The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-03-20
ON FARMERS WAREHOUSES;.

The Presids emit OF the Alliance on the
Subject-iShnn the State Alliance
Build Terminal Elevators
To the Editor. III
l am gla6fto note that my article on
warehouse is bringing out discussions and
by able men like Mr.. Swan Nelson. First,
Mr.. Nelson wants to know If my plan is
practicable. In answer to that 1 want to
say yes; it is. We have demonstrated that
our warehouse in Viola has stood for
nearly eight years, built upon this plan.
and the one in Xaxer for nearly six years.
Any member in good standing in the alli-
ance can use them whenever he sees tit
for his own shipping. They are not public
warehouses. No one ever buys grain in
them; no one ever ships grain through
them for the public. Each member uses
the house for his own grain that he has
raised.
Can you make man pay license to
ship his own crop? Or can you make a
man pay license on a small granary to
put 500 bushels of his wheat in while he is
waiting for a car to ship it to market in,
and that wheat of his own raising? l think
not We don't seem to be molested very
AuuCH. 4HcIc Is ITO UOuUt Out WHAT ludl
administration bill was aimed direct at
this kind of warehouse, but it falls short.
Then again, if every warehouse on rail-
road grounds must be kept open from the
18th of September until the 18th of January,
how is 1t that the great grain combine
rents all competing houses that they can
and locks them UP for year at a time?
And If the great grain combine can lock
up a warehouse why can't the farmers?
You see this house of ours is always lock-
ed unless one OF the members wishes to
ship his own grain and then he uses it for
that purpose, and every one will admit
that you can't make man pay license
to ship his own wheat, where the public
is not interested
Mr.. Nelson then goes on to say that a
larger warehouse or elevator owned by the
alliance or stock company cannot be run
out if run on strictly business principles.
Now, 1 would like to know what those
business principles are whereby a few
farmers can build $1,000 or $4,000 ware
house, hire two men to run it, pay for coal
and repairs and compete with company
whose elevators are in every village of
half a dozen states and whose capital is
represented by the hundreds Of millions?
Why, Mr.. Nelson, when they get ready
to crush you they will do it as easily as
you can crush a worm; and your time will
surely come. They in the crushing bus
mess. Every year brings ruin to a certain
3 y
will be no exception. And all the time this
huge grain combine monster grows fat,
where competition As destroyed, the poor
devils who sen their grain to the combine
must pay WITH interest all it cost the huge
monster to destroy it's competitor. The
combine owns anF operates very large
elevator here in DSVer that was built by
the farmers. Theyoattempted to run it on
business principles;s but when they were
assessed to pay ruhning expenses it came
hard, but finally the building had to be
Sold 1t went a1w. The stockholders were
assessed and cameiiou of it wiser, if not
better men. Bh1t how is it with our little
house that cost us about $500 instead of
$1,000 or $40, 00OArIt Stands today thorn in
the flesh of the grain combine, as it has
for five years. ono 9debt, no expense and
always ready for any number to use.
So far as the great combine controlling
the elevators at the terminal points.
Brother Nelson hits the nail squarely on
the head when he suggests that we build
large warehouses by subscription, belong
ing to the State Alliance. l in for that
and will send $40 at any time for such
elevator at Minneapolis. With large ele-
vators at the terminal points and fiat
houses where farmers can do their own
shipping in every town in the country, the
grain question would be settled for all
time. What say you, brethren, shall we
have them? j. j. VERM1LYA.
Dover, Mimi, March 8.