Willmar tribune., 1900-10-31
BIG GRAIN STEALS.
Evidence that the Elevator Compa-
MES are Cheating the
Farmers.
ATTEMPTING TO DlSCREDlT INSPECTION.
Rob the Farmers in Order to Attempt to
Create Sentiment that Would Place
the Robbers In Control.

1he bureau has positive evidence that
certain line elevator companies are un-
degrading the wheat received from
farmers on the plea that the grades
have been stiffened by the State Grain
Inspection.
Their object in so doing is to attempt
to discredit the work of the inspection
department in order, if possible, to de-
feat the present railroad and warehouse
commission in the election and thus
again secure the control of the depart
ment as they enjoyed it under Clausen.
Besides, it pays them to do this, be-
cause the difference goes into their
pockets
/ The charges that. grades have been
stiffened are unqualifedly false, as any
fair-lninded man can ascertain by in
vestigation. NOT ONE SINGLE
OMPLAINT HAS BEEN
LODGED WITH THE CHIEF IN
SPECTOR WHICH WAS NOT DE-
TERMINED IN A MANNER SAT-
lSFACTORY TO THE SHIPPER.
1t is therefore plain that these elevator
companies are stealing from the farm
ers by means Of falslfying the grades
and after thus having perpetra{ed their
nefarious frauds upon the farmers they
unblushingly charge the state inspec-
ton with the outrage.
1t becomes the duty of every farmer
who takes an interest in maintaining
the integrity OF the inspection depart
ment to rise in arms and assist in run
ming down the thieves. 1t can be done
in this way. Secure the initials and
number of every car shipped from your
station during the past few weeks. Send
them to the inspectors office and it can
be shown just what grade and dockage
the elevator companies received at the
terminals If the general average is
higher than that received by the far
mers the fraud is proven. Under the
law, the inspection department does not
know from which point the cars arrive
nor who the consigners are, and there
fore cannot begin these Investigations.
80 90 to your elevator agent and de-
| mand list Of the car numbers with the
initials and date of shipment of each car
they have shipped, and send that to the
chief inspector, who will promptly give
you the grade each car received. This
will enable you to Judge whether you
have been fairly treated or not at your
station. If the elevator agent will not
! furnish it, he must have reason for re-
fusing. Then go to your station agent
Publish the facts as ascertained in
your local newspapers, so your brother
! farmers may not be induced to vote tc
! support the gang that is robbing them
During the month of September the
records at Minneapolis show that al
| that point 1888 cars were found to con
tain No. I wheat, 3o1o cars No. Z
wheat, 1888 cars No. 3 wheat and 1,23(
cars no grade. REPORTS FROM
FARMERS ALONG THE LINES
WOULD INDICATE THAT VERY
LITTLE WHEAT HAS BEEN
| GRADED NO. BY THE BUYERS
ALONG THE LINES. The following
letter speaks for ITSELF
Duluth, Oct. IS, 1900
Hon. H. Plowman, Fergus Falls
Mimi
| Dear Sir:-Several farmers in the vi
cinity of Underwood and some living
near Battle Lake complained to M
about the inspection this year, stating
that buyers gave them nothing but No
2 with heavy dockage. The buyer:
claimed they did not get any bette
| grades. l looked at some of the whea
and as it looked all right for No. I, i
struck me that something was wrong
and l obtained a list from the railroad
agent at Underwood of all wheat car
| shipped from that place since Oct. t<
date and find in the inspection ofhc,
that every car but one was graded No
I. Here is the list Of cars and hov
| thAy were Graded.