The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-02-01
ELEVATOR PLAN
IS WORKING OUT
SECRETARY JOHN M. ANDERSON
OF EQUITY SOCIETY TELLS
OF EXCELLENT PRO-
GRESS OF WORK.


Grand Forks, N. D., FEB. John
u. Anderson, former university grad
uate and now secretary Of the North
Dakota Society of Equity, was in Grand
Forks last week on a business mission
Mr., Anderson is busy just now on the
work Of raising funds for the terminal
elevator project and reports splendid
success in the work. The latter part
Of this week he leaves for Sioux Falls,
). D., TO attend farmers elevator con-
Vention Oh Feb, s and O. While there
he will explain the project now under
way here and enlist assistance. In
speaking OF the work of the society,
Mr.. Anderson said
BY the time the crop for 1910 is
ready TO be marketed the Society of
Equity expects to be operating a ter
minal elevator In Duluth, Minneapolis
and possibly In Milwaukee. wis. This
will make II possible for the farmers
of the northwest to store their wheat in
bulk at the terminals. In this way
they will not be dependent on the com
mission men and grain spectators In
general. In this way they can COM
mand the attention Of the home buyer
as we'll as the foreign buyers who buy
grain In large quantities only.
"It is impossible at present to get
grain sold at cost less than / cent a
bushel. Considering that North Da-
kota alone markets annually about a
100,000,000 bushels of grain, the farm
ers of this state pay $100o,0OO for the
simple privilege Of having their grain
offered for sale. This does not include
fhA nR a.
simply the auctioneer's fee. II is es-
timated that the screenings which our
farmers give away win more than pay
for the operating Of the elevators to
handle the grain. This is proved by
the fact that in 1907 large terminal
elevator company at Duluth offered
the Society of Equity storage and ele-
vator facilities to the capacity of l.
100000 bushels, providing that they
(the elevator company be permitted
to clean the grain and retain the
screenings. With terminal elevator ia
cilities such as are contemplated by
the society, not only could the farmers
have the benefit of the cent per bush
Ell commission, but they, could also re-
ceive something for the valuable
screenings that are now given away.
Mixing of Grades.
'There is also a system in use at
the terminals known as the mixing of
grades. 1t is estimated that on this
process grain men make all the way
from Is to 80 cents per bushel. Bet
ter grades are mixed with the poorer
ones. AS q result the prices of the
good grades are decreased but the
poorer grades are increased proper
tionately. II any mixing is TO be done,
the farmers should reap the benefits.
THE Society of Equity, for three
years, has been operating what is
known as the, Equity Cooperating Elk
change. located al all the terminals I'm
Minnesota and Wisconsin. We have
operated this independently of the
chambers of commerce and boards of
trade. II speaks we'll for the exchange
that during the panic of 1907 is was the
only commission agency that did not
protest a single draft. We have this
year handled nearly 100000 bushels
The terminal elevator company will be
operated in conjunction with this
marketing agency.
"At the Tri-State Grain Growers
convention at Fargo last week over
81, 900 was subscribed. Only about
$4,000 is needed to complete the $50
600 fund necessary to incorporate the
company. The work Of the society
in the future will be directed toward
establishing marketing agencies for
all kinds of farm products. Through
these the farmer will be enabled to
ship his products directly 20 the con-
sumner without the intervention of un-
necessary middle men. There is no
reason why wheat, for instance, should
change hands from ten to 100 times
while in transit from the farm to the
mills, vet that is the system as we
have it today. Much complaint is heard
because Of the high prices of meat,
Farmers are receiving only from 4 to
cents a pound for choice beef which
certainly isn't too much. with coop
Grating packing plants of their own
they would be able to deliver at
profit meat at or 8 cents a pound.
1t is to this end that the Society of
Equity is striking.