The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-18

= =
achievement in the future.
j. ALLISON.
The Farmers Alliance Co.
of Dakota.
What it has Accomplishment
Letter from the State Leo
turer Of Minnesota.
To the Editor of The Great West:
DEAR SIR:-At meeting of the
Board of Managers OF the Hail In
surance Company, held at Austin,
Sept. 18th, 1889, Mr.. Joseph keenan,
was instructed to take the necessary
steps to lay before the annual meet
ing of the State Alliance. next winter.
such information as he could collect
in reference to the propriety of estab-
fishing a Purchasing Department,
and communication from him on
the subject appears in the address
that lately made to the Alliance.
Being called here to speak to the
members of the territorial Alliance of
OAK, 1 have visited the office and
warehouse of the Dakota Farmers
Alliance Company, and have been
much astonished with what l have
seen; and l feel that l cannot do
better than to lay before the farmers
Of Minnesota the facts as they have
been presented to me, by the officers of
that company. [ undertake to say
there has scarcely been, in the annals
of labor, more marvellous evi-
dence of the power for good which
organization and intelligence acting
together have been able to exercise,
than in the work of this Dakota
Farmers Alliance Company. 1t
would almost seem as if Providence
had called to the defence of the poor
and suffering farmers of Dakota Ter
ritory those who were especially fit
ted for good work; for they have
proceeded with great wisdom and
caution, and the work has been so
thorough and SO effective, which they
have accomplished,
AS / was coming along the street
near the Dayton Hotel, ian excel
lent house }, where l am stopping, l
observed close to the C. M. & St. P.
Ry. track, very large warehouse,
and painted upon the front of it the
words, Headquarters of the Dakota
Farmers Alliance Company" Ienter-
ed and made myself known to two of
the officers. Mr.. Geo. G. Crosse, of Hyde
County, and Mr.. J. L. Carlisle, of
Brown County. They were kind
enough to furnish me the information
which 1 desired.
They first took me through the
building, which is a. it. wide, by 1OS
it. long, with a 16 it. platform on the
side.
The first thing that l observed as
I entered from the office was a room
hung with new bright harness, farm
wagon, buggy and carriage harness.
l was told that the Company kept
three men constantly at work, in
the upper part of the building, manu-.
featuring harness; using the very
best material, and turning out first
class articles. l was shown com.
plete farm harness, the ordinary
price of which is $35. 90; it is sold by
the Alliance Company at $4,000.
l next entered, with Mr., Crosse. q
large room in which were a great
number of buggies and carriages
They were all made by the Ohio Bug
gy Co., of Columbus, Ohio; the D. F
A. Co. having the exclusive sale O
this Co.'S goods in the two Dakotas
The firm is regarded as one of the
best in the United States. Mr.. Crost
showed me very handsome buggy
and said, "This buggy we sell to tn,
members of the Alliance at SITS. OO.'
l asked him whatwas the list price al
which it was sold by retail to tn.
Others, to which he replied $4,000
l asked him how it was there was
such difference. He said they pur
chased them under contract at whole
sale price for $175.OO each, and they
added 81. 90 to help pay the expenses
OF the Co. He then showed me {
phaetOn, and said the price to mem
bers OF the Alliance for this phaeto1
was $500; the list price wa,
$4,000. l then examined q very
handsome piano-box buggy, the lis
price for this being $685. 90; and tn
price at which it is furnished to mem
bers of the Alliance Co. $117.OO.
was then shown a very handsome
double carriage, two seats, with side
and every thing complete. The pric
to members of the Co. is $4,000
the list price 100000! Mr.. Cross
then called my attention to what h
called-"The Alliance Buggy" i
is made of the finest material, ant
manufactured by the same Ohio Bug