Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1891-09-03
IN REGARD TO INSPECTION.
Several State Papers Comment
Upon the Subject of Grading
and Marketing Grain.
A Batch of Threslling Returns
Showing the Immensity of
North Dakota Crops.
State Banks Again Called Upon
for RepOrtS-FactS From
Foster County.
The Press Pulpit.

Ine freSS l'ulplt.
The following are few OF the COM
ments of the North Dakota press on the
subjects of grading wheat and the mar
keting OF grain. The country papers
have taken up these matters in earnest,
and the agitation will never cease until a
fair measure of justice is obtained in the
disposal of the crops of the state by the
men who raise them.
Edgeley Mail: Those who have studied
the matter and have looked up the sta
tistlcs, know that one of the greatest
sources of income of the elevator COM
panies has been the undergrading Of
| wheat. One elevator that took in only a
million bushels of No. l cleared out over
two millions, raising some of the wheat
three grades, and making $4,000 out of
the grading.
Aberdeen Republican,: The objec.
tions to the North Dakota elevator law.
about which such a terrific racket has
been made, seem to have simmereG down
to single one of fear of blockade of
wheat on the state line while awaiting
inspection. This is simply frivolous. If
no other objection can be urged, opposi-
tion had better cease. Farmers seem to
be satisfied with the principles of the law
and it seems to be go"
Oakes Republican,: In our estimation,
if that law was enforced which says, that
the railroads shall furnish cars to private
shippers as readily as to elevators, all
others regarding grain shipments might
be wiped out. For if the farmer is then
dissatisfied with the grade or price offer
ed by elevators all he has to do Is to ship
his grain himself and the elevator com
panies, although entirely unrestricted,
| will be compelled by this privilege to
deal fairly with the farmer if they would
hope to get the grain.
Walsh County Record: The railroad
commissioners, the elevators and the rail
| roads are having mixed conflict over
the enforcement of the state laws in re-
ference to the inspection of grain. The
commissioners seem determined to en-
| force these laws while the elevators seem
as determined to evade them, and the
| railroads just now appear to be backing
them. AS these laws we're made IN the
| interest of the people of North Dakota
| with the intention of creating standard,
it does seem as if they should be respect
ed. It is certain that the commissioners
should be governed by them. 1t may be
better that all our legislation shall be
submitted to the wheat buyers and the
railroad companies for their approval, be-
fore gong into force. but as this has not
been provided for we will haye to take
the laws as they are. OF course the ele-
waters and railroads are charitable insti-
tutions, but, the reci plents of charity are
allowed some choice. 1t may be that in
the whirligis of events some other COM
panies may be willing to buy our wheat
without any charitable intentions.
AFoRE1GN WITNESS.
Speaking of the demand of certain
West Superior elevators to run as private
houses and still have the benefits of the
Minnesota inspection law, and the dis
cussion of the matter between elevator
owners and the Minnesota warehouse
commissioners, the St. Paul Globe says
In the course of the heated debate
Judge Williams cited the Battle Lake
episode, where competing elevator was
run by hardware merchant. He paid
| two or three cents more bushel for
wheat than Sawyer & Co. did, and, as a
result, had the market by the breeches
10 play even with him Sawyer establish
ed hardware store and undersoId the
other man. The result was the latter
bought the wheat and the Sawyer COM
pany sold the hardware. Through this
shrewd bit of strategem the hardware
merchant was speedily brought to terms
and Sawyer & Co. have und1sputed sway
over the wheat realm, while the hardware
merchant confines his enterprise and
sagacity exclusively to that industry.
Judge Williams was displeased with this
style of monopolistic management and
expressed the fact that he thought the
Sawyer coup unfairbut Sawyer was ready
with sophlstries and arguments which
the judge unhesitat1ngly pronounced
ced specious. 1t looks little doubtful,
and the elevator companies, should they
deliver up their licenses as public eleva-
tors, will probably lose the protection
thrown about them by the board.