Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1888-12-15
THE MILLERS' TRUST.

There has been a great deal said
and written about various trusts
controlling many of the most impor-
tant branches of business and seri-
ously affecting the great economic
affairs of the country. Such as the
lumber trust, the sugar trust and
the water trust, which limit supply
and fix the price of almost all the
prime necessaries of life, thus put
ing into the hands Of few selfish
capitalists the regulation of the
comforts and enjOyments of life,
giving them the dangerous power
TO enhance the cost Of living and
take from the masses Of the people
that divine right of equal freedom
in the pursuits Of happiness.
In Oregon there exists the flour
trust which is one of tbs most OPP
pressive and Odious of these COM
binations. 1t is true it allows farm
ers to exchange wheat for flour and
gives 40 pounds for a bushel of wheat
but only allows them enough for
domestic use and limits their family
rations. During the past season
prior to the harvest of 1883 what in
Salem was worth only 80 cents per
bushel while flour during the same
time was sold for about an average,
of $3.50 per barrel. This, consider
ing the price of wheat, was ut least
one dollar per barrel more than it
should have been. This enhanced
price for flour has been paid alike
by all classes of our people except II
few millers who pooled their inter
ests to control the output and price,
that they might share the booty at
the expense Of the people.
Now let us do some figuring to
show how the matter stands: -Four
and one half bushels Of wheat will
make II barrel of flour. This A
bushels at 81 cents per bushel costs
the miller s.. 20; cost grinding, etc
Eight per cent (the legal toll 50 cts
cost of flour sacks 20 cents. This
makes the whole cost of II barrel of
flour 1884. From this should be de-
Quoted the value of the bran and
shorts made from the Al bushels of
wheat which should be "a pounds,
the difference between the weight
of n barrel of flour l06 pounds and
the weight of A. bushels of wheat
270 pounds. Bran and shorts sold
at an avaNge of $l6 per ton or four
flfths iof cent per pound, So the
"a pounds of bran and shorts would
be worth 90 cts, Take this from 3d.
3i the cost Of the wheat and expense
of manufacturing and packing the
flour aud we have barrel of flour
ready for the market, costing the
miller $2.75. This taken from $3.50
the price flour sold for, leaves the
miller Sl,75 net profit on each bar
rel of flour. 70 cents would be II
most liberal profit to the miller and
afford him II business much more
lucrative than farming.
Now let us make few more fig
ures and show what this enhanced
price of one dollar per barrel has
cost the good people Of Oregon in
twelve months. Suppose the popu-
lation of Oregon TO he 100000 and
that each individual consumes dali
ly ona half pound of flour (Which is
less than army rations,) This would
make the daily consumption $50, 600
pounds-this multiplied 10y S6j, the
number of days in n year would
make the yearly consumption of
flour 5l,75O,OOO pounds; divide this
by 200, il being In round numbers)
the pounds of lour in a barrel; gives !
27S, $50 the number of barrels con-
sumed. As has been shown above
the price of each harrel of this flour
has been unjustly enhanced one
dollar 10 all consumers in Oregon. |
The sum thus unjustly taken by .
this trust from the people amounts .
10 the sum OF S273, $50,
These II ups are indeed startling,
set they are true and show the