The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-18
goods manufactured by the Empire

6OOuo AeIutue1COuICu ny UH0 Eup1Ie
Drill Company, of Shortsville, N. Y,
one of the Oldest and most reliable
Companies in the United States.
They sell these goods to the members
Ofthe Alliance at Is per cent below
the retail price.
We then examined some of the
plows, walking plows, gangs, sulkies,
and corn cultivators. These are
manufactured by the Weir Pillow Co.
for the D. F. A. Company. This Co.,
which is located at Monmouth, ILL.,,
stands very high. Mr.. Crosse stated
that they were able to save their
members 25 per cent. on this class of
goods. The extent of business done
by the Alliance Co. on this class of
goods may be shown from the fact,
that since last fall they have deliver
ed into Dakota over 25 car loads of
plows and cultivators. It was with
difficulty that the Alliance Co. could
make terms for these different classes
of goods. The dealers in the Terri
tory held meeting, some time since,
and resolved to boycott every manu-
facturer who would deal directly with
the Alliance. The Alliance was there
fore obliged to agree to take the ex-
elusive sale of these Co.'s goods in the
two Dakotas.
In another part of this great ware
house there was piled up a large
quantity of barbed wire for fencing.
This wire Mr.. Crosse informed me was
furnished to the members at X ct.
per pound above actual cost price.
I then examined the harrows; they
are called the Alliance harrow, four
horse harrow, diamond-tooth, drags
"a feet and contains IA teeth. At
the Manufacturers Association meet
ing, held in Minneapolis, it was de-
cided that these goods should not be
sold at wholesale, for less than IA Y
cts. per tooth. The Alliance got
round this combination, by having
harrow made expressly for them
selves, outside of the combination.
Mr.. Crosse stated as an illustra-
ton of the extent of their business
that few weeks since they had the
platform along side their warehouse,
piled 3 deep with gang plows, There
was only one left OF this great sup
ply.
The Press Drill Company resolved
not to sell the Alliance, and the AL
lance made contract with the En-
pire Drill Company for a press drill
especially for Dakota. This has been
exhibited at various Fairs, and q
large number sold, which are giving
perfect satisfaction.
In the matter of Loans on
acknowledges, the Alliance has al
SO done good work. The rate of in
terest has been reduced from 10 per
cent with commissions, to 8 per cent
straight, without commissions; and
the Company now has a contract
made whereby they will be able to
furnish farm loans to members of the
Alliance next year for 8 \ per cent.
This is better than the average rate
charged in Mimi. The Minnehaha
National Bank, of Sioux Falls, has
written to the Alliance, and proposed
to the Officers to form accumulation
with the Alliance for the establish
ment of a Farmers, Loan Co. The
plan will be to sell stock to the
amount of $4,000. This stock is to
draw Z per cent interest. / asked Mr..
Crosse how they could get subscribers
to that amount of stock. He an
swered that Gin Dakota the farmers
are on top, and the politicians are
all anxious to come in and work with
them" He stated that there would
be no difficulty in making such ar
rangements, and the company would
be able to loan money at current
rates, while the profits and earnings
OF the stock would go to the benefit
of the borrower, and in this way the
interest on the money would not
practically exceed Z per cent The
present money loaners of Dakota
will not receive any payments on &C.
count of the principal until at the
end OF the term, which is usually
years. This new combination would
permit a borrower if he had $1,000
ready to pay, instead of paying il
upon his loan to take stock to that
amount, and draw Z per cent inter
est upon it, and this would mature
in time to meet his indebtedness.
/ Now, it will be asked, how has al
this work been accomplished?
| The Farmers Alliance proper, being
only a. social unincorporated Society
could not transact such business. Il
was deemed necessary, therefore te
form separate association, which
could be Incorporated. This was
done two years ago last July. Il
started in with a capital stock o
100000. The plan is as follows
The shares of stock are $1,000 each
No one can have the advantages o
the low prices, which have giver
above, unless he is a stakeholder il
the D. F. A. Co. The shares of stool