St. Paul daily globe., 1892-03-12
SHIPPED BY STOWE.
An Independent Wheat Buyer
Gives His Experience.


Gives His Experience.
Witness Stowe resumed his testimony
at the afternoon session. He shipped
eight or ten cars to Duluth during a pc
ri0d of two or three weeks. The shrink
age was larger than the actual dockage.
Did not call his commission men to in
vestigate it. There was always a
shrinkage, ship where you will. He
proceeded:
A year ago last fall, think, on a car sent
to Minneapolis, the dockage was six bushels
and the shrinkage ten bushels. The wheat
shipped this fall | weighed on our scales.
That weighed and delivered to the Northern
Pacific elevator fell short about sixty-five
pounds. while that taken by Sawyer fell
short two bushels.
He never complained to any one about
the shortage; never lodged any COM
plant with the chief grain inspector or
with the railroad commission. The
wheat in Wadena last year was clean
and of one grade-nearly so; usually
united the sacks of wheat that he bought
and saw it emptied into the cars. The
car that was misgraded was the best car
but one that he shipped. All but two cars
went No. l northern, but he kept one
car separate that he thought would
grade No. hard, but it graded No. 1
northern although, he got little
higher price for it. He never had any
experience in grading and inspecting
wheat.
When Mr.. McGhee was about to cross
examine the witness, Mr.. Erwin again
inquired for whom he appeared.
Il can TELL interrupted Gen. Barrett HE
appears for the elevator combine"
cti - Mr. o,,6
then explained that he appeared for the
Minneapolis Il Northern Elevator company.
Senator Smith inquired how long be-
fore it would again be necessary for Mr..
McGhee to explain. He had explained
twice yesterday and the fact was on
record. He should not be interrupted
nor jeered at by Gen. Barrett.
In reply TO Mr.. McGhee's questions,
Mr.. Stowe SAID that he made $50 OIL the
first OF the ten cars he shipped; this was
about Sept. 10. Did not figure profit On
any other cars separately. There were
about 700 bushels in the first car, and
there was about cent a bushel margin
that day. Fortune favored him, for
the price went up while the car
was Ell route to Duluth. Lit was
so with other cars. Two cents bushel
was fair margin to buy on at Wadena
Iltiu llOIlllllS lHNSSlcu Ill elcNdlUIS dL
Wadena. Had no expense except his
own time. Had no taxes to pay on any
elevator, or similar expenses. The ele-
vators at Wadena were kept open the
year round. The bulk of the wheat was
moved in the three fall months and in
May. The elevator conpany's expenses
continued during the lull. He rented a
house of three or four cars capacity last
fall. His purpose was to 20 into the
grain business and remain in it.
do you mean to say that cents a bushel
is an unreasonable margin for elevators to
buy on, considering their steady expensesT'
Yes, with this years crop, considering the
distance from Wadena to Duluth
isn't it pretty hard for elevators to cover
expenses On 4-cent margin when the crop
is short?'
Il couldn't say enly by hearsay, but in
Iowa we used to calculate to make our money
on the low grades. Four cents bushel
wouldn't be very high margin if everything
else was straight and fair. I think that as
near as Wadena is to Duluth three cents
would do. On the last crop, at Wadena, four
cents was bigger end of it than the farmer
had. There is one trouble with this elevator
company-they take our wheat, and leave us
to dispose of our oats and rye and barley to
Whomsoever we can "