Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-06-01
mdDitobaD Government Own.
ership Used as a Card to
Attract Farmers
Millions Of Bushels Of 1911
Wheat Crop Yet Lying On
Ground
Farmers Confronted With an
Elevator System Practically
imperative

imperative
Special to The Tribuns-
WINNIPEG, Manitoba; June H.
Two years ago the Manitoban govern
ment went into the grain business on
large scale by purchasing and build
ing 172 elevators in all parts of this
province. The event was heralded
throughout the United States and the
plea of "tne government owns the
grain elevators" was made card with
which to draw thousands of American
farmers to the Canadian northwest.
Some days ago the grain commits
sion OF the province made the fiat
announcement that the government
operation was complete failure
ordered the discharged of partially
all the employees, and offered the en-
tire line of 172 elevators for sale. The
government elevators will go out OF
business on August 81 and thousands
of American farmers in western Can
ada will lose their 1912 wheat crops.
Millions of bushels of 1911 wheat are
said to yet be lying on the bare ground
in the western province, wet, soggy
and ruined, and many more million
will this year go tine same route. 1t
took the state just two years to DEM
onstrate its inability to successfully
compete with the privately owned ele-
vators and it is charged by the OPP
position that the entire investment of
more than 81 100000 will be lost to the
people of the province who will nave
to pay the bonds when they fall due.
The statement Is male by grain men
that the plant is worth more than
25 per cent of the sum for which was
loaded on to the government. The
business has been carried on at a
heavy loss from the beginning and
there has not been at ANY time clear
prospect that the venture would be
converted into definite success. The
announcement that the affairs of the
state concern are to be wound up on
August 81 was made by the chairmen,
D. w. McCuaig.
Two years ago there was an agita.
ton for government elevators 81
took the voice of the demagogue for
the voice of the people," said Premier
Robin. Before parliament the Prem
Ter stated: "The elevators PROPOSE
ton grew out of an agitation in this
country. "A certain number Of men
went up and down and led many farm
ers to believe that great wrongs were
being perpetrated by the private con-
Germs and that the panacea lay in
government owned elevators. Z took
the voice Of the demagogue for the
voice Of the people. have since
learned l was mistaken"
At that time the government pur.
chased 1872 elevators in different parts
of the PROVING Ten new elevators
were constructed by the state con.
Germ. The annual report submitted to
parliament shows that 81 ,001, 342 were
expended by the province before the
elevators were rady for a bushel OF
grain.
Last year there was a deficit Of
$S4,145 in its operation. The deficit
for this year will be even greater
This includes nothing for deterlora
tion of the plants, interest on the in
vestment nor loss of taxes had the
172 elevators belonged to private con
Germs.
The charge is made that all sort;
of old, worn out, unsaleable and un
profitable elevators were unloaded OF
the government agents at exorbitan'
prices, but that owners did not sci
their lines upon which they were max
ing money. In many towns the gov
eminent, in order to secure a mono
poly, purchased several elevators. IA
the town of Virden the state tool
over three elevators. AT 7Binscartl
there were four, Crystal City, three
Shoal Lake, five. In 81 towns Their
were II elevators purchased by tn
government.
Although when purchased, many o
these elevators were out of repair AM
worn out, practically nothing was dom
at remodelling them last year.
The refusal of farmers to patroniz,
the government concern is given a.
the reasons for its failure. But moth
ing is said as to reasons Of the pro
ducers. AT Souris So carloads o
wheat were shipped. Just one o
these passed through. the governmen
elevator
Political intrigue, reckless extrav
agence and gross mismanagemen
mark every step of the sad and sorr
career of government owned elevator
in Manitoba" says the Winnipeg
Free!Press. "The taxpayers of tn
province may consider the million do
lars invested in the elevators as ali
solutely," lost editorially says tn
same paper.
C. D. Mcpherson, member parlis
ment, said officially, There was littl
to be surprised at in the fact that tn
scheme was so complete a failure"
Stunning the situation, the Free!Pres