St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-05-03
THE FARMER ELEVATOR.

The farmers state elevator at Duluth
has left the clouds III which it was
born, and is getting down to hard and
solid earth. While 1t was visionary,
existing in mems imaginations, it had
smooth sailing; but now that it has got
ten down into the selfish crowd where
each is looking out for himself and
careless if the Old Nick gets the hinder
most. 1t is getting It's fair share of kicks
and cuffs.
The elevator men were the first TO
haste it. The idea was not only pre-
posterous that they should be made to
pay for the building Of a competing ele-
vator, but the scheme was rankly I'M
constitutional They would fight it in
the courts. They would see the farmers
elevator farther. in fact, very much
farther, before they would submit to
being taxed 80 cents car for inspec-
tons in order to pay off the state for
its advance of capital. This implies
that they assume that they pay the in
spectIon charges themselves; but, when
they talk about the Farmers interests
DCIuS OCIlCl cCl fOll ny 1OoICllOii VI
the present rates." they admit that it is
the farmers who really pay the inspec-
ton fees, as, of course, it is.
Chief Inspector CLAUSEN mollifies the
irate elevator men with an explanation
of the bill. Their wrath is needless.
The act does not affect them or the rates
they VIII pay. 1t only applies to the
farmers elevator. Ali wheat that may
be inspected into that will pay 30 cents
car. while thatinSpected into the other
terminals will continue TO pay the pres
ent Is cents car. When this cOnStruc-
ton gets out into the country, we may
expect a general howl about diScrimina-
ton from the farmers, who will not be
able to comprehend why they should
pay about 250 per cent more for inspec-
ton than the other fellows.
With this explanation Of the chief it
becomes matter Of some interest how
long it Will take for the farmers eleva-
tor to repay the state the $3.50, 900 which
it advances to build it with. and winch
sum is to be recouped from the inspec-
ton fees for grain delivered to this one
elevator. The elevator is to have a
capacity of 100000 bushels. The in
specton fee is made so cents car. We
assume that all Of the fees will be paid
Oh the DEBT and none retained for Sala-
rieS and other operating expenses. In
the absence Of any means Of even eSti-
mating the business the elevator will
do, it may be fair to assume that it
should do enough to earn per cent on
its cost, which would be S11, 800 year.
Each dollar of this would represent two
cars of wheat, or %, 900 cars. Taking 700
bushels as the average capacity of the
cars, this would require the receipt by
this elevator of 16, 100000 bushels.
AS this elevator will only receive the
grain sent it by those farmers who are
in. position financially and otherwise
to make direct shipment, estimated to be
about per cent of all, it may be doubted
if it handle anywhere near this guam
tity. If it do not, and it must pay for
operating expenses and provide against
inevitable repairs, it looks now as if the
state will get back its S230,0O0 about the
time that the seed loans of Is rs are paid
in. But what is the use of calculating
mere cost? Is not a great principle
established? Is not precedent set that
Is capable of infinite extension? What
is the saving of paltry dollars when
compared with the triumph of eternal
principles?