The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-10-14
requiring civil service examinations for
all departments of the state government.


farmers with the department. would
assist materially in perfecting it.
State inspection is seen by the farmer
through the eyes Of the local buyer
and elevator agent, who, when they
cannot justify their grades and dock
ages, complacently unload their dishon-
esty by saying, 1--WE would be glad to
do better by you if it was not for those
d. state inspectors"
If the inspection service should not be
run for political purposes, neither should
It be condemned for political purposes.
If all the honest interests involved
would combine, state inspection would
be protection at the terminals, and a
terror to dishonest buyers at local
points.
OF course the loss in weights is almost
entirely chargeable to the neglect of the
railroads as heretofore suggested.
They are more inimical to shippers,
and more defiant of honest demands
and public convenience than all other
organizations combined, and the grain
growers, state inspection, or anything
that is calculated to protect public in
terests, receives no assistance from them
that is not compulsory.
We have had an expert, who has raised
grain in Minnesota for thirty years,
carefully investigating the grades givon
at Minneapolis, and he reports that they
are fair.
To the farmers of Minnesota we say, if
state inspection is not what it ought to
be, help to correct it; and do not destroy
the tree Of your own hands planting.
Some who are disposed to attack the
inspection department for selfish aid
political purposes will, of course, decry
this article, as they would anything not
narrow, dishonest and bigoted; but the
disapproyal of such is more honorable to
us than their approval.
The State is not in chains or leading
strings, and it is not harnessed to any
mans political cart"
This is the testimony of fair minded
observer who certainly was not preju-
diced AGAINST the cause of the farmer.
The trouble is not primarily with the
laws nor with the manner of their en-
forcement. They are susceptible of i'm
provement, and will be bettered if the
Republicans secure control of the next
legislature. But as they are, they give
the farmers pretty effective protection.
The law requires the railroads to furnish
cars to farmers on equal terms with
other shippers. The farmers in Mime
sofa enjoy freedom of traffic" and
"free and open markets." Any farmer
who knows how to take advantage of
the opportunities afforded by the pres
emit laws is really as independent of any
wheat or elevator combine, if such ex-
lists, as the winds that sweep across the
prairies. Unfortunately, the laws are
only imperfectly understood by many
wheat growers. For the benefit of such
farmers we add few practical sugges-
lions concernin 6 the shipping of wheat
Instructions to Farmers Shipping Wheat.
1. Before ordering cars be sure you
are prepared to haul and loadyour grain
without delay, and thus save demur-
rage delay charge.
.. Order your car from the local rail-
road agent, and endeavor to be in readi-
ness to load promptly when car is as
signed to you.
8. Decide positively the commission
firm, and the market to which you will
ship your grain before anything else is
done. A few inquiries among reputa-
BILE merchants of your town will put you
on the right track.
4. Before loading car be extremely
careful to firmly secure the end and side
grain doors and cover all cracks with
lath and shingles, SO as to prevent the
possibility of leakage during transit.
5. Never load a car above the capac-
ity marked on the outside of such car,
as many shortages can be ascribed to
this cause.
6. After the Car is loaded report same
at once to the railroad agent, giving him
instructions where and to whom you
wish it to be consigned and the amount
of grain loaded.
z. Procure from the agent a receipt
showing the name of shipper, point of
shipment, date. number of car and in
itials, the amount of grain (more or
less), the name of consignee and destina-
ton.
8. Take this receipt to your local bank
or some good merchant and draw on the
commission merchant for as near the
full local value of the grain as possible.
Commission merchan is will usually ad-
vance but three-quarters of the local
value of the grain where shippers are
not well known.)
Q. Notify the commission merchant by
letter at once advising him of the ship
ment and stating to him the quantity