The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-03-20
THE WHEAT QUESTION
THE PRICE OF WHEAT IN ENGLAND
THE MODE OF HANDLING.
Seth BOttOmIy, Speaking From Per-
sOnal Knowledge, Makes an Inter-
esting Reply to Mr.. Burdfck.
To the Editor:

To the Editor:
In answer to W. NJ. Delles inquiry as to
the price of wheat at Liverpool, will state
that our newspapers purposely try to mis-
lead our farmers Sometimes the quota
tions are in English quarters, which is
eight bushels of 60 pounds each, or $50
pounds, sometimes in our own bushel of CD
pounds, but in most cases, as in that Mr..
Deles quotes, by the Genital, or 100 pounds.
Our wheat is sold in Liverpool under the
name of red western spring. Our No. l
hard. as Mr.. Donnelly states, never reaches
Liverpool under that name. 1t is used to
tone up inferior grades or to make into
winter wheat flour. In other words, the
growers of No 1 hard are always and all
the time cheated out of two grades, and
those who raise No. / northern out Of one
grade. On the last day of February red
western spring was quoted in Liverpool at
5s Sgd. which is s1.27 per 100 pounds, or 76 Is
cents per bushel.
Averaging the price of wheat at 48 cents
in this state we have a difference Of %
cents, which, accorning to present freight
rates, Is HOl cACcSSNt Dul here ID tIC
rub, the rates are excessive, and the cost
and way of handling the most expensive
and bungling that could be devised by man.
/ tried to show this up in two letters on
shipping Grain in Bags which were
published in Farm, Stock and Home in the
summer of 1893, which enclose, and which
you are at liberty to republsh if you wish
Not that | claim that shipping in bags
would be a cure all. 1t would merely kill
off the local boodsuckers. We would still
have the railroad and elevator men always
with us, sticking closer than-Well horse
leeches, we will say. One illustration will
show clearly that the price we farmers get
for grain bears no relation to it's value,
and that is the difference in the margin
between the points where it is produced
and where it is consumed. If grain hand
ling was clear, honest business transac-
ton, the difference in price between the
different points of distribution would bear
the same relation, or nearly so, one year
with another A few figures will show that
they not only have no relation but that
they have not even an acquaintance.
In October. 1889, the price of wheat in
Winnebago City was 66 cents per bushel,
in Minneapolis II cents, Chicago 80 cents
and Liverpool 81. In October. $780, Winnie
bago City (about 100 miles from Mnneap-
olis) 50 cents; Minneapolis, 81 cents; Chi
cago, 80 cents, and Liverpool, $101.
In 1891, Winnebago City, IS cents Mime
apolis, 81 cents; Chicago, IS cents, and Liv-
erpool, $1.27. For this year and this month
we have: Winnebago City, 40 cents; Min
neapolis, 81 cents; Chicago, Sc cents, and
Liverpool rs cents.
A study of these figures will show the
vast profits there must be in the milling
business-that is, the big concerns-for the
small country miller was driven to the
wall long ago by the discrimination against
L.
himself from utter destruction by falling
back on the farmer-in smashing the law,
by taking illegal toll
Just think of it. Put your studying cap
on, and then kick yourself or act as sensi-
BILE as your four-footed brother-the ass
and let fly, until you kick loafers who are
riding you off your back.
1 had written the foregoing letter when
q received The Representative of March 6,
containing r. c. Burdick's letter.
Mr.. Burdck may know a great deal
about grain shipping and handling in
America, but he is certainly misnfOrmed
as to the way and cost of handling in
Liverpool. 1t is well-known fact that
Liverpool has no natural advantages as a
seaport. 1t has harbor it is situated
on a short-90 miles long-shallow river.
The channel from the river to the sea has
to be continually dredged to keep it deep
enough for the passage of large ships
from the river to the sea.
The one thing above all others that has
made it pre-emnent as commercial ship
ping port is the cheap and rapid facilities
1t possesses for handling freight of all
descriptions.
Another thing, England is honey-combed
with canals most of which were built be-
fore the advent of railroads. These canals
all terminate in some seaport, the Touring
mills being, in most cases, built on their
Drinks.
There are two reasons for this. One is
that the mills are run by low pressure
steam engines, which require the canal
water to condense the steam. The other
is that it enables the millers to get the
imported wheat from the. seaports and
that from the local markets at the very
lowest cost. In England very little grain
OF any kind is ever handled by the rail-
roads. Another thing: Wheat is almost
always bought by sample there.
Here, then, is the operation of getting
the wheat from the vessel to the miller
A canal boat or coasting vessel can be
hauled alongside the importing ship and
the grain transferred from one vessel to
the other at mere nominal cost.
minor seaports, and the canal boats
are hauled into the canal on their wav
to the interior points of distribution.
rms does not tally with Mr. Burdick's
costly, cumbersome and complicated way
OF handling wheat at Liyerpool or .ny,
other English port
MT. Burdick evidently got his facts as
10 the cost of handling wheat from the
st. Paul Pioneer Press which is paid 81
mucn per fact by the Minneapolis Millers'
Assoclation. But even Joe Wheelock goes
on strike once in while He did ca in
1893, and told part of the truth about
grain handling" His employers evidently
raised his pay. 1t was strike that suc.
ceeded, for he has been lying for them at
the "old stand ever since
SETH BOTTOMLEY
GIVE HAVE THE TARIFF YET.v