The courier-index., 1917-08-10


 phia Milling Company. As you can see from Mr. Adams letter. went into your situation very thoroughly with him and I believe that lis let ter to you will give you just the in- formation that you desire.
 It may interest you to know that after leaving Marianna I stopped at Wynne and went to see the Midget Mill at that point, which is operated by a MT. Mebane. I find tl:at when he can get wheat locally he is mak- ing 12 to IA barrels of flour a day and in the year he has had the mill in operation has had no diff culty in finding market for flour from all the wheat he could buy However, he, states that when he has to buy wheat from outside, he cannot make flour at prices with any profit in competition with flour on the local market. He further stated that considerable wheat was shipped out of the community when he could pay as good if not better prices right there. The farmers seem to prefer to sell to outside markets. From what could hear. this mans flour trade was entirely in the country and to class of trade not so particularly as to uni formity. In fact, there is no ques- tion but that it would be practically impossible to make a uniform flour that would appeal to high class trade on such a mill unless the wheat were bought in large quantities, stored and skillfully blended. MT. Mebane has had number of years experience in the milling business and it is evident that when he bought his mill he was a skillful miller rather than an amateur, so his success might hardly be consid- cred a fair criterion for the aver age man to base his expectations on.
 From MT. Adams letter, I am sure you will see that the Lee coun- ty farmers are assured just as good market for their wheat as the farmers anywhere. In fact, the farmers of the Central States sell their wheat on the basis of Chicago market prices, less the freight from their station to Chicago, while in Arkansas, according to MT. Adams letter, the farmer is offered 5 cents over the Chicago option price, F. 0. B. his station. This is consider ably better than the Central States farmer usually receives. ~
 Furthermore, although MT. Adams does not mention it in his letter, he told me personally that the farmers could harvest their wheat and ship to him immediately to be warehous- ed and he would store it for 1 1-2c per bushel per month and would buy it any time; or, if they found they could get more money for it else where he would load it on the cars and ship it anywhere they desired. It was my understanding that for the 1 1-2c per bushel per month he agrees to pay the insurance on the wheat while in the elevator and further agrees to stand any shrink age. ... I cannot, of course, speak offi- cially for him in this matter but am sure I am repeating what he told me in conversation.
 Doubtless MT. Jackson has men toned to you my long distance teie- nbona conversation with him with reference to a marketing com many that is selling stock in Lee county. Although investigation may prove that this company is legally all right, there is no question but that the service they can render IS not worth $50 to any Lee couAty farmer. and I am confident that vour club will be rendering val uable service to the community II YOU can bring this companys ac- tivities to a conclusion in the coun- tv. Tn talking to the state banking department they assured me the company had no right to say they were authorized by the banking de- partment and they were very urgent
 
 in their request that copies of the company's contract be investigated bv the Prosecuting Attorney of Lee county and also be sent to the state banking department for perusal. hope this has been done.
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 ROMANS LETTER.
 learn that you are contemplat, inc putting in Midget Flour Mil at Marianna. am keenly interested in the success of the "Live at Home idea and for that reason am pre- suming to write you on this sub 1 ject.
 From the information l can secure
 III eIa,,r rniIls have not been sue.