The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-03-15
THE WHEAT QUESTION.
THE WHEAT Gu ESI1ON.
A Very Important Letter. 1t Should Be
Read By Every Citizen Of the

Read by Every Citizen or the
The wheat monopoly and the transporta-
ton combination that control it do not
seem to be understood, either by the
farmers or those who seeking to break
the monopoly conditions that control it.
The main efforts of the farmers of Min
nesota up to the present: has been directed
toward correcting evils in connection with
the local shipping, like refusal to furnish
cars to farmer and independent buyers and
sites along the right of way of railroads
for Farmer or Independent elevators and
to secure fair inspection and dockage at
the terminal markets in this state; also
some reductions in freight rates from local
points to these terminal markets. A much
greater evil has been overlooked This is
an exporters combine that controls the
wheat from Duluth to the seaboard and
the foreign importing syndicates that con-
troll the wheat from the seaboard to the
foreign markets. There can be no doubt
wheat at the terminal markets in Mime
sofa tell this fact palmer than would
honest testimony from the combine them
selves. If anyone doubts this statement,
let him look at the following market quota
tions of May wheat for the same day:
Minneapolis ........... S.69es
Dnlutn;'' .'''....... . rs rs
e, Sill oihs- ~, 4,i4
The entioh Grade in minneapolis, ' Duluth
and Chicago is No. ! Northern. New York
is either No. l Northern or No. Red. ST.
Louis is No. Red.
wheat is the best wheat in the world. The
Railway and Warehouse Commission and
the Inspection department of Minnesota
have always prided themselves on main
tanning the high standard of Minnesota
grades, until it is an undisputed fact that
Minnesota grades Of wheat are the pest
in the world A Minneapolis or Duluth No.
l Northern is a to cent better wheat
than Chicago one northern. In the mar
ket reports of New York, Duluth No |
hard is quoted at cents premium above
northern and northern b cents
above May. AS farther proof of the
high grade Of northern grown wheat every
one knows that Minneapolis and Minnesota
flour ranks as the best in the world
Yet Chicago is one cent higher for, poor
one northern than Duluth for good one
northern. both are lake ports, with lake
freights cheaper from Duluth than from
Chicago.
st. Louis is Az cents higher than Duluth.
Considering the difference in the value OF
the two grades of wheat St. Louis is at
least 10 cents higher than Duluth.
Why?
ST. Louis ships her wheat to Europe via
New Orleans and gets cheaper ocean rates
and also low rate to New Orleans by
barges down the Mississippi river
A careful investigation of the question
proves to the writer that wheat can be
carried on barges from St. Paul or any
Mississippi river point to New Orleans for
one cent bushel New Orleans has COM
petitive lines of ocean steamers to and
from Europe. The ocean lines OF the
a
bine and as a result during the months of
September, october, November and Decem-
Der the rates are 10 10 II cents per bushel
to Europe. this is reduced during the
winter and early spring to : to cents
per buShel.
The situation Of the wheat trade here
outlined has convinced the writer that the
most important move that the farmers OF
Minnesota can take is to organize and
build small terminal elevator of a
capacity of about 900 bushels at some
Mississippi river point, say Hastings. ana
to build a few bargeS and start some wheat
to market via New Orleans. Or the barSeS
could be hired at first. The elevator would
cost about SO 900 the Grain Growers
Association holds their annual meeting IN
June the writer will then submit for their
consideration what he believes TO be a
practical method of carrying out this plan.
1t is not necessary To handle all me
wheat in order to secure an open market
Everyone knows that one farmer elevator
makes all the other elevators in the same
town pay it's price for wheat.
1t should also be kept in mind that with
in about two years the Hennepn Canal
across Illinois will be completed and that
Chicago could then be reached at d low
rate. The farmers along the Minnesota
river could barge their wheat to the Mis-
issippi. Time would prove the barge a
better reducer of freights than all the lesis-
latures and railway commlsslonerS IN the
United States. FRANK hoshihS