Graham guardian., 1903-10-09
Hey, There, Alfalfa Fellows,
(communicated)

"What fools we mortals be-" es-
pecially that class Of tive fools
who
"Fume and fret,
Aud toll and sweat,
And swallow uur chuck,
AS we swear at our luck"
and then go on from day to day
raising alfalfa hay at s. 90 per ton,
free on board the cars, and never
having time to give thought to
the causes of our hay being so low
here at home, while at Douglas,
Bisbee and other markets in reach
of us, it sells in large lots, at SIG
per ton up; and in smaller lots at
much higher rates. We never
have time, as we toll and sweat, to
try to see the reasons of this. But,
let us, now that the raising season
is on, do just a little bit Of think
ing. And, first, only moments
thought shows us that the wide
difference between the prices here,
and the prices paid by the con-
sumer at those markets, is an in
Justice to us; and that the men and
concerns between the producer and
consumer, are reaping a great bar.
vest of profits at our expense.
Nothing can be trurer than this
proposition: If our hay sells for
SIC per ton and upward at the
points named, all of which are
within less than two hundred miles
of us, we should receive a much
better price for it here.
An investigation of the subject
by the writer hereof, has shown
him that it is not so much the iault
of our local buyers, but that the
main fault is with the railroads
and the dealers at our MAJ ket
places. Taking these in regular
order: our local buyers handle our
output of hay on small MAJ gins,
many of them being merchants
take il for the same they can get
for it, in cases where we are owing
them for goods; while those who
buy for cash pay about the same
prices with the intention OF hold
ing for higher market, so all
things considered, we have no
"kick coming" at them, But, it
is somewhat different with the rail
roads. Our hay passes over three
railr ads betwe n here and the
markets mentioned, and they
charge as freight upon it, only the
modest sum of S6.28 per ton in
car load lots. The shipper loads
it and the consignees unload, So
for the mere use of the car, and
the hauling of it less than 200
miles, the railroads get more than
we receive for all of our work in
raising it. Let US figure on this
little. A moderate train load for
single engine would be about
twenty cars, which will hold on
average eleven tons of hay each.
On each car, at ST 28 per ton, the
freight would be 500 08, and on
the train load, $13o1.60. Now
what do you think of tbat?" But,
of course, not one Of us would dare
cast vote for the government TO
own and operate the railroads IN
the interest of the people. Not
much. We greatly prefer that The
government should be owned and
operated by the railroads. And.
why not? They know how to run
pretty much everything else,
especially legislative bodies, and
of course Iunning the government
would only be small job for them;
in fact they come very near doing
it any way. Railroads are not.
health seekers, they are out for
"revenue only;" and they get it,
too.
Th n, the dealers in the markets
mentioned, are a modest set Of fell
lows, too They receive our hay
at cost of about Sl2 or less, and
make a profit upon it, of 81 and
upward per ton, sum greater
than we realize for it, after paying
baleing charges
There are remedies for the two
evils mentioned: One is tor us to
send men to our legislature who
are honest and brave enough to
pass law establishing fair rates
of f eight upon the railroads.
Don't send men who will sell out
your rights, but such as will have
honor and integrity sufficient to
protect us against the greed of the
railroads.
The remedy for the second evil,
is for you to get together, form u
hay raisers' association, work TO-
gether in your own interests, cstab,
lisb markets of your own in places
where your product is in demand,
have your agents there to dispose
of your hay, and thus get the full
benefit Of the market.
Now, will we do this? I don't
think we will dare to We might
offend some Of our Legislators Of
the 2lst session, who "just laughed
at the fellow from Mohave county"
when he undertook to pass u
| frni,rbt and f.ra hill