Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1917-12-18
FARMERS UNION
FAv0RS BULK GRAIN
NAMED AT RECENT
CONVENTION DECLARES FOR
PATRIOTIC DUTY.
SACK SHORTAGE, A PROBLEM
Government Needs Burlap-Would
Conserve Labor-Want County
Unit Elevator-Time for
Action Is Short.

The report of the committee on
bulk handling of grain, made to the
annual meeting of the Farmers Edu-
cational and Cooperative Union of
America of the Washington-Idaho di
vision, at Spokane, December IL, is
as follows:
Your committee on bulk handling |
of grain reports:
There is at the present time Sc
we're world shortage in the supply |
of available burlap grain bags, due to
requirements for military purposes
and lack of ships for transportation
of imports from India, as well as the
embargo which has been placed on
exports by the British government,
which makes it certain that there will
not be nearly sufficient bags avail
able for the 1918 harvest and very
probable that there will be practically
no bags at all available at any price.
Necessity therefore compels con-
struction of elevators and equipment
of our farms for bulk handling in
order to meet the emergency.
The time is short. Several months
are required for the construction of
an elevator after organization is COM
pleted. Due to war conditions, traf
die difficulties and labor shortage it
is urgent that action be taken imme
diately, and we recommend that every
delegate to this convention, upon re-
turning home, report at the very first
meeting of his local the situation of
sack shortage and need for prompt
and vigorous action toward prepare
ton.
We call upon our state agricultural
, colleges to assist farmers in prepare
ton for bulk handling, through their
, county agents and by putting on ex-
tension man in the field whose sole
or principal duty shall be to advise
| with individual farmers and groups
, of farmers relative to farm equipment,
methods of organization and general
/ preparation for bulk handling and the
, construction of elevators.
Indorse Standard Elevator Plan.
, We recommend that the president
, of this convention appoint a commit
. tee to arrange for standardization of
piono VI ClCNdlOio vi ~ pc anu
: capacity for use of farmers union
+ companies and that this committee
cooperate with the similar committee
{ appointed last week by the Oregon
, southern Idaho convention of the
] farmers union and that these two
committees call upon the several state
colleges and the United States de-
partment of agriculture for all infor-
= nation and counsel possible
). We point out that action in this
r important matter must be initiated by
t the farmers themselves, without wait
/, ing for outside agencies or influences,
8 whose interests may not always be
r unselfish.
f We recommend the true coopera-
i tive form of organization and incor-
e poration under the cooperative laws
q of the state rather than under the
] law for the formation of stock COM
g panies.
I We further recommend the fedora
0 ton of local elevators or warehouse
? companies in adjacent communities.
I similar to the county-unit plan in OPP
= Grafton in the states of the middle
west, and the ultimate association of
all companies in the Inland Empire
or the Pacific northwest. This will
tend to reduce costs of construction
and subsequent operation.
We recommend that every elevator
built should have the advantage of
being equipped with cleaning machin.
cry and that there should be at least
two elevating legs.
We recommend that every care
should be exercised in the selection
of contractors and builders. The
construction of elevators should al
u ways be by experienced designers and
engineers. Not only are the engin
eering features important, but oper
ating requirements present vital prob
lens. The contractors should always
be required to furnish bond, and al
= payments should be carefully audited
Ask Railroads to Cooperate.
We call upon the railroads of the
y Pacific northwest to take notice OF
the situation and to cooperate with
all farmers in preparing themselves
to furnish proper care for transpor
tation of bulk grain in the Pacific
northwest as they do in other sections
of the nation.
Bulk Handling Is Patriotic.
Bulk handling becomes a patriotic
duty. 1t means cooperation with oul
government, which is urging the con
servation of sacks for military needs
it means conservation and protection
of our grain in the best manner a
the time of the coming harvest; /
means conservation of labor through
substitution of machinery for manua
labor and the release of the labo
sayed for other tasks for the winning
10 of the war; it means the release o
cars, which can be loaded and IN