Hutchinson gazette., 1901-06-13
Grain orowere, organlzatIon.

Mr.. EDITOR;
Your request for information in re-
gard to Kansas grain growers move
ment received.
During the past year the grain grow
ers OF Kansas and Oklahoma have sur.
missed that a combination existed among
grain buyers to control the price oI
grain, The margin In price between
local and destination points had gradu'
ally widened. Crop failures and other
causes which naturally appreciate prices
failed to have their wonted effect But
not until pamphlet appeared from the
pen Of James Butler of Topeka entitled
"An expsure Of the Grain Trust" did the
farmers fully realize the enormlty OF the
grain buyers combination, Some of the
leading papers of Kansas, notably The
Farmers Advocate and the Salina Her
aid urged organization on the part oi
the farmers to resist the trust
AS result the Grain Growers Con
vention met at Salina May 10Th. This
convention was composed OF more than
200 grain growers from forty counties
in Kansas and Oklahoma, Application
was made to charter the the Farmers
COOPERATIVE Grain and Live Stock AS
sociatlon.
Directors and officers, for the first year
were elected. 1t was decidee to locate
the main Office at Topeka, June 4th a
directors meeting was held at Topka,
when the first step was taken, to handle
the growing crop Of grain and live
stock
The Secretary James Butler, will man
age the central Office, assisted by an et-
fcient staff Of experiedced grain ship
pers. The management, it is believed,
is composed of men Of men Of the high
est integrity and business ability, and
each one has given ample bond for the
faithful performance Of his duty.
AS many local cooperative grain com
panies will be organized among the
farmers Of the State as possible, Local
associations may follow any plan they
choose, but the usual plan will probably
be similar to that already adopted at
Solomon and Salina.
The local companies, are asked to
take one or more shares of stock in the
Farmers COOPERATIVE Grain and Live
Stock Association, which is the state
organization and which takes the place
of commission company in handling
the grain and other products,
The association is to have a capital
stock of $4,000 divided into two thous-
and shares of $40 each.
The purpose of this association, will
be TO secure honest weight and the best
prices at destination points for its stock
holders, to see that its members are not
Disseminated against in the matter of
cars and rates, TO keep elevators from
lowering the grade of Kansas wheat,
thereby cheapening its reputation in
eastern and European markets by mix
ing it with rye and poor wheat, and to
secure to the grower prices to which he
is justly entitled.
The association will charge com
mission of one cent per bushel for hand
ling wheat half cent for handling corn
and the usual commissions for other
farm products. The officers and direc-
tors are; J, A. Bucklin, Okley, Presi-
dent; A. P. Collins, Salina, vice presi-
dent; James Butler, Topeka, secretary;
Geo. E, Smith, Kensington, treasurer;
H. c. Hawkins, Kellogg; c. w. Peck
ham, Haven; w, c. Mcconnell, More
head; R. w. Smith, Delphrs; w. Mathes
Mcpherson, directors
THE HAVEN CoMHAEY.
The Farmers Elevator Company of
Haven has erected substantial office
and installed good wagon scales, and are
doing business. Their elevator is we'll
under way and they expect to have it
completed and ready to use in about two
weeks.
They have been most successful in
placing their stock. Practically all the
grain growers tributary to Haven are in
terested to the extent of one or two
shares.
Their policy is to have small but ef-
fective plant which can be operated at
small cost and which cannot be availa-
Bile for purposes of storage or specula-
ton, with separate and independent
dumps for corn and wheat, an elevating
capacity Of fully six hundred bushels
per hour, and with the most perfect and
up-to-date cleaning and mixing appli-
ances they are in position to give con-
venient service and to obtain for their
patrons the best possible returns for the
grain handled.