The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1915-11-11

simply because at that time there was
not bushel of this years crop thresh-
ed, and a very insignificant amount of
old wheat on hand. No sales were be-
ing made in Canada and the price nat
urally fell off, as mills were not grind
ing, but were closed, making repairs
so as to be ready for the fall rush.
Prior to that time and in fact most of
the summer, Winnipeg wheat was just
about as many cents over the Mime
apolis price, with some of the mills in
Canada importing from the United
States. Now there must be some de-
mand for that Canadian grain, out
side of our markets, else such i'm
mense quantities of grain would nat
urally force down the market. 1t is
quite certain when grain sells in Win
nipeg at cents more than it does in
Minneapolis that the demand is not
from the United States, nor are the
Canadians needing market over here.
1t is true that there has been quite
an agitation in recent years across the
line to get access for Canadian wheat
into our Minneapolis mills, but this
agitation has been largely quieted by
better elevator conditions and trans
portation rates. A month ago it start
ed up again, but died down recently,
owing to the condition of the grain
, market. The other day it was unoffic-
tally announced by the government ov-
er there, which is tatamount to being
official, that nothing would be done
with taking off present duties on
grain, which would, if this concession
was removed, make the famous reci-
procity pact operative.
1t was also noticed in the Optic-Re-
porter Monday evening, that some
thing like 300 cars of grain were sold
from Canada to Minneapolis mills,
which, it stated, entered into competi-
tion with the Dakota farmers, by de-
priving them of the sale Of that many
cars, or something to that effect. | do
not think that the writer of that ed
itorial correctly interpretated the sig
nificance of that item. | doubt SER
! iously if such shipments were pur-
I chases. Most likely those cars of
grain were received in Minneapolis in
bond, to be ground under the "draw-
back" privilege those mills have had
for years, but all products of such
grinding must be re-shipped out of
the United States. Minneapolis mills
will grind the entire crop of the north
western states in less than six months
and use the drawback privilege to
keep their mills running the rest of
the time by grinding grain received in
bond. Millions Of bushels of wheat
. are yearly shipped thru the United
States in bond, going to the sea-board,
but does this hurt the North Dakota
farmer? Duluth gets almost as much
Canadian grain for shipment down the
lakes to Buffalo as comes from North
Dakota Does all this grain affect the
price to- the farmer here, directly or
indirectly, as far as it is related to in
, creasing the worlds visible supply?
Now I do not wish to take further
space. This is big subject, only par
TALLY covered. I am not criticizing
any person, but merely looking for in
formation, as how to- determine the
basic price farmer should get for his
grain. I do not care to open any ar
gument as to causes of fluctuations or
terminal elevators, or any of those
matters that affect the price only in
cidentally, or secondarily, but this is
big subject, and | would like to hear
from other readers of the Independent
and see if we can not learn something
from each other during the winter
which is coming on. hope all profess
sional agitators, or fellows with pet
hobbies, will keep out, and not waste
our time with fads or theories, but
with information bearing forceably
and directly on the point at issue,
what causes the actual price of grain?
Thanking you for your space, I re-
main yours truly,
GRAIN GROWER.
Editors Note: Readers Of the indie
pendent are invited to enter this dis
cussion and are requested to keep to
the subject. Any such articles as are
received by the Independent will be
published if same raise any new ar
gument pertinent to the issue. Names
will not be published if so requested.
EDITOR.