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

acres OF land, within the city limits.
1t is. now valued at $4,000. The
City of Watertown proposes to help
subscribe to their stock; and the.
Company viii sell q number of lots
out of the $50 acres, and will sell
stock among the members with which
to proceed to manufacture those
articles which the manufacturers of
the United States refuse to sell them.
They hope to get this new feature in
augurated during the coming winter.
The extent of the business done
has been very great. In 1883 they
furnished to the members of the
Alliance 1,313,95O Tbs. of binding
Irvine costing $179,896.25. They
not only decreased the price of Irvine
to the members; but they broke
down the combination in the terri,
tory of Dakota 80 that instead of
Irvine being sold at from % to 25 cts.
per h., they furnished it for from 16k
to 18H cts. per ID.
| 1t must be remembered that in ad-
ditiOn to the goods that they have
sent direct to members, they have
sold great many through circulars,
by shipping and billing direct;
this branch of their business last year
amounted to SIS, 347.12.
A striking instance was told me-
showing the power of the Company
to break down oppressive prices, in
relation to q wagon shipped to the
Black Hills. Theprice of the wagons
there had been $500. The Alliance
sent one and only one of their wag-
ons out there, and the moment it ar
rived the dealers cut their price to.
$1,000.
They have also a great saving on
coal, averaging from SO cents to 81
SO per ton. They have sold coal to,
the amount OF 1O,465 tons, costing
29,516.S5; the freight on it cost
ing $45, 794.OO.
The sales of machinery and wagons.
in 1888 amount to $15, 84O94 the
freight on the same $5, 357.47. They
also supplied real estate loans to,
farmers to the amount of $40, $50,
making a grand total of 1858, 1O2,-
63, being the business tranacted in
1883.
They have not been blessed with as
good crops in Dakota as we have
had in Minnesota this year, and the
people here are poor. With good
crop next year it is probable that
the business of the Alliance Company
will reach far more than any other
year; without doubt it will amount
to a million dollars.
The average rate on chattel mort
cages has been 4 per cent per month,
or 48 per cent per year. When q
farmer is more than ordinarily EN-
barrassed these prices are doubled.
Such reduction as has been made is
in part due to the public opinion Gre
ated by the Farmers Alliance.
These facts and figures which 1
have given will l trust, not only be
of interest to the farmers of Mime
sofa. but will furnish some basis of
action when the State Alliance meets
next winter. There is no reason in
the world why the same systems can
not be inaugurated in Minnesota
that responded so effectively in Dako-
ia. Minnesota is an older and richer
state than Dakota, and an Alliance
organization here, like the one I
have described to you, would in a
few years save to the farmers of
Minnesota millions of dollars
! I think the prices of the articles T
have referred to can be depended up
on; in most cases saw the prices of
the different Companies giving the
wholesale and list prices.
The farmers of minnesota must dis
cuss this matter, and come together
next winter prepared to act under
standingly upon it.
We had a very large alliance meet
ing in the Court House at 2 o'clock
this afternoon. I spoke to them of
watered stock and kindred subjects.
The audience was made up oftarmers
, and town people. was glad to find
, that the merchants and tradesmen
of this city are in hearty accord with
} the farmers, in all their efforts to i'm
! prove their condition. They perceive
! that whatever impoverishes the farm
ers lessons their own field of legiti-
mate business.
Aberdeen is q beautiful and thriving
| city; with many noble buildings and
handsome private residences, and q
, multitude of intelligent and cultivat-
, ed people. All they need is good
crops and prosperity among the
, farmers, and they are assured of a
great future. Take the horse-leeches
J from the throat of agriculture, and
t both the Dakotas will enjoy growth
{ that will astound the older settled
/: part of the union. Yours Respectful
ly. IGNATIUs DONNELLY.
II There has recently been one break
I in the monopolistic line, at least
( and that has been in among them