The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-05-23
A SENSIBLE LETTER.
Good suggestions From New York
State, Showing What the Grain
En- M

Good SugEescti0ns From New York
State, Showing What the Grain
Growers Can Do.
CONSTANTIA, Oswego Co., N. Y, May
IA. 1S94.-Editor Representative-Dear Sir:
Some one kindly forwarded me the Repre-
sentative of May 2, containing, among other
good things, the call for a gathering Of
wheat growers to discuss the problem of
how best to cheaper the cost of marketing
cereals by cutting off useless expenditures
in the shape of middlemen, grain elevator
eXtortlonS, etc., etc.
l will add that the time has arrived when
not only the tilers of the soil must combine
Tor seif-protection, but the independent or
dependent great lake and New York canal
carriers must organize for mutual prOteC-
ton against the rapacious railroad Standard
Oil combine, or be driven to the wall.
Lake freightS at a cent bushel from the
upper lake ports to Buffalo, and canal
freishts from Buffalo to New York at 31a
cents, with our ancient Erie canal, includ-
ing the carriers portion Of terminal ex-
tortions at Chicago, Buffalo and New York,
equals 30 cents a bushel wheat to the
farmer in the boundless West and North
west. In other words, the three prime fac
tors in the race with India, Russia and the
Argentine republic, for the sale of our
surplus grain product, are in the same
boat and l have been of the opinion for
years that "a protective compact might be
formed between the wheat producer, the
lake carrier to Buffalo and the Erie canal
carrier to the seaboard, which might result
In Topping off a tax of at least cents a
bushel in elevator and storage charges, in
Surance scalpage and commissions by con-
trolling the terminals at Chicago Buffalo
and New York. The several states in in
terest, and especially the state of New
York, should own and operate the grain ele-
vatorS and storehouses, and make them as
free to trade and commerce the lakes,
rivers, canals, streets and highways, also
elevators and storehouses as public as the
SD 0OO,O0O half-completed capitol building at
Albany. And why not? The wheat grow
ers demand of this state not only free
grain elevators and wharf facilities, but
but also demand Of New York an enlarged
Erie canal, which can be made capable of
transporting a bushel of wheat from But
faio to the metropolis for rate the season
throughout not exceeding at any time dur
ing water navigation two CO cents per
bushel for it's carriage of over 400. Such a
canal was recommended by the Hon. Mar
tin Schenck, the late state engineer and
surveyor in his last two annual reports to
the legislature for the years 1884. The
West and Northwest have the right to
demand of New York cheap terminals and
enlarged canals for the tribute paid by the
nous. The Erie canal alone, besides paying
for itself, has turned in actual surplus,
according to Hon. Horatio SeymOur'S fig
| ures of $i20O0,000, drawn largely from the
pockets of the Westerners. The majority
IF the people of this state are in favor of
cheapened terminal facilities and enlarged
canals; but, as you are SO fully aware
that the rairoad-Standard ON-Vanderbilt
Doodle have absolute control of the law
making machinery of government, for the
present, at least, and everything has to
bend to their wiles and smiles. However,
the dear Cor be-d-tD people of this, the
boaster Empire state of the Union, are at
last awakening slowly to the fact that all
is not gold that glitters and that some
thing must be done to keep down the
hydra-headed monster monopoly, or suffer
The loss of traffic of the mighty West
which, we know, would mean the de-
struction of New YorIl's commercial sI-
Gremacy. So that if yourself and imme-
diate associates in the wheat growers
movement for redress from the grievous
wrongs heaped upon you by a paltry few
1T the head of the banks, railroads, ele-
FatorS, insurance, etc, should conclude to
make a demand for concessions as above
outlined, you would be comforting a lasting
benefit upon the 5000, 900 of people of this
state
l only wish it was possible for the lead
ing Western lights of the Peoples party
yourself included could come here and
stump the state during the gubernatorial
campaign this fall. I firmly believe that
Il rightly managed, as great an uprising
could be made for the Peoples party IN
New York as that of Kansas in 1892. 1t is
gratifying to me to learn that the SOVEREIGN
people are asserting themselves, from Maine
TO California, as never before against pir-
acy and hunnbuggery. Hoping the Peoples
party and wheat growers complete success
ours Tor the Masses, W. c. CLAIR.