The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-01-19

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+ Distad, Hayfield; A. o. Lander,
49, + + + + I. + + + + + +
the permanency of the farmers ele-
vator company rather than to make
a record year. If crops are poor re-
strict expenses, but do not scowl at
your capable manager. If crops are
bounteous give your manager a
chance to build up surplus and
then hold the surplus in hand for fur
Their emergencies.
| Let the officers and directors
show full confidence in their mana
ger and the latter will give them his.
do not hold your manager re-
sponsible for mistakes of your die
/ tated policies, or if you have ham
pered him in carrying out your poll
cies. Much has been said about
loyalty in farmers elevator compan.
les, but the great orators who have
| preached it harped more upon senti-
mental patriotism than hard business
sense. No business can thrive and
prosper upon sentiment alone. I'm
less q farmers elevator company is
based upon sound business principles
! and backed by conservatism and good
business management, it is bound to
fail. ,.......
Educate every stakeholder in the
rules OF business and the farmers
elevators will be a success. 1T is
now up to the bull to give the others
a chance"
4 Engaged in Discussion.
j M. johnson of Rushford was the
first man who took part in the dis
cussion. He said: "A man must be
a manager to know how to conduct
the business in manner that will
best satisfy the stockholders. Com
petition is almost necessary in some
localities in order to satisfy the
farmers on grades of grain and
prices. This association should try
to get the inspection department out
OF the hands of politicians and have
a civil service examination which
any man must pass before being elig-
ible to the inspection department"
! Others who spoke were Fred Grim
sail of Welcome, H. J. Farmer of
Arlie and Mr.. Mirsch of Argyle
Good Seed and Good Roads.
At the afternoon session yesterday
of the Farmers Grain Dealers Co
operative association, George M. Pal
mer of this city gave the first talk.
He spoke on the subject of Good
Seed and Good Roads" After his
Introductory remarks Mr.. Palmer
said in part: 81 am especially inter-
ested in the quality and quantity of
wheat raised in this section. Several
years ago / succeeded in getting
pedigreed blue stem wheat from a
! distance and sold it for seed at cost
Each year I get the finest wheat I
can get that is grown here, clean it
and sell it for seed. We put special
machinery in the mill for cleaning
wheat and ask farmers to come and
have their seed wheat cleaned free.
At first they were reluctant about
doing this but now many farmers
take advantage of the privilege. Last
year we found that there was an in
crease of from two to eight bushels
per acre from the wheat cleaned in
this way. The wheat which the farm
ers bought from me cost from ten
cents to fifteen cents q bushel more
; than other wheat but the wheat
reaped about $500 more. for the
acre. was paid well for using this
plan and surely the farmers were
paid we'll. This is something that
you can do in your community. You
!, will get your returns in getting more
grain to handle. a..
i Matter of Public Highways.
i Zone of the greatest subjects be-
fore the public today is the matter
Of public highways. know of moth
ing that would benefit more people
than good roads. AS an economic
question it is one of the very first
standard. The farmers probably lose
100000 or $5,000,000 every year
} from the poor roads. Grain must be
!, hauled to market and the poor roads
increase the cost Of conveyance. We
hear much of our young people go
ing to the cities and that could in a
large measure be stopped by con-
}, solidated schools. Consolidated schools
i are absolutely necessary to keep our
young people from the cities, and
} they are coming soon. But the roads
must be in good condition before
: we have the consolidated schools.
We. can have good roads if we
!, want them, but a spirit of co-opera-
!, ton public heartedness is necessary.
1t costs from $500 to $500 a mile
to keep roads dragged all summer.
i Roads can be graded at $25 a mile
with traction engine. A good gravel
led road from your farm to your
trading point can without exaggera.
ton increase the value of your farm
$40 an acre. All that is necessary to
accomplish this is cooperation. In
this county alone twenty or twenty
five good roads clubs have been re-
Gently organized"
Real Achievements of Today.
| e. G. Dunn, secretary of the Iowa
Farmers Grain Dealers association,
talked on What are the Real
Achievements of Today" Mr.. Dunn
said: "The Iowa organization had 141
members in January 1911 and at the
present time has 2O4 members. Iowa