The Saint Paul globe., 1899-03-24
Mcneil bill, to be valid, would have t,
amend the constitution.
GRAIN GROWERS, ELEVATOR.
Oien Bill Is Recommended to Pass
by the House Committee.

Oien Bill Is recommended "a Pass
by the House lomn,ittee
H. F. b17 by Mr. Oien CRep.). of Nor
man, was considered by the house COM
mittee on grain and Warehouse yesterday
afternoon. The Dill provides for leasing
to the Grain Growers cooperative Asso-
citation of Minnesota the elevator site ar
Duluth. tS
Former CongressWanzs Boen. of Fergus
Falls, president of the association, ex-
planned to the committee that the oreani-
cation was in the interests Of the farm
ers Of the state and several elevators and
warehouses were controlled by them. 1t
was started solely for protection and no
individuals owned or could own stock in
the general association.
While 1t was not ready to commence op-
erations at once it would be before the
legislature met again. The site had been
purchased by the state for 81, 900, which
had been paid for out of the grain inspec-
ton fund contributed largely by farmers.
Eric Olson gave the dimensions of the
site as 1880 by 230 feet. There was part
Of the site which could be uscd for a
dock. There was room for elevators with
a capacity of 100000 bushels The
farmers wanted a chance to control their
own grain and sell when 1t was high and
hold 1t when the price was low. The gov
ernor and the attorney general favored
the bill The association was organized
so that all sections of the state were rep
resented. 1t was expected the farmers
would make cent or two per bushel on
their grain If they owned a terminal ele-
Vator. All the other elevators at Duluth
were owned by the consolidated COM
panies.
Representative Oien, the author of the
bill, said the farmers elevators were be-
coming numerous and it was but the
question of a year, Or two, when they
would build terminal elevators. The state
could lease the site and beside bringing
in revenue to the state do something for
the farmers.
Mr.. Olson stated that the warehouse and
railroad commission had plans, which
cost s2,400, for 500-000-bushel elevator,
and on these plans bids had been asked
for and received The bids ranged from
s19S.000 to s242.000 and the association
estimated that an elevator could be built
at cost of about 100000. The site gave
good transportation facilities, the gov
ernment channel being at one end and
the Duluth Transfer railway at the other
end. .s
Mr.. Boen said there were about 300 ele-
vator associations controlled by farmers
which would put in $1,000 apiece The
elevator was to be a public one in that
1t would be under state Inspection. The
state could not lose, anything on the prop
osition, as the land was unoccupied and
would be there If the association did not
make success Of the plan. The commit
tee recommended the bill for passage.
The committee recommended the in
definite postponement of the bill of Mr..
Riley (Rep.), Of Jackson, which provided
that three quarts Of wheat be taken from
each car when inspected and sealed up to
await the possibility of appeal
Mr.. Dyer (Rep.). ef1 Pipestone, who,
with a subcommittee, had visited Mime
apolis and made tour with the inspec-
tors, said the plan was impractfcable. It
would take fifteen minutes for the In
spectors to inspect a car, and there was
no place where the three quarts from
each car could be stored.
The bill of Mr.. Plowman providing for
the ereetions of state elevators at Duluth
and on the state fair grounds was also
recommended for indefinite postpone
ment.