The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-01-31

Todd Co. Argus:
We have seen considerable in the
papers about the great difference be-
tween the price of wheat at the ele-
vators along the lines and that of
the terminal points, in some places
running as high as twenty-one cents.
On the Northern branch here the diff
ference has been but twelve cents and
it costs nine cents to get it to the
markets. This leaves but a margin
of three cents which is not any too
much. This is probably the reason
that SO few complaints have been
heard in this locality.
The above appeared in the Argus
some time since. We do not suppose
that Mr.. Sheets would knowingly
misrepresent the market to his read
ers. But he certainly has a miscon-
ception of this matter of wheat deal
ing. Long Prairie is 125 miles from
Minneapolis. The freightage on
wheat for l25 miles ought to be, al
lowing literally for mileage and say
double what the road cost, under five
cents a bushel. 1t probably is Z
cents. We cannot imagine it posi-
BILE that it should be over lie. hun
dred. That pays $429O car-which
is an extraordinary charge compared
with freight mileage. Eleven cents a
hundred is &C cents bushel. Ger
tainly cents is an extraordinary al
lowance. Wheat freights to Chicago,
with the business divided between
five general lines, is only &c. for 40
miles-and every line making enor-
nous profits. Now at cents, which
is certainly unreasonably high, 5
cents are changed for shipping, when
every broker in Chicago is selling for
Hc., or selling and caring for it at &c.
bushel.
Today's quotation of wheat in
Liverpool is ST. 2h for mixed western
(or for No. 2 spring, the Chicago
speculative grade.) This means
$1.20 for No. l hard. If the farmers
of Long Prairie are getting Csc. there
is cost of SIC. for the traffic. OF this
SIC. it costs 1Oc. to get from Duluth
to Liverpool by water, with commits
sions. 1t costs &c. by rail WHEN IT
GOES THAT WAY. Hence by Duluth.
which does most of the shipping, and
but for the Minneapolis sharks would
do all of it, there is dead loss to
the farmer of 42c. a bushel. Allow
now &c. for freight and &c. for other
charges Commissioners Estimate)
and where does that CSC. go to?
That, Mr.. Sheets, truly and honest
~, is the great question before us.
That is one of the great questions
which the GREAT WEST is so earnest
over. We have been in the grain
trade on the Chicago Board. We
have been blind there as farmers are
here. Hence, when two years ago
this hideous robbery stood revealed,
by the aid of New York grain deal
er, we struggled hard to arouse inves-
09eNCAOAs <RulCC WO1uSs
spoken, did no good. We found the
political head of the county in the
league-and under pay! We found
a $4,000 bushel farmers elevator shut
up-and one of the most terrible local
warfares aroused ever known any,
where! We found farmers, even, ar
rayed against us-through political
infiuence-anO yet right there, in
Pope County, the difference between
our markets and Minneapolis was
not less then &c. a bushel, and once
as high as &c, and a, difference with
Liverpool of Sc.
Now we appeal to the local press
and the politicians no longer. 1t is
useless. To say, "Brethern, let us
stop this somewhat unreasonable
borro wing of our money some time
next year," does no good. But our
invectiEe and violent accusation had
at the end of a years work dropped
the difference there from 23c, to 14c.
and the 14c. is five cents too much !!
In all this, Mr.. Sheets, we have not
mentioned the grading steal, which
is the worst feature of our grain
traffic.
st. Peter Herald:
1gnatius DOnnelly is being trotted
out as an alliance candidate for gov
ernor. Donnelly sold out the friends