Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1900-11-02
BIG GRAIN STEALS.
Evidence that the Elevator Compa.
mics are Cheating the
Farmers.
ATTEMPTING TO DlscREDI1 INSPECTION.
Create q Sentiment that Would Place
the Robbers in Control.

The 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 minded man can ascertain by in
.vestigation. NOT ONE SINGLE
COMPLAIN HAS BEEN
LODGED WITH THE CHIEF IN
SPECTOR WHICH WAS NOT DE-
TERMINED IN A MANNER SAT-
ISFACTORY TO THE SHIPPER
It is therefore plain that these elevator
companies are stealing from the farm
ers by means of falsifying the grades
and after thus having perpetrated their
nefarious frauds upon the farmers they
unblushingly charge the state inspec-
ton with the outrage.
It 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
c+,+;o<, I>,~;~,~ %l,o fo1,, Co~1
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.
Go 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 to
support the gang that is robbing them.
During the month of September the
records at Minneapolis show that at
that point 1888 cars were found to con-
tain No. I wheat, 3o19 cars No. 2
wheat, 1888 cars No. 3 wheat and 1899
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. rs, 1900.
Hon. H. Plowman, Fergus Falls,
MINI.
Dear Sir:-Several farmers in the vi
cinity of Underwood and some living
near Battle Lake complained to me
about the inspection this year, stating
that buyers gave them nothing but No.
2 with heavy dockage. The buyers
claimed they did not get any better
grades. I looked at some of the wheat
and as it looked all right for No. I, it
struck me that something was wrong,
and I obtained a list from the railroad
agent at Underwood of all wheat cars
shipped from that place since Oct to
date and find in the inspection Office
that every car but one was graded No.
I. Here is the list of cars and how
thew were graded: