The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-08-22

Instructions which if carried into
effect would take out of North Dakota
every bushel of seed wheat, to be
bought back next spring at such prices
as those controlling the seed market
might care to ask; which would re-
move all stored grain from the control
of the grower and leave it at the
mercy of the market; which would tie
up every bit of rolling stock the north
western railroads have in their pos
session and would cause at terminal
markets such congestion that many
months would be consumed in straight
ening things out, are contained in a
circular which Herbert G. Hoover is
mailing to elevators in the great grain
growing states Of the northwest.
HOOvers circular. states:
."Regulations now governing the H.
cense for elevators require that facili-
ties for storage be not granted to 9TH
ers than the food administration or
its agents for a period longer than 80
days, in respect to wheat and rye.
we suggest that elevators issuing
storage tickets or warehouse receipts
should add in addition to the other
customary provisions of such the fol-
lowing:
"'ll IS agreed that if the grain rep
resented by this receipt shall remain
in storage beyond the period of 80
days after date hereof the under
signed warehouseman is authorized to
sell the same or to ship the same to
the nearest terminal market for sale
for the best price Obtainable and shall
pay over the proceeds to the holder of
this receipt, less lawful storage and
other charges"
What It Would Mean.
Literally interpreted this wouR
mean that the farmer who stores his
wheat now must not later than 80
days from date take anything he can
get for it, even though the market at
that time be So cents.
1t would mean that North Dakota's
C0,OO0G0O crop, the bulk of which now
is going into elevator and warehouse
storage for the lack of storage capac-
ity on the farm, not later than 80
days from date must begin to move to
the market.
It would mean that every boxcar,
every locomotive, every engine and
train crew which the carriers of the
northwest can command would be
Communicated within 80 days to move
this crop to the terminal markets.
II would mean at terminal markets.
with the spring wheat crop pouring in
not only from North Dakota, but from
South Dakota, Montana, Minnesota.
Kansas and Nebraska, congestion
which never has been equaled in the
history of the United States.
It would mean that the North Da-
kota farmer who is fortunate enough
to have some wheat which would make
exceptionally good seed for next years
crop. would be denied the privilege Of
holding that grain in storage in a con.
yenient elevator or warehouse, but
that he must let it 60 at the end OF
30 DAYS and take his chances next
spring on buying inferior seed at in.
fated prices such as he paid last
spring. -
It would mean, in the opinion OF the
North Dakota railway commission, the
most StupouuOuS DiuuuCi' "hich 'oo'
ernment control and regulation ever
has perpetrated.
Message to Hoover. ::
The commission last night wired
Herbert c.. Hoover as follows:
"Your suggested provisions in the
storage tickets apparently apply to
country elevator transactions We
think the provision should not apply
to producers, whom we understood
we're exempt from the boarding pro-
hibition Of the law.
"Eleyators here can store a large
mart of our small croD and we cannot
see a necessity for forcing this grain
to terminal elevators and producing
congestion and undue strain on trans
narration and terminal elevator faclll
tics This is especially true II the
Grain can he purchased and stored in
the country, making the best OF the
crops available for next spring
The commission requests that Mr'
Hoover forward full regulations COW
ering the esorage and food, and sug-
gests that1sieser Incorporation with