The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-04-11
actually paid over for it at Liver

5th.-COmmission and Brokerage,
which is over two cents per bushel.
las to ocean freightage we re-state
that wheat has been freighted across
the ocean during the past few years
as low as 2hc. per bushel. And that
such appears in the testimony OF the
Senate Committee on Commerce; but
to carry the matter home we quote
from the New York Herald, as fol-
lows: "Freights and charters.-Lon-
don steam, 10000 bu. at 3d., Gets
and the steamship charges are higher
than sailing rates. Cline" does not
count in the wheat deal. We are
taking steps to have the ocean rates
tested thoroughly by personal exam
ination-and finally that we are in
formed. that contracts have been
made at Boston for grain freights at
nine cents per hundred this winter.
Now, is it not true that you are get
ting flour freight across the ocean at
loo. per hundred and less? What we
want, of course, is the truth, and we
ask these things in that spirit.
AS to the Liverpool items, there are
some which you have stated which
we think do not exist as charges
against the grain-though we expect
togo to Liverpool soon and examine
the matter. You charge "Warehouse
Rent" Does the shipper pay that I?
Your double porterage do you
mean portage ?)-does not the sail
ing master pay these charges, if they
are dock and port dues? What right
has your interest charge for "ad-
vances" to figure in the matter? We
are strongly inclined to make definite
statements regarding these items,
but refrain, knowing well that if
they are mistakes Mr.. P. would be
glad to SO state matters, and it is
hoped that we would follow him
closely in such courtesies. But we do
claim that most of these charges do
not obtain in fact against the wheat
deal.]
| am not guessing at these figures.
l had some experience in shipping
wheat to Liverpool and other
European ports last year, and actu-
ally paid the above figures and /
know got the work done as cheaplv
as any farmer or other shipper could
have it done. l am willing to sub
stantiate these figures to any one
who doubts them. 1 am not anxious
to ship any more wheat to Europe
on my own account, and am willing
that other parties should make ali
the money there is in it. Twill state
in explanation that wheat is sold in
Liverpool and generally in other
English ports, delivered out of store.
and on time, and prices are based on
such terms.
Finally, you figure the price OF
wheat in Europe based on $3.50 to
the pound sterling, when the actual
rate should have been $3.50. This
makes a difference of about * cts.
per bushel. l have been a large sell
er OF sterling exchange for tfGlast
twenty years and never yet sok any
as high as $3.50. The rates USUALLY
run for documentary exchange
against bills of lading of wheat and
flour at from $4.77 to 1886, an
average Of say about $4.81.
AS to exchange we can only say
that Mr.. Pillsbury sells exchange
does not buy it. Our $3.50 was
based on the rate we paid the u. S.
government when we bought a small
amount. Exchange On. Y. Herald)
is quoted this day at $4.S9. What
the great millionaire exchanges
wheat and -four for, as a matter OF
exchange, is not OF so much moment
as the question is, "what is one
bushel of No. hard worth in Liver.
pool, and what at the farm gate
here. And rs. Sd. Quotation when
those figures were made) per 100 Tbs
in Liverpool were figured at $500
or even a trife more. The fact re.
mains, until disputed, with the evi.
dence, that our No. 1 hard, unmixed
grades five or six cents more above
Chicago No. 2 Spring, and that the
difference between Crookston and
Liverpool was from soc. to sac. as
stated during the winter
l think the above facts and figures
must satisfy your readers that it is
generally impossible to ship wheat
to foreign ports at any profit over
and above what is paid the farmers
for their wheat, and if the difference
between the prices of wheat in Liver.