Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31
GRAIN MARKET FOR OMAHA
Local Dealers Take Steps to Revive the
Business at This Point.
UNANIMOUS As TO ITS USEFULNESS
Meeting Called for Friday 60 Take
the Preliminary steps in the RE-
organization OF the Omaha
Association.

Grain men Of Omaha have decided to
make a determined and united effort to re-
establish a grain market in this city. At
4 O'Clock on Friday afternoon there will be
a meeting in the Stock exchange room on
the second floor Of the Board Of Trade
building. at which the fate OF the propo-
sition will be definitely decided. Pre-
liminary canvassiDg among those who will
be Immediately involved in the project dis
covers an unanimity Of opinion in the mat
ter that scarcely admits Of failure.
1t is expected that the meeting will be
large and enthusiastic. Twenty-Five and
perhaps thirty grain men will be present.
That is more than the number which par
ticipated in the launching of Kansas City's
grain market four years ago. the %institu-
ton which has proven so successful since.
In addition. any outsiders interested in the
matter and in Omaha's welfare will be
welcomed.
Nine years ago Omaha had such a market
and for a time a good business was done.
But It was just in time to catch the crop
failures OF 1893 and subsequent years, and
when more than half the grain men in the
city went out Of business the exchange. too,
went up the hume. Since then one effort
has been made to revive the exchange.
This was in 1898. The necessary support
was not forthcoming and the present at
tempt will be the second.
From the bottom up all the interests In
volved in the ownership of the grain are
for the market. The farmers want Il, the
brokers want 1t and the elevator men want
it. Said Ed P. Peck, a prominent member
Of the latter class:
There is a better chance for this thing
in Omaha now than ever before. We have
far more grain men in the city than we
ever had. l am heartily in favor Of the
scheme and shall do all l can at the meet
ing to advance it."
what the Grain Men Want.
Most Of the grain men favor having the
new market an independent affair, a thing
apart from the Board of Trade. A charter
is considered necessary. The one which
was held by the former organization Of 1898
may be renewed.
1t is proposed to have a session OF at
least two hours each day, from IL o'clock
till 2 In the afternoon. 1t is said that all
the grain men in the city will gladly par
ticipate and take out memberships. and
considerable business is prophesied.
The business done by the grain inspector
and weigher here, Mr.. Huyl, during the
last year is one thing that makes the grain
men conndent OF the success OF a market.
Some 5000 cars OF grain have been handled,
and those who are posted say 1t could
easily be four times as much.
Two features Of this weighing and in
spectiLg have already attracted the notice
Of grain men the country over. One is that
II il reliable, the other that 1t is cheap.
It costs but 40 cents to have a car OF
grain treated here. In Kansas City 1t costs
81. The work here is at least as good and
grain men are beginning to appreciate the
difference. Just a few days ago twenty
cars of grain we're ordered weighed here
instead OF at Kansas City, because there
was a saving Of $12 on the Job and because
Il was we'll done to boot. The brokers are
confident that II the market is started here
this work will be accepted as standard in
any market in the world
It is pointed out that the market will
mean a considerable Increase OF business in
Omaha. Bank clearings will be swelled
greatly, as all the drafts for payment will
Of course be made on Omaha. Then, al
though there may not be a vast amount Of
buying and selling at the start, 1t is be-
lieved that this will come In time, and
with 1t the necessary new warehouses and
elevators.