The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-12-06

claLCQ.
The peculiar condition Of affairs re-
lating 10 the purchasing OF stock OF
birding twire for the coming harvest
by the retail Implement dealers is such
that It is 4 difficult matter 10 decide as
TO what is best 10 be dore under the
present circumstances. when We take
into consideration that We VIII have 10
enter into competition with the States
twine plant al Lansing. IN operating
this plant taere seems TO be lack Of
business sasacity in dispossng OF rs pro-
duets. At least that is tie conclusion
that must be drawn from the way that
the business was handled last year.
For instance. some few weeks before
harvest began the warden OF the peni-
Tertiary sent out circular letter TO the
grain growers of Kansas. stating that
the penitentiary was able 10 furnish a
limited amount OF sisal twire % the far
Tners Of the state at 81 cents per pound.
Z. o. D., Lansing. cash TO accompany or
der. Stating further that this was actual
cost TO the state IN making the Irvine;
further that the state had no desire 10
speculate or make profit On the twine
manufactured. but would sell II ar cost
direct to the grain grower.
However. the twine did not sell at the
price named and 2 change of wardens
was made shortly after the first circular
letter was sent out and the new warden
noS being satisfied with the number Of
orders that were 'couing in. reduced the
price to ~ cents Per pound when sold
direct 10 the grain SToWer and made an
open price of { cents per pound 70 the
retail dealers. and from the best esti-
mates obtainable. the Irvine was sold in
about equal proportions to the grain
grower and the retail dealers, netting
the state about IA cents FER pound on
the entire OUTPUT of the plant.
After the close OF the selling season,
the announcement came from the peni-
Tertiary officials that the state had
cleared about, s. ,0e0 or mere on their
Irvine business for the year. Now, the
question arises, whether the proposition
which was first sent out. that the Irvine
could not be sold for less than Sis cents
per mound 70 cover the cost was true
and. If so. as the t7Tine was actually sold
at the average price of ~ cents per
pound, there must have been a loss TO
the state Of several thousand dollars, in
stead Of profit. If. on the other hand.
after the Irvine Ia dbeen sold at the av-
craze price of IA cents and the state had
cleared several thousand dollars. the
first price that was named could not
have been the net cost 10 the state IN
making the Irvine. which IS the best or
tNllHnCH
original plan contemplated, is not oper-
ated altogether for the exclusive benefit
OF the grain growers Of Kansas. as Is
generally understood by the farmers
while. if selling the Irvine at IA cents
per pound there was loss TO the state
the shortage must be made up by tax
alton. which is decidedly e wrong policy
to pursue. as it is taxing the whole state
for the benefit OF a few.
But this is not the most serious Oh
lection that presents itself 10 the retah
implement dealers and the grain growers
in the case of the latter. If unable 70 pur-
chase their Irvine from the penitenti1ry
plant because of its inability TO furnish
when running at it's fun capacity more
than one-ffth of the twire needed oy
tho grain growers of the state, four
ffths of the gran growers must neces-
sarilv purchase their Irvine through the
regular channels.
'If the retail dealer followed his Judg-
ment in this matter, he would not pur-
chase a pound of Irvine. for the reason
that he is unable to purchase II In the
omen market and sell it without loss, II
he meets the price Of the penitenuary
Irvine.
IF the dealers failed to purchase a
crcn of Irvine and harvest coming on,
and the farmer is unable to obtain the
twIne through the penitentiary or the 10
cal dealer, the loss TO the farmer could
ba rdlv be estimated: vet the dealer could
not be blamed for refusing 10 carry
stock of Irvine because Of the attitude OF
the state as a competitor with aim Tor
the farmers trade-the state naming the
price. but being unable 10 deliver the
goods I'm sufficient quantities 10 meet the
fun requirements.
..-sreciaHv would this he true. II the
managers Of the states Irvine plant had
no Init placed upon them as 10 the price
thew sell their Irvine having the priv
lcge of making up the shortage OF that
institution by taxing the whole people of
the state
Now it is apparent with the varied in
.erests at stake the managers Of the
state Irvine plant and the dealer8 should
get together on a proposition that would
protect the grain growers from seroius
oss. Dy being unable 10 buy his Irvine
when needed. from ar irexhaustiole sup
ply This would not be necessary IL the
state was able to furnish all the Irvine
necessary 10 harvest the grain crop, bur
rs they are only able 20 furnish about
1ne-fifth of the requirements, 1t is un-
lair that the state should attempt 10
la-ne the price for the other four-fifths
hat they are unable 10 furnish.
Therefore. il seems advisable that this
association should appoint a committee. /
whose duty it shall be 10 investigate the !
business of the States twine plant for /
he PAST year. in order that We may /
Know whether the plant is being cperat- !
d from a bushes standpoint or IS /
handled a sa political machine. at the /
.xuense Of the state Also that 10 would 4
le n part Of the committees duty 70 try 4
o arrange for the distribution OF the \
states Irvine plants product, IN such /
way that the retail implement dealers I
would be protected against loss N their 1
udeavors 10 supply their customers WITH I
wine during harvest which they are uu-
hle 10 procure from tie . tate. There
S not a deater IN Kansas who would not
liniuste binding tHine from his bust
Jess If he could consistently DO so with
ut great injury to his customer, who
uys MS machinery from him.
.srhis s. "a very important matter. de-
ervirg our most serious confederation
Mr Blaine having presented The matter
q very interesting light. Mr Folett.
( newton moved that a committee De
ppoirted 10 iates tieate the matter and
o see u TIE state could not D. forced
% harmonize their prices with those ~
re other dealers. 80 that the dealers can
row with some degree ~ certainty
-rat th-v car depend on when they
ore % ouy their stock ~ tW-1e- IRE
notion was carVied. and Ar. Blaine. ~
'r1tr ard IT. g. Taylor cl Lyons. kan.
re arpoirted 70 serve On tiiz c9rll-ll--
Tie esti7u ~ birding tHire and ifs
rice ras racsr lateresl luc one and yai
re thlt 20 ore seemed o. b. able 20 sir
rrtf a- ll particular ou. SD were r-
f.frraas i1 thelr 4esrnart1u ot fre