The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-04
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK
Canadian Wheat Imports.
To the Editor Of The Journal.

That our export flour trade, the chief
factor In the development Of the north
western prairie farms, should be held in
imminent danger of extinction, does not
seem to enter into the consideration of
your recent correspondents, Messrs. Oliver
Dalrymple, Arson, Nelson and Wellman:
otherwise they would not oppose the i'm
portation Of Canadian wheat for milling
purposes.
These gentlemen are types Of a large
class Of farmers and others who seem
oblivlous to the fact that for many years
the Minneapolis millers have stood be-
tween the farmers and the foreign market,
paying higher prices for the best milling
grades of wheat, in order to maintain
the world wide reputation Of Minneapolis
flour.
The northwest is dotted with hundreds
Of country mills, where, in order to get
the best and retain the reputation Of their
particular brands, that are largely ex-
ported, a higher price is paid for wheat
than can be obtained at local elevators.
Mr.. Dalrymple can confirm this from
his personal knowledge that at Casselton.
N. D., where his great farms are situated.
the few grain elevators have but a small
proportion Of the business, because of the
better prices paid by the local -four mill.
These country millers buy wheat on its
merits directly from the farmers, and
without state grading. Minneapolis mill
ers, In keen competition with each other
and with buyers for numerous mills in
other states, also purchase wheat on its
merits, from samples taken each day from
every carload as it arrives here, and &C.
tually pay premiums above the values in
Dictated by the state inspectors grade.
Owing to the ravages Of black rust last
summer, the spring wheat crop was OF
poorer quality than ever known before
and the very competition between millers
to obtain the best milling grades of this
short crop has been the direct cause Of
prevailing high prices.
| Yet we are confronted with the amazing
spectacle Of large numbers Of farmers op.
posing the only course possible that car
prevent the tot1 loss of our export mill.
ing business, Notwithstanding their inme
date pecuniary interests lie in retaining
and extending this as the principal whea
market OF America ard the primary foul
milling center of the world.
/ Never was there a more apt illustra
ton of killing the goose that lays the
golden egg"
/ Argument would seem to be unneces
sary to show that disaster will inevitably
fall upon our milling industry should YOU
correspondents opposition prevail fol
they certainly know that our milling ca
pacity far exceeds the requirements O
focal and internal consumption; indeed
its present magnitude has been achieved
only thru increased foreign export bust
ness.
i Therefore, when these mills cannot pro
cure sufficient quantities of homegrown
wheat, they must Of necessity be OBJ
i tanned elsewhere to avert the calamit.
of our export flour trade being diverted
to Canada.
/ This direful result would mean the los
Of vast fortunes invested in milling plants
Especially in Minneapolis and the spring
wheat belt; the discharge Of many thou
sands Of people directly and indirectl!
lengaged in the flour milling, cooperag'
land many other manufacturing and tran
4 sportation agencies.
). Surely your correspondents cannot have
J, given heed to the disastrous effects tina
the wrecking Of one of our chief nationa
} Industries will have upon the prosperit!
} of our country.
4 Farmers should know that of late tn,
mills Of Minneapolis have been CLOSED
down. more frequently, and for longer pc
RODS, each year. because of the annual!
decreasing proportion Of milling grade
! in our spring wheat crops; also, that onl.
,, the Importation Of Canadian wheat II
s bond has enabled the millers OF this cit.
,, to hold a portion Of that immense .expor
!, trade which they had built up during tn
past quarter of a century.
Still. in these times of millers perplexi
i ties, we find the farmer advocating pol
!, icy that will not only deprive him of
Z high-p price home market for his wheat
!. but will also be potent influence in tn
development Of Canadian wheat and flou
; industries
OF course, all crops are subject to eli
matte influences and the black rust o
last summer may have been due In som'