St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-20
CAUSE OFsCOMPLAINT

CAUSE OF tCOMPLAINT
be stated. Then came a surprise for
the commission, for they very evidently
We're not prepared for the mass of evl-
dence that was fired at their heads dur
ing the sitting. Affidavit after affidavit
was presented to the commission
OF farmers who had been offered No. 2
or No. for their wheat at Warren, and
told by the buyers that they could not
and would not pay a. higher price while
they afterwards sold the same wheat
at East Grand Forks or keystone, re-
ceiving the true grade and the full
market price, which often afforded
them a profit of from eight to nine
cents bushel over the price offered by
the warehouse men at Warren Others
set forth the unsuccessful efforts of the
farmers to procure cars for indepen-
dent shipping. All of this was re-en-
forced by the oral testimony of farmers
who had driven In through the rain
and mud to relate their grievances
under oath to the Commissioners.
The commissioners promised to do
all in their power to aid the farmers
and explained to them what course to
pursue in cases where there was dis
pute between the seller and the buyer
as to the grade of wheat or the amount
Of dockage eXacted
The Warren Sheaf expressed the SEN
tin1ent of the people in its editorial ref
erence to the matter as follows:
The Sheaf believes that the commissioners
now FULLY appreciate the situation, that they
were convinced of the business OF our com
plants, and that they will do all in their
power to give us relief. They are great and
good men placed in their high position TO
promote justice between the railroad and ele-
vator companies and the people. That they
VIII do all they can 10 help us, we doubt not,
| nnRtI how
ing. But if they are powerless to secure JUS
| tee for us, then, We think, the commission
| has failed in the purpose for which it was
created and better be abolished as an eXpen-
| siye and useless ornament to the state. We
| hope to see Immediately a decided improve
! ment in the condition Of the wheat market at
| Warren.
The next week, on Nov. 70. r. C. Bur-
dick, supervising inspector of country
| elevators, and representing the rail-
road and warehouse commission Of the
state, appeared at meeting of the
| board Of trade, which was largely at
tended by farmers as well as by all of
the business men of the town. The
| ground he took was that there was no
discrimination being practiced against
| Warren and that the grades given for
the wheat were all that the grain would
stand. When he told the meeting that
only
HoOC VO,uuU bOSf1
| of wheat had been marketed al Warren
from the crop OF 1885, there was an up
rising anG many uncomplimentary
tnings were said to Mr.. Rurdick. At
that time the eleva tors were full. and
their capacity is shown to be 234 900
bushels This only covers the wheat
then In store and not that shipped bv
the elevators or Independent shipDers
Inc members of the board withdrew
10 another room and at once decided to
employ man to look after the shin
nents for the farmers. They EMPLOYED
K. Glayin as their agent, and the next
qay ne Issued the following circular:
HOW Farmers Can Get Better Prices Far
Ihelr Wheat. Are You Interestede IF 81
Iseau the rolloWtng3 and Then-Hustle!u
AHloLg the most serious problems which
coHI[ont the farmers and business men gen
orally of the Red river valley at the nresent
moment is how to provide ways and means
patronize the elevators ~
stated generally, the situation throughout
me vaLiey is this: The means provided for
me shlp1ent OF wheat on track are burden
some ana difficult. Cars, when ordered are
uncertain in their arrival, which is both dis
couraging and disappointing to the simmer
necesstating constant watchfulness and
anxiety for the arrival of the car Elevator
companies are, of course appraised of this
apolnlhable state OF things and become more
oppressive with each succeeding delay. To
elevator companies viii not remedy the sit
uatlon The time has gone by when intelu-
gent persons expect to make any progress or
gam one point by abuse. What, then is the
remedy? - 'De
Briefly this: The Warren board of trade.
after a careful scrutiny of the situation, de-
cded 10 establish an agency in Warren for
the purpose of buying, aiding and promoting
the shipment of wheat. Any farmer who
wishes to avail himself of the privileges of
this agency do so without any cost mr.
charge whatsoever. The agency will order
cars, notify parties of their arrival help make
me necessary papers for shipment, take care
of ard watch all wheat that is left or unload
ed in the city for shipment. Every available
means will be employed to remove any and
all obstacles for the shipment OF wheat on
track. Grain sacks will be furnished when
ever deemed necessary, and all communica-
tons or requests appertaining to this work
will be cheerfully complied with.
Now Is the time to strike and conduct a
battle royal. Let the watchword be- mo
Wheat for the Elevators" Let every farmer