The Bottineau pioneer., 1894-09-15
How to Get the Most Ont OF Your
Grain.

This is a year when prices are SO
low IL is necessary that farmers should
realize all they can from their grain,
nv saving the elevator profit, no matter
how small it is, by shipping to terminal
noint. An agent may to stop shipments
occasionally offer more than a car is
worth. He win not do 1t often, as he
is not "there for his health"
Under present railroad rules the pro-
ducer is entitled to cars at any station,
but he must load in one day.
The laws of Minnesota are very IA
yorable to consignors. Summed up,
vour commission man is your emplOye
FOR the transaction of certain business.
He must account to you for your grain
or money the same as any other clerk
or agent. It is felony for him not to
DO so. Will say, in this connection that
|nineteen-twentieths Of the losses made
through commission men In the last five
years at Minneapolis or Duluth, have
been on grain or merchandise purchas-
ed, not consigned.
When a house becomes weak or un-
safe, its first thought IL for consign-
ment liabilities, and its first effort, to
change it's responsibility of agent to
the ordinary one of vendee to vendor.
One prominent shipper lost fifteen
thousand dollars in this way, and there
have been numerous other severe
losses, by patronizing new and obscure
commission houses.
There are firms like woodward &
Company, who have been In the busi-
ness for years, whose name Is synon-
lmous with square dealing and solidity,
and who handle grain at all three
markets. ~ ~
No one can afford to risk the entire
loss of their grain when there are
q sufficient number Of thoroughly re-
sponsible houses.
The chamber of commerce In Mime
apOlis and the boards Of trade at Du-
luth and Superior are very strict with
their members. Proof of intentional
false return of price or weight, the
addition of a charge not paid, however
small, would surely suspend, and possi-
bly, expel the offender as well as ruin
his business forever after.
The inspection and Weighing is done
by sworn state officers, under heavy
bonds. Any shipper can get certificate
Of weight or grade of any. or oil cars
he has shipped, even years after,
through his commission man, or by
sending to the state weighmaster, or
state inspector, where the grain was
forwarded.
In Minneapolis and Superior almost
Ill grain is sold by sample as well as
grade. In Duluth, sales are usually
made by grade only. 40
Most firms viii advance money on bill
Of lading to within 10 cents per bushel
of the value Of the grain at the point
of shipment, and the local banker will
cash draft for it, either to be sold on ar
rival or held in elevator. They furnish
on application copy Of Minnesota
state grades, full instructions to ship
pers, and charges for selling, storing,
delivering, insuring, etc., and give in
formation to persons desiring to make
sales or purchases for future delivery.
Shippers should remember their COM
mission man represents them and that
he always tries to make sales on such
terms as will net them the most.
Sellers, in order to avair themselves
Of the fullest competition between buy.
ers of all classes, have to meet the
various requirements of the latter in
the matter of delivering, the expense
being fully covered by the extra price
agreed upon for the property according
to the terms of delivery.
Storage charges on grain held in
elevators at Minneapolis and Duluth
have been reduced one-half this season.
The charge is now, in Duluth, Nc. for
the first fifteen days, and Nc. for each
subsequent thirty days. In Minneapolis
the same, except that the first fifteen
days cost .34c,. which is now cheaper
than country elevator storage as well
as safer.
Any Of the commission houses will
De glad to explain by correspondence
any matter Of detail not understood by
those desiring to do business. -.