The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1917-03-09
ALBERTAFARMERS
ACCOMPLISH MUCH
WITH GOVERNMENT AIN uavE
CONSTRUCTED OVER $50
SMALL ELEVATORS.
huh own Market for Sale of Live
oCock OF Members; Liberals Aid
Forced Conservative Party to FL
nance Building of Huge Terminal
Elevators.

one OF the most successful rural or
gahlzatlons on this continent is that
Oh the united Farmers of Alberta, the
province which neighbors Montana on
the north. 1t comprises about 20, 900
members, eschews politics and yet is
the biggest factor in political affairs
IN the great wheat province. 1t has
peen IN existence for about 10 years,
and has accomplished a great deal
for it's members.
1t mas developed number of re-
markable men. Outstanding among
these was w. j. Tregillus, now dead,
VINO served the organization as presi-
dent for number OF years. Tregil-
JUS was millionaire, and devoted his
time and money to the advancement
OF the organization. The farmers
were devoted to him, and he could
nave been premier of the province,
or had any office within the gift of
the electorate, but he felt that he
could best serve his people by keep
ing away from things political
Fream of the Elevators.
Another big man who developed as
the result of this organization was
b. j. Fream, who served as secre-
tary for number of years. Fream is
very strong man, of much ability.
When the farmers organized the Co.
operative Elevator system, an off
shoot of the United Farmers of Alder
ia, he was put at the head of the sys-
tenn. He brought in experts to assist
them in this work. One of his chief
lieutenants was James Moore, who
is to have charge of the Equity ele-
vator system of Montana.
| Fream operated the farmers ele-
vators in connection with the Grain
Growers Elevator system in Manito-
ba, and through the efforts of these
two organizations marketing condi-
lions were very much improved and
the spread in the price of grain was
reduced to the minimum.
The manner in which the farmers
system of elevators was organized
and financed is of interest in Mon
tana just now, when two associa-
tions, the Equity society and the Non
partisan league, are organizing the
farmers with view to improving
their condition.
Secured Government Aid.
Tregillus and Fream went before
the government of alberta, as it is
called in the province, and laid before
the officials the plan of the Co-opera-
tive elevator scheme. r. was pro-
posed to organize a parent company,
which became the Farmers Co-opera-
tive Elevators, Limited. Then sub
| nj 70 Il
lied in communities which needed
| elevators.
The farmers in each community
| needing an elevator subscribed for Is
! per cent of the stock of the subsi-
of Alberta loaned to the parent or
ganization S5 per cent. The loans
were to run for a long period of years
and the rate of interest was low.
Eighty Elevators in One Season.
The farmers took to the plan like
ducks to water. The wonderful abil-
ity and energy of Dream stood them
in good stead, too, and in single
season over eighty subsidiary eleva-
| tor companies were organized and
as many elevators built.
All this occurred about five years
ago. The system now controls about
$50 elevators. Storage charges and
brokerage have been reduced to the
minimum. Fream is still at the head
of the system and has become one of
the great grain authorities of Canada.
The elevator company has also
gone in for cooperative marketing,
and maintains market offices in Cal
gary, through which members dis
pose of their livestock to good adj
vantage.
Liberals Against Conservatives.
The liberals have been in power
in Alberta for a number of years.
The farmers organizations have been
treated very kindly by the liberal
party. and because of their strength
| have been able to get any legislation
| they have asked for. 1t was through
| the liberals that the farmers were
| loan IS per cent of the money need
| ed for elevator construction.
| The national government is con-
| trolled by the conservatives. On &C
count of the liberals attitude to-
other western provinces Sir Robert
PEELED to do something for the farmer
as well. The national government is
financing the construction of sys-
| TEN of terminal elevators.
These terminal elevators are sta
toned at strategic points along the
transcontinental railway systems.
One of the largest is at Fort William,
at the head of the great lakes. An
other large one is being built at Van
couver. Some idea of the magnitude
of these terminal elevators may be
had when it is known that the first
unit of the Calgary terminal elevator,
recently finished, cost over $1,000,-
600. When the elevator is finished
it will consist of four units.
A Social Side.
There is a social side to the farm
ers' organization in Alberta. IT in