The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-04-25
That Offer.

Methodlst Herald.
Some little time since, we published
the Pillsbury- Sawyer offer of $4,000 to
any private parties who would ship
wheat to Europe at Minneapolis prices
and clear one cent per bushel. We did
this hoping to help convince the farmers
that they are not 90 outrageously Aeeced
by the millers and buyers Is is sometimes
made to appear. In reply to our article
we have the following from "a Subscrib.
err"
EDITOR HEARLD: In answer to your ar.
ticle on the Pillsbury-Sawyer offer of
100000 to private shippers that can get
out on Minneapolis prices on shipment to
Europe. There is no one foolish enough
cents to get through the Minneapolis Com.
bine. On the crops of 1887 parties here
sold thirty to fourty thousand bushels of
wheat 10 Wisconsin mills When they
came to ship they found they could get
only foreign cars through without handl.
ing through elevators. The result was
they. with exceptions of few cars, had
to sell at Minneapolis ut loss If seven
cents busllel. At the same time Wis.
consin mills were buying the mixed l
hard grade out Of elevators 1t Minneupo-
lis at five cents above prices, an inferior
article to the one being shipped for the
same mills from here.
Before making such offers as the $40,
OOO prize 1t will DO necessary to insure
cars to the sea board without breaking
bulk. AS for lover production" is there
not under consumption?" A SUBSCRIBER.
Warren, Mimi, April l.
The Herald has many other questions
OIL hand for discussion from time to time,
and not feeling specially qualified to clear
up matters of difference between the
wheat buyers and tile farmers, we mailed
the communication of Subscriber" to
MIR. PilIsbury for reply, which lie las
furnished, as follows:
EDITOR HERALD: In answer to your re.
quest as to an explanation of the letter
Written by subscriber to your paper,
i'll which lie states that it is impossible
to ship wheat to Europe OH account Of
its costing five to seven cents to get wheat
through the minneapolis Combine" as
he calls it, would say: This assertion
is about on a par with the assertions that
are being banded about in order to
make credulous and ignorant farmers be.
lieve that they are being robbed. will
state that 1t is generally impossible to get
through cars whereby wheat could be
taken from Warren to New York, and it
is very exceptional that such car can he
obtained, but it does not cost, and never
did cost more than cent bushel to get
the wheat transferred from one car to
another in any public elevator IN Min.
neapolis or st. Paul and preserve the
identity of the wheat. l am willing to
be more generous than my original offer,
and am willing to offer a reward to any
who can ship wheat from the country
west Of Minneapolis to Europe at profit.
even iftllrougll cars could he obtained
to carry the wheat TO New York without
b. eakinR bulk. Ofcourse, should have
to make an exception in case there was Il
material advance in the markets while
the wheat was in transit, and to he per-
fectly fair would give the shipper a
like benefit in case there was decline.
It Is an insult to the business intelligence
OF all the wheat dealers In Europe, New
York, Chicago. Buffalo, Duluth and Min.
neapolis to admit that it is possible to
ship wheat from the country to Europe
at q large profit when they have not
ayailed themselves of the opportunity.
The fact is. it is very rarely that the
thing can be done at all without loss, and
then II is done on the closest kind of a
margin. Any statement that there is
over twenty cents per buslel profit, or
even two cents per bushel profit in doing
90 is ridiculous and preposterous on the
face of it. l have business record which
I am very proud Of. and will stake my
word of honor that it never can be done.
except at a very small profit,-so small
that but few people would be willing to
take the risk, and that nine days out Of
ten in the year it cannot be done at all
except at an actual loss.
| Yours very truly, CHAs. A. PlLIsBURy.
Minneapolis. April 4, 1890.