Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1897-10-22
;i 1iSE me MERCHANTS CIili MEET.
The " Discussed the Wheat
Situation at Last Nights
.~ Meeting. -.
WILL FORM, AN ASSOCIATION.
Chas. Gravel Elected President
and he to Appointa Fund
Raising Committee.

About twenty merchants and a
few other citizens assembled at the
city hall Monday evening pursuant
to call issued by the promoters of
a Merchants associa ton to improve
the wheat market Of this city.
Barney Burton called the meeting
to order, and nsked for nominations
: for chairman of the meeting. H. F.
Schleusener was nominated and
elected by an unanimous vote, and
C. E. Vasaly was the unanimous
choice for secretary OF the meeting.
The chairman asked someone to
state the Object Of the meeting and
Chas. Gravel, being called for, was
the first to take the floor. Mr..
Gravel SAID that he understood the
meeting to he for the purpose OF
organizing a Merchants association
for the purpose Of making Little
Falls as good as any if not better
wheat market than any other point
In Morrison county. He stated that
for several years Royalton has been
paying a higher price for wheat than
Little Falls, which has resulted in u
great loss of trade to our merchants.
F. E. Cawley, OF the Globe Milling
company was present az a spectator,
but being called upon to give his
views Of the sltua ton, did 80. Mr..
Cawley, being one 0f the local wheat
buyers. was. az he said, on the other
side of the question, but he gave the
merchants some information con-
corning the wheat market.
Mr.. Cawley stated that the Duluth
and Minneapolis markets were prac-
tically the same for shippers from
this point. The freight rate to Min
neapolis was half a cent less than to
Duluth. but the commission men Of
Minneapolis charged half a cent
more for selling. He gave them Du-
luth and Minneapolis quotations Of
Monday. showing that Little Falls
prices were about s cents lower than
the quotations of both those ter
minal points, which when freight
charges, the commission for selling
and weighing and inspection charges
were deducted, left practically moth
ing to the buyer for the cost ofhand
ling, and the risk of an increase in
dockage or cut down in grade.
Mr.. Cawley further stated, that he
had no desire to say anything to dis
courage the formation Of All asso-
citation, but though that the wheat
situation at present did not warrant
this action. About thre, weeks
ago, Mr.. awley said, there was cause
for some such organization. Local
dealers were then. he said, paying IL
and IA cents less than terminal
prices, which was too much. Little
Falls prices must be, he thought, 10
cents lower than terminal prices or
the buy ers would lose money. In
answer to the quection OF Mr.. Gravel
as to wneather Mr.. Cawley would
agree to keep the price throughout
the season as it was Monday-wlth-
in 8 cents of the terminal prlces-Mr.
Cawley stated that he would not.
Barney Burton followed Mr.. Cav
ley. He gave some pointers on the
work of the merchants association
at Melrose. He claimed that the
NJ hOc 10
place the best wheat market in that
section, and the association at the
end of last season divided up $500 of
profits on it's operations among it's
members. Mr.. Burton stated that
today he would receive full Informal
ton from Mclyose of the plans and
methods of it's association and
would submit them to Little Falls
merchants, and they could adopt
any or all of them as they saw fit.
Samuel Trebby ami Others spoke
briefly and during the course OF their
remorks the potato market was also
touched.
1t seemed to be the unanimous de-
sire of those present to form an as.
ISOLATION and upon motion Chas
Gravel was elected permanent presi-
dent, with instructions to appoint
committee to see the merchants and
raise the necessary funds to carry
out their plans.
From opinions expressed after the
meeting it Is evident that there Is a
difference of opinion in regard to the
methods of the association II It, 10
successful in organizing. Some mer-
chants think that the assocfa ton
should be formed to see that local
dealers pay the market price for