Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-06-21
Farmers Milling Companies.

lines As those pursued DIV the MILK Tar
mers in States furnishing New York
with milk, to which reference has been
made in another article, has been the
combination of the grain farmers of Col
orado who organized for the purpose of
Touring their own wheat through the
establishment Of cooperative mills The
history of this work of neutral 60 oper
alton on the part OF the Colorado far
riers Is given in the monthly report of
the Department of Agriculture for June,
some details of which, in view of so
many organized movements for protec-
ton among farmers, will be of great
ihtefest-e q / sg
During 4S5 the millers of Colorado
formed ''millers combination" which
all millers in the State joined their OBJ
ject being to make milling as profitable
as possible regardless of the price OF
wheat by keeping the price just above
the price at the East less the cost of
transportation. The formation of the
farmers stock milling company grew
out of such condition of the wheat sit
uation. The company has enlarged its
operations every year since it was started
and has now a capital of $4,000 taken
and held by farmers. Mr.. j. X. Stewart
manager of the Lonsmont Col, Milling
and Elevator Company writes to the De-
partment of Agriculture, regarding his
company, as follows:
''As a business venture We are grand
success. BY the aid of the bank of
Longmont we have been able to meet all
obligations of a financial nature, prompt
ly. We paid 10 per cent. stock dividend
the first wear and charged it to earnings
of mill: 1SSs and 1889 we paid 10 per
cent cash dividend each year, and had IA
reserved fund Of enough to put our mill
in thorough repair this winter.
For the results of our enterprise to
the wheat-grOwer we quote you prices
from our books. Our mill was started
Christmas. 1886. Wheat was then GO
cents per bushel. The combination,
having bought large quantities at
this price during the fall, had an advan-
tage we could not overcome. Their
scheme was to raise the price in our
vicinity and keep -four low. Their out
spoken intention was to break US at
once, but. our -four being first class, the
trade readily paid us 10 to Il cents per
100 pounds more than others. Having
earned good name, I'VE can still com
mand the highest prices, which has been
the secret of our success.
From January, 1887. wheat steadily
advanced from 80 to 90 cents in June and
July. The average price paid for wheat,
for year ending June, 1858, was s23
cents; for the year 1889, ~ cents From
June, 1889, to present time, about 81
cents per bushel; the present price is 50
cents. At no time since the mill was
built has the price of wheat been below
what it could be laid down in our mar
ket from either Utah, Oregon, and
Washington on the west or Nebraska
and Kansas on the east, and nearly all
the past season our price has been above
Kansas and Nebraska laid down in our
market, by 10 cents per bushei for their
best wheat. on account of the railroad
companies cutting freight rates, which,
while ii may give temporary relief to
the farmers of Kansas and Nebraska.
demoralized our markets to the same
extent. more than we had cal
culated upon when purchasing our
fall supply from the thrashers.
Since our organization, Fort Collins far
mers have built mill. Berthoud, Mon
trose. Monte Vista. Lamar. have either
completed or are building cooperative
mills, also Rocky Ford, and large one
is very likely to be built in Denver this
summer and fall, although the present
capacity of the mills is many times
greater than the consumption orprOduct
of the State Before closing this. will
say that in my opinion one of the great
est single causes of the depression of
the grain market is the farmers habit Of
selling his whole crop Just as soon as he
can get it thrashed, thus crowding the
market and depressing it. A grain deal
err is not likely to buy ut "a very high
price, and take all the chances of loss or
gain himself for the remainder of the
wear
In commenting upon the plan of
the Colorado wheat farmers in mill
ing their own wheat, Mr. j. X,
Dodge, the able statistician of the De
partment says: s''Live and let live is a
good motto: but when millers, in their
effort to live at their trade, are too
greedy to afford living chance to the
growers of grain, 1t Is a measure of self
protection in the farmers to do their
own milling Within twenty years there
is scarcely community west of the
Missouri and east of the Pacific coast
that has not been obliged in the first
wears Of settlement to obtain part of
its bread-stuffs from the older states.
As wheat growing increased. mills have
been erected. and competition between
domestic grain aud the wheat of other
regions became active, reducing prices.
which are always high when eommodi-
ties are brought from abroad. passing
through the hands of many forwarders
and dealers.
\ community of farmers il always in
slavery when in the hands of CONNER
mcrcisl purveyors of products grown
far away. Fifty to 100 per cent. mer-
chants profits In the south of former
times attest this fact The long line of
elevators. cars, steamships, forwarders.
brokers, and spectators between Fargo
and Liverpool, together with the low
price of wheat in Dakota. Illustrate it.
This instinct of plumber. in the name of
commerce, foiled in its opportunity
when the wheat growers and miner are
side by side, combines milling and trade
aud monopolizes the business, refuses
to buy grain Of growers except at de-
pressed and unremunera i've prices,
leaving the home supply in the stacks or
bins Of the farmers until they are COM
PEELED to sell at any price offered.
This is the complaint of wheat
growers of Colorado, and the reason for
establishment of co operative mills a.
detailed above. A practical disruption
of the monopoly, an increase of 30 per
cent. in the value of domestic wheat, and
fair business profit on the enterprise,
are results worthy of serious considera-
tion in other sections which complain Of
dep-e- sion in agriculture