The independent., 1903-10-08
FARMERS ELEVATORS


Methods Of Relief From Extertiens 81
There are always two ways Of doing
anything-a right way and a wrong
way.
There are frequently two desirable
ways of doing some things-a good
way and better way.
There are two ways open to Me-
braska farmers for relief from extor-
tionate margins taken by grain eleva-
tors. Some persons will suggest third
way, and SO we will notice that one
first. 1t is the organization of local,
Independent farmers elevator compa-
nies TO compete with existing con-
Germs. While it is conceded that as
long as they last, they produce tem-
porary improvement, yet all expert
ence, extending back for fifteen or
twenty years, shows that in the end,
the old, established concerns, In varl-
Gus ways circumvent lne farmers local
elevator companies, and the net re-
suit of past efforts in that line in Ne
braska, is the destruction and utter
annihilation of all the local companies
except perhaps about dozen and all
OF those except one have Joined the
grain dealers trust or combine. There
fore, with only one truly independent
farmers elevator left, it may fairly
be said that the system is a failure so
far as any permanent relief is con-
cerned.
The only other way to secure relief
is for the farmers to form strong
cooperative company, whose size AMI
financial standing shall equal or ex-
ceed the concerns now in the field, and
which shall adopt all modern methods
OF grain handling. AS remarked
above, there may be two desirable
ways-a good way and better way
to accomplish a thing, and. applying
the remark to the subject of grain
handling by farmers, the good way IS
for them to organize a company sucn
as is outlined above, but the better
way is to unite with, and build strong
er the one already organized and do
ing business. There may be those
who desire the formation of a purely
Nebraska line system, but II such an
organization is attempted, it will be
discovered that vast amount OF time
of energy, of sacrifice and or money
will be required before company cen
be capitalized sufficiently strong 20
meet the old companies on their own
ground. Who is willing to put un
the money, and spend the time, ano
stand the sacrifices and PIT forth the
energetic efforts that will he "eora
before. such movement can succeed!
The company must be capitalized fOr
and be able to do business up In the
hundreds of thousands of dollars. ane
long before the cash can be secured
to give the company legal evlsfonne
more money will be lost to the Iarm'
ers than sufficient to capitalize tht
company many times over. Thls pe'
cause work can proceed in ont fe%
places at a timc. and farmers at al
stations are constantly losing on e'-
ery load of graft marketed under ex-
listing conditions.
IT will reuuire. probably. twenty
we'll equipped stations before com
panv could be said to be safelv estap-
iished. Si,pose station pets its cap
jtal ready for the pronoeed comnanv
a. must either SEQ it alone" for awhile
O. wait till B, G, D. etc. get their pro-
portions Of the capital raadv 70 ee,
tahlish the companv. If thew go i
alone" they will fnd when the oth1'
stations are ready. that the enemy
has heen busy sowinr disrord in A
ord probably enongh onros'tion h's
deyeloned to prevent that branch rr.n
cc-oneraiing with the others THIS
experience reneats itself OF ofhel
noints and new station must be wore'
ea nm 10 tal-e the place Of the desert
ers. tin 1t is manv months before 'ns
comnanv can be astahlished--and mil
lions of dollars are lost to the farmers
oe the state.
r,ha better way bv far ID for formers
everywhere To unite with the one or
sanitation that hos succeeded in over
coming all the difficulties above men
toned, and has established itself II
the worlds market as purely coon
eratiye farmers COMPANY. operatine
along modern lines. adorting moderr
imnrovements and methods. and piac'
Ing their own grain in the marFets o.
the world at cost and re.li7'ng TOT
themselves the profits that hitherto
have been gathered hv elevator mld'
d,enen. Such companv Is the farm
ers' co-operntive ehipning association
with an authorized canitn' OF s'o".oi
IL ~