The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-19
PLAN FOR SEED
WHEAT BUREAU
Grain Men on Change Discuss
Launching Of a Most Impor-
tant Project.
SEED SITUATION IS
CONSIDERED CRITICAL
Railroads and Business Interests
to Be Invited to Cooperate
Farmer as Beneficiary.

One Of the most important moves Of
years, affecting the general prosperity
of the northwest, got under way at the
Chamber Of Commerce today in the
form Of agitation looking toward the
establishment in Minneapolis Of a.
Seed Wheat Bureau. The time is ripe
for such move. The northwest has
never been in position of greater in
defniteness as to the seed situation.
That there is enough good seed on the,
whole to 60 around is the general opin-
whether or not there is enough, I'M
evenness Of distribution makes neces-
! sary some centralized system Of gather
ing and distributing the seed or Of
gathering and disseminating informa-
tion as to source of supply.
| James V. McHugh has fathered the
idea, basing his suggestions upon con-
ditions as seen by him in recent trips
thru the northwest. It is the idea to
have the bureau under Chamber Of
Commerce supervision, to- operate it alb
solutely without profit or benefit to
| anyone save the farmer, Some sort Of
4 the matter Of good wheat is so vitality
important to the northwest and good
seed SO necessary that support will
1 likely be forthcoming. The plan is not
exclusively grain trade proposition,
! but one Of Importance to every north
/ western business interest.
The railroads will be asked to give
the seed wheat bureau special low rates
in car lots or less. Questions Of the
!. scientific seed value of various grades,
or kinds Of wheat, Of the importation
of wheat from Canada, and other fea-
,tarex Of the situation, would come be-
H. ,,nk a k,1r4 n,S Pow nr,n1n n,,si II
Grafton. <s5E
i While the need for some such central
/ source of guidance is felt especially
this year, it is believed seed wheat
bureau should be maintained perma-
nently.
4 Mr. McHugh's Ideas.
4 James V. McHugh said: 81 believe
the northwest would derive great benefit
from persistent agitation for seed i'm
provement, and it is also apparent that
at this time, and under the conditions
prevailing in the northwest, there is also
a need for some instrumental which
will furnish to farmers at a minimum
Of cost, a good, sound seed wheat. It
seems to me that the farmers of the
; northwest should not only have their
attention called to the need of seed
, & Improvement, but at this particular time
land during the next three months there
should be some, organization to furnish
to those desiring it the seed wheat itself
mot necessarily fancy seed wheat
but good, sound, clean wheat. -.
CATER having spoken to some of my
fellow members in the chamber on the
subject, and finding them agreed upor
the advisability Of such move, ou1
firm mailed to numbre of grain deal
ers in the northwest card of inquiry
and we are daily. receiving replies in
dicating that, were such bureau es
tablished, there would be widespread
demand upon it. Our firm issued this
: card to ascertain how general this de
5 mand was, and while we have not IL
any sense reached the northwest as {
] whole, the replies are sufficiently nu
: merous and specific to lead us to be
lieve that movement for good seet
!: wheat and such bureau should b,
: put in operation.
'tIt seems to me that such a burea,
5 should naturally be organized in tn
Chamber Of Commerce, altho the bust
! ness men generally, and the railroad
!: as well, would be naturally equally in
terested in the furtherance Of such
s movement.
s'Some Of the railroads are alread
. taking an active part in the agltatlo
. Ifor seed Improvement, and sending GU
. lecturers in special cars, stopping at tn
!: most 1mpOfLanG COWHS, WneIo SnolG Gdlh
!. Of the Chicago & North estern, in on
s Of these talks recently in South De
. kota, said: AN emergency exists a
s the presnet time Of requiring bette
s quality of seed and better farm culture
. In Robinson IS Fourth Annual Revie7
!. Progress of the Northwest, you will NJ
5 tice for the first time in four years az
!: crease in wealth production in South DE-
!: kota in amount $19, 200, 900. This
s. ton at 66c per bushel, and, as you we
s know, the average price of good whes
+ was at least zoe bushel more tina
8 that named; it really means more tina
s $l9.2OO,OOO decrease Of production.
s Mr.. johnson goes on to show that
= farmer sowing 100 acres in wheat, VIII
E will purchase seed at $1.2O per bushe
4 describing his present seed, worth-sa
I. go cents per bushel, will, on the il
s creased cost Of the seed Of $75, have a
al average gain of $500 by virtue Of tt
s increased production.
Other lectures We're given on sciel
!. tifc farming by some Of the faculty {
& agricultural colleges.
|. This whole question Of seed il
s provement is important, and the prop
81 sition to establish seed wheat bures
.Iwill simply furnish an additional instr
|. mentality to meet the peculiar need
!. the situation at this time.
!. uWhen our firm shall have receive
!. more fully replies to our card, we W:
!. among members Of the Chamber
|. Commerce.
i SHAW TO ACT PROMPTLY
.Iwill urge Free Seed wheat Bill on 4