The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-11-23
n. +. 4. AND |. u.
The WHEAT GRADES
and WHEAT STEALS


FARMER vs.. ELEV ATOR COMBINE
The result Of the article published in
this paper about six weeks ago, reveal
ed the frauds practiced upon the farm
ers Of the Northwest by the Line ele-
vators," and it disclosed a systematic
plan adopted by the combine to grade
the wheat crop of the entire country
down one point, and thus rob the farm
ers of about 3 or cents per bushel.
The appearance of this article has
created sensation in wheat circles, both
on the farm and boards of trade of the
country.
We have received letters from several
national farmers societies, among which
were the National Farmers Congress,
Farmers Alliance, Grange and National
Farmers Alliance and Industrial Union
of America, all asking and agreeing upon
the necessity of some national plan of
protecting the interests of the farmer
from the greed and dishonesty of the
combines through whose channels the
farmers produce passes en- route from
producer to consumer. The result of
this agitation may bring about much
good, and an attempt will be made this
! winter to bring all those national agri-
! cultural societies into one great society,
that will work upon non-partisan lines
and unity the purpose and mission of
all those fragmentary parties into one
great representative society of the inter-
ests of agriculture The day of evolu-
! ton is at hand, and the passage of old
| time ideas and conditions is rapidly TAX
ing place in nearly all phases of our
financial, commercial and social life, and
in no place is this change so lacking as
on the farm, where apparently the same
conditions exist today that existed 20
years ago. But the change is coming.
We were made the subject of consid
cradle discussion at the late National
Grain Buyers association convention,
which was recently held in Chicago.
They viewed this new innovation with
alarm and dismay, and the fear that the
farmers will make their threat good and
establish their own board of trade. and
ship their grain to themselves, and thus
boycott" the gambling board" is CIV
ing them considerable alarm and anx-
iety.
We have had marked copies of several
grain buyers organs in which the gist
of their advice is mot give it all to the
farmer, but make margins good
We have received very interesting
letter from Hon. Milton George, ex-
president of the Farmers Alliance. on
this subject, which will appear next
week.
We have also been denounced by the
elevator combine as "marplot" and ''in-
termeddling nuisance" and have been
asked what business is it of ours that
we should poke our nose into their bust
ness" ETC.
We have recently received many let
tiers from farmers throughout the North
west to investigate the condition OF
grades" in the wheat marketed at their
stations.
We received a letter from a farmer at
Bird Island recently, asking for informa-
ton along this line, but having mislaid
or lost the letter, we take this means to
answer his inquiry.
We called upon the railroad and ware
house commission, and secured the fol-
lowing facts in reference to the ship
ment of cars of wheat from Bird Island
station. We have a report of each car,
it's number and initial "grade" and
"dockage," and "date of shipment" w
From Aug. 3, 1898, to Oct. 81, 1898, 1853
cars of wheat were shipped; Is cars
graded No. hard or No. 1 northern; 106
cars graded No. northern, % cars
graded below No. 2 (No. 3, rejected and
no grade).
There were 2 cars on Aug. and IL
that graded "rejected,' of the above list
Twelve cars graded as mo grade from
Aug. 16 to Aug. 81.
Two cars graded No. 3 in August.
Only two cars No. shipped in August
There were cars No. 2 shipped in
August.
Only 25 cars were shipped during
August.
This shows that 16 cars of the grades
below No. of the entire % cars were
shipped in August, or before the new
crop was marketed.
There were 50 cars shipped in Septem-
hor of which 2 cars graded No. l. Al
cars graded No. 2, cars graded No. 3,
1 car graded mo grade
There were shipped in October Is cars
of which 20 cars graded No. l, 55 cars
Graded No g j