Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-01-11
FARMERS SHOULD INSIST
ON WISCONSIN INSPECTION

Grand Forks Herald: Il wish for the
valuable aid of the Herald in maxi
ing known to, the public certain facts
that are Of interest to the grain grow
ers and business men of the north
west II ES
The independent elevator men and
shippers of grain, ais far as the writer
is able to learn while travelling lex-
tensiyely through the grain sbelt, are
of the opinion that grain IDS being
inspected one grade higher than usual
on account of the grain inspection
fight at the head of Lake Superior
The prospect of real competition i'm
grain inspection there has caused
some effort on the part of the old line,
elevator interests to allay at least
some of the just complaint that their
system has created throughout the
| northwest. This improvement in in
spection has its effect not only with
reference to grain that goes to the
head of Lake Superior, but also upon
grain going to competitive markets.
1t means two cents per bushel more
for wheat as well as some advantage
in fax. If North Dakota raised co.
100000 bushels of wheat in 1895, this
gain in the, value of the crop amounts
to $1,2oO,oOO. .,s
| That, is. a very large sum to be
diffused among the grain growers of
a, single state instead of being alb
/ sorbed lby a. large elevator, interest.
The effect of this. general diffusion
of SO large sum of money additional
TO what would otherwise be received
| is. important. - 1t helps the grain
growers, the business men and the
railroads that share the general pros
! perity of the country. .5M
! It is obvious that if so much benefit
/ has come by reason of attempted
competition in grain inspection, the
measlme of benefit when the compe-
Triton is fully established will be very
much larger. The profitable aharac-
| ter of the grain inspection monopoly
lis made evident by the desperate fight
existing against the competitive in
spection that Wisconsin is offering.
The history OF the movement to
give the grain growers of the north
west competitive systems of grain in.
spection at the head of Lake Superior
is the history of a fight L that has
lasted longer s and has been more
/ fiercely contested than any other
conflict concerning grain y growers
since America had a grain market.
g, Ten years ago the legislature Of
Wisconsin enacted "a grain inspection
law that met, with the determined OPP
position of the elevator interests re
ferred toI and their allies, and the law
proved inadequate; to overcome thess
powerful beneiciaries of the non
competitive inspection system. Tit
agitation continued, however, and il
1903 "a new inspection bill was pre-
pared and a determined effort was
made to. secure its enactment 10y the
legislature. The elevator and rail
road lobby proved too strong at tina
time and defeated Wisconsin grain in
lspection in the legislature of its.owr
state The injustice Of the defea
aroused the people of the state, ant
the legislature of 1905 enacted an in
Ispections law prepared under the di
reetion, of the Superior board of trade
i, The grain commission provided fol-
in the new laws was, appointed and or
gapized. consisting Of one commits,
lsioner from North Dakota, one from
New York and one from wisconsin
! a complete inspection department was
formed and equipped to do business
| hut the elevator companies and al
| lied interests refused to comply with
the law. zf..syz. lz So l.
81 The Great Northern Railroad com.
ipany attempted to divest itself Of its
duties as a common carrier as far as
| its grain elevators in Wisconsin were
ieoncerned and leased its said eleyat.
Tors to A. D. Thompson & Co, who
thereupon refused to receive and,store
any grain but their own, and refused
TO recognize Wisconsin inspection in
Iany manner whatever The other
televaiors adopted j. similar plan and
1 Nepniiyed independent shippers land
dealers in grain of any place for
| storage. r.
The Duluth Board OF Trade then
Iadopted a bylaw prohibiting any
/ person operating on that board from
4 buying grain at any point within 10t
miles of Duluth, except on the Duluth
/ Board of Trade. Previously commits
sion men at Superior had been able
TO dispose of such grain as they could
Il not store in the elevators at Superior
81 to members of the Duluth board