The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-06-15
/. fh1n FARHkRS.

10
refuse to put up 221 or $50 to help es-'
tablish farmers elevator.
A. Oh, let those who can afford it do
this. I am a poor man.
@. Don't you know that if you don't
subscribe directly and the elevator fails
to be built that you are assessed INDI-
RECTLY three times as much as if you
subscribed?
A. l can't see it in that way. Please
explain.
@. You will admit that the farmers
elevator will establish and maintain
competition at local points?
A. Well, yes; think it will, at least
that is supposed to be their mission.
@. When competition is established
and maintained it compels all who buy
grain to pay the highest market prices?
A. Yes, that is natural.
@. What amount of grain is market
ed at stations in this state?
A. From 100000 to 1000, 900 bushels
according to the locality.
@. What amount would this assess
ment be on farmers at a station where
therefs 100000 bushels marketed--which
is an average grain market?
A. Why, at cents this would be
$4,000 each year.
@. What would a 10000 bushel ele-
vator cost?
A. About Is cents per bushel capac-
ity, or $4,000, with all the latest improv-
ed grain cleaning machinery, etc.
@. That would cost each of 100 farm
ers $50 apiece, or 200 farmers $25 each.
would it not--$5, 900?
A. Yes.
@. What would be an average crop
for each farmer around here?
A. All the way from 1000 to 1000
bushels.
@. If you put up 1 cent bushel for
stock in the farmers elevator, what saw
| ing would the elevator bring you on
the whole crop.
A. Why not cents per bushel, or
$50 for the small farmer; $12O for the
| large farmer.
@. Why don't you count the 1 cent
| you put in the elevator? This belongs
| to YOU, and is an asset just the same
as your COW or horse, and will bring
you returns probably more than either
cow or horse, and will do this each year.
| A. l never looked at it that way be-
mt 7 hot T hn
practically LOANING MYSELF 1 cent
per bushel on my entire crop to put into
| an elevator that would save me cents
on all the crop that raise, and that l
bring me an income annually while in
vested in this elevator.
@. You now see where the farmers
elevator is such a blessing to any COM
munity, don't you?
A. Yes. The trouble with me in the
past in considering this subject was
that only looked at it as temporary
| matter of one season or year, and lost
sight of the future benefits that it
would bring me in the saving on each
years crop which is now taken from
me each year INDIRECTLY.
@. Now that you understand the i'm
portance and necessity of this enterprise
how much stock will you subscribe for?
A. Put me down for two shares, or
$50; it is we'll forth the investment.
The above is a conservative picture
of the real condition that exists at
nearly every station all over the North
west. At some stations we have found
that the margin was cents per bushel
and the grade No. 2 for wheat. AS
soon as we held our first and second
| meetings, and began to talk about build
ing a farmers elevator this margin de-
creased from to cents, and the grade
rose to No. 1. This was difference of
| about 10 cents per bushel that was
taken from the farmers EACH YEAR
at this station on $4,000 bushels mar
keted. These are facts and can be
| proved to any one who will challenge
them. When we contemplate that there
is probably less than 100 farmers ele-
vatOrs in the two Dakotas and Mime
sofa out of $500 elevators, we can see
how the farmers are at the mercy of the
combines and trusts, and how he is be-
| ing reduced to poverty and distress each
year by systematic and successful eff
fort on the part of these great line ele-
vators to smother competition and ex-
act tribute through reducing grades, in
creasing his dockage, and bidding below
the market for his grain, and numerous
| other ways known to those greedy and
heartless combines.
The solution of the whole trouble is 1r
the FARMERS ELEVATOR.
Moral: Call meeting of the farmers
| at every station where no farmers ele-
vator exists. ORGANIZE, SUBSCRIBE
| and BUILD.
]. c. HANLEY.
National Organizer and Business ACT.