in Theory, and the members of the ALI
ance in particular, and all the farmers
throughout the State in general should
use their utmost endeavors to aid them
in bringing about the reform. 1t is a
system that prevails in no other State
in the Union but Minnesota, the finest
wheat country in the world, and where
wheat commands the highest price in
the world.
LIST. The farmer gives the offal away.
I'd. He hauls it to the country
market free.
3rd. He pays freight on it from the
country markets to the terminal or
shipping point, say St. Paul, Minneapo-
lis or Duluth. A calculation made re-
Gently reveals the fact that we have paid
freight on about 15,000,000O pounds of
dirt the past year to Minneapolis, alone,
saying nothing about Duluth or St.
Paul
4th. 1t is based upon q system of
''guess work. and common sense will
tell us that when the buyer or elevator
man guesses against the farmer as to
the amount of dirt in his load of grain,
in SO cases out of 100 the buyer is 60
ing to make himself, and if possible
more than safe. 1t is human nature
and he carries out the first principle of
human nature and looks out for num-
Der one every time; and we all know
that business founded on system of
''guess work. is no business at all.
Now you have the disease, where is the
remedy? This reform cannot be
brought about in one day,or one month
or one year. But we can make start,
and by our efforts show that we appre-
ciate the efforts of the Board of Rail
road and Warehouse Commissioners,
whom we are satisfied have the interest
of the farmers at heart. This has been
shown plainly by their actions, although
all of us cannot see it.
Now what we wish to impress upon
the farmer is to ever bear this in mind, if
we cannot completely carry out this
system of reform and market clean
grain, let us get it as clean as we can.
Let every farmer see to it that each
threshing machine has its sieve screens
on, and insist that it shall be done, and
fatty and positively refuse to employ
any thresher who has not his screen so
attached, and once so attached, see
that it is kept clean and free and not
clogged up, and thus become useless;
also have the screenings thrown !. back
from time to time into the machine,
and thus reduce the volume OF screen
ings or offal.
An united and combined effort on
the part of the farmers will bring about
this result. and will, we think, enhance
the value of his grain and we know it
will reduce the volume of dirt which he
hauls to market free and pays freight
on to the railroad companies.
GLOW. SPRAGUE, Pres't.
GEO. w. HA1GH, Sec.