The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1885-01-15

Touring mllis az EargDs ttranQ torkRii GRAFTON,
Mitchell, Chamberlain, Yankton, Sioux Falls,
Dell Rapids, Elk Point, and number OF
other places In the territory, each with d
stoiag sufficient for their needs, making a
total storage capacity of over six million
crop of Dakota can scarcely be handled It
will be readily seen that public elevators are
IAN absol " y cesstty, !ahd being public ne7
cessitN il3 al be under strict surveillancey
and regulated for public good This primar-i
lily was no doubt the intention Of the legisla-
tiYes assembly In passing. tile ;aot named
above The atten ton Of this board was d.
rected at an early day to the alleged abuses
by elevator agents in the matter of grading
wheat, and complaints reached us, mostly
through the public prints, from almost every
railroad station in the territory, Of the
most shameful frauds praotioed upon the
farmers by said agents. We accordingly de-
termined to make thorough investigation
thereof, and, II in ours power sos to do, cor
rect said abuses. and vsecure the punishment
nearly every place in the territory, examined
thoroughly. and sought every conceivable
method to secure idence,. OF thsi commits
sion OF public offense, but were unable to
secure the same; nor have we TO this day.
|;jury would convict sIhis,fo the Te6son that
under the law named above 1t is necessary to
/ prove that the elevator agent knowingly
cheated in the grade or weight Of the wheat
sold. To this we could get n5 one tossWear.
These complaints were very numerous and
various In form. :; 4 !. I'd.
Il coMPIAINTs INVESTIGATED X
A number of aft daVits were presented at
q convention Of the farmers of North Dakota,
held in Grand Forks an. %, 1884, and
among others referred to q COMMITTEES who
reported that the number of affidagits Is SO
large that they could not all be presented in
the one evening Many Of these legal docu-
ments,f however, are Of d, trivial and entirely
irrelevant nature, and not worldly Of serious
regular system Of TN der grading and unjust
discrimination. in the Tmntters OF purchasing
and weighing Of wheat; that the grading OF
wheat was governed by the caprice of Gle
Yator agents andtn uniform system existed
sented by various par es, most Of them Re-.
Eating to different prices offered and grades
Allowed at various elevators There are also
ahdavits of false weight, as compared with
weights at points outside Of elevators About
five hundred atf1davits were presented to;
the committee, but only twenty five were
offered before the convention. Those read
were of similar purport to the above men,
tioned, and showed q Wide difference In the
matter Of grades, and some gross injustice
IN the matter OF doekage On the other
10, 900 bushels of wheat, of which Il, 900
graded No I lizard ~ Another farmer stated
/ thnt he had sold several. thousand bushels Of
wheat and received 9 large prop ct
nigh grades and was well satisfied. Thia
board were in attendance upon said conven-
tion, by Invitation of the committee ap.,
pointed to call the same; and were fully coa-
WINGED BY the showing there made Of the
necessity Of ditionalf legislation for the
protection of the farmers Of this territory
ltWould SEEM to any one even the least
5obseryant; that an elevator agent should be:
able TO grade The same wheat alike, even de-
Sltyered In two succe ssiye loads or on differ.
ent days, but the evidence presented to the
the contrary Is the case IL Why Is it? i Is it
4want Of capacity and experience on the part
OF said: agentsf or does their Inability "a
properly grade wheat presented 7 for sale
simply arise from the infall Utility OF human
Ftudgmenta - is aoharita ble 10 believe that
the average wheat buyer Of Dakota We
have never yet had an allegation made that:
the agent was dishonest and although we
frequently asked the question of the COM
plainant aDo you believe the agent know,
sWer was invariably, mo, 2 I've have no inse
etentton In this report Of making any sargl-
ment upon this bject, but desire I'd pre-
gent facts as we found them; leaving to YOU
the duty OF apply ing the remedy for the
many evils we find to exist In this whole
matter OF grading; the wheat crop Of the;
B "a SCI TRAHspoRrAT1oN ~ aArr. 81 IN
e There IA another branch Of this subject TO-
which we desire to direct your attention
that q transportation and connected there
to3the ratlroads doing business as common
carriers IN orr midst Perhaps we can better
preseng tnis subject by again referring to the
proceedtngs Of the Grand Forks convention;
which. briefly stated eyentuated In the ap.
gentlemen OF said body, who were author
lied to proceed to BIT Paul and lay tteir3
grievances before thet Manitoba Railroad
company and aeek redress therefor. The
compiaints embo died in the report Of said
attention sa soap @aas nF9 nsd ae
generally similar to those made against the
Chicago D. Northwester I, the Chicago NIL
Wapkee q 81 Paul and tho North fn Poetic
sa ~ companies, only varying 10 intensity
OF nn1nber, ~ the Casa might bal This board
have no other or further comment to mike
upon the conclu sions arrived at by this com.
m1ttee tsom4 OF whom were once railroad
smenl and who seem tojs have given to- the
consideration ct the sub jsct great labor and
with them therein; and this after che
fullest investig ation yves have been,
able TO make; both private3 and also !
i NJ public meetings held at prominent points
On the lines ofSthese great corporations, par
and other oicers 81 the roads lsaIne dss Snd
by large numbers Of / the practical firm ef,aa
along the lines thereof. M may say. how
I ever, that we were everywhere met IN what
we regarded as 10 perfect spirit Of fairness by
tho general officers OF said rallroads who a.
olared their Willingness to do everything M
ffheif power to secnEel tq tho farmers Of tie
territory the full rewatd 81 stheir iliiustrv5 rs
THE RAILWAY orFERs
Atpubltc meetings held IN both Grafton
and Grand Forks. General Manager Manyel.
gof the 6t Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba rail.
road, declared that - 80
psbary HabeR ma otlYer ~ 81
extensive elevators on the limo Of said road was
e promote the interests Of the grain prodnoers
Yhat the crop could In no Other WaY f)e iianjliad
That said corporations hxd no special priyilerea
SDut paid the sHmc rates as other shippers and
} were allowed no rebate In any way, but on the
contrary were held TO conduct their elevators IN
: were such as the elevator Companies ,wos,Id
gladly relieve themselves of IL tia fdiIroad DIM
I pany would permit them to stay I'll ti,a 1inirIat
when IL was their interest TO do sol md 20, ont
when the business vas not snfhcient % eiarari-
veg their remaining in. One Of the requiren,nIits
81 tme ra sho rule e that
times place IL Which Tie fsrn,sr. isrs q ol
eMsH csn e, store tia arain or and sell and
4 Further That the privilege allowed Is Pillss
puIy 4 Hubert aye open to al others on thaI4
General Fre!g Agent Msiisn made tho
following declnratton: a Z;