The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-08-09
PRICES FOR THRESH|NC
|. DISCUSSED At MEETING
Session Was Held at the City
Hall Last Night
PLAN IS, AGREED l'l'| E.ll;DL upon
Farmers and Machine Owners
Are to Get Together On
Schedule
From Saturdays Daily.

From Saturdays Daily.
Carrying out the plan suggested by
a threshman at the recent meeting
at Good Thunder, threshmen and
farmers of Blue Earth county met at
the city hall in this city last night to
discuss prices for the present season.
All parties present expressed their de-
sire to consider the matter in a broad
minded way, and to agree upon the
fairest prices possible. The subject
was thrown open for free discussion,
and prices varying from four cents
and six cents up to seven cents and
ten cents were suggested. In the
course of the meeting, it developed
hat conditions varied to such an ex-
cent in Blue Earth county that a
single schedule of prices for the en-
ire county, could not be made with
fairness to either threshermen or
farmers. This problem has been less
complicated in counties where prac-
ically the whole county consists
either of prairie land or of rough
land
County Food Administrator S. b.
Wilson stated that he had just re-
ceived word that the Minnesota Pub
ic Safety commission was consider
ing this matter, and would meet next
Tuesday to decide whether any at
tempt should be made at setting
prices. Mr.. Wilson stated that the
purpose of the Public Safety commits
sion in taking this matter up was to
10 away with rumors of extreme
prices of fifteen and twenty cents per
bushel, which have gained circula-
ion. Mr.. Wilson said that, consider
ing the general spirit, of fair minded
less shown by those present, that he
'elt that the prices could be adjusted
satisfactorily in each locality with due
consideration to the yield and gener-
u conditions. He said that the
Safety commission would take hand
n the matter if there seemed to be a
tendency to use present conditions
for under profteering, but that he
'elt that this was not likely to hap
pen in Blue Earth county.
Prices to Be Agreed Upon.
By nearly unanimous decision, it
was decided that, unless further COM
olications arise, the price should be
agreed upon between farmer and
thresher in each locality. Farmers
will, of course, expect a little ad /!
vance in prices in view of the in
creased cost of labor, supplies, re-
pairs and machinery
County Agent M. R. Benedict acted
is chairman of the meeting, and ex-
planned briefly the suggestions and
requirements of the food administra-
ion in connection with the saving of
wheat. These were, in brief:
Running machine up to full speed
1t all times; avoidance of threshing
rain while it is tough or damp; re-
noyal of dull and bent teeth, and
keeping machine in first class re-
pair; keeping blower properly ad
iusted, careful and even feeding;
avoidance of leakage onto ground,
and the use of bad order wagon
boxes; the raking of shock rows for
wheat; the use of canvas under the
feeder.
M. R. Benedict stated that, to make
the saving campaign most effective
The full cooperation of both farmers
md threshermen is needed. Any case
where machines or farmers and
threshermen waste wheat unneces
sarily will be investigated if reported
| to the county committee. Any ma.
chine doing consistently poor work
may be shut down by the food ad
ministration. Each farmer and
thresherman should consider himself
responsible for reporting any undue
waste.
Mr.. Benedict explained the use OF
the pledge cards and report blanks
and stated that the matter of Goa
prices had been taken up with Mr.
Morehart, the county fuel administra-
tor Where coal is purchased il
carload lots and unloaded by the pur-
chaser, the price for Illinois screer
coal should not be over $500 and fol
Hooking Valley coal, few cents over
$500. Dealers are allowed fifteeT
cents per ton on coal bought in this
way.
| Figures received this morning b!
M. R. Benedict from the state foo(
administration show an average dali.
run last year of $40 bushels of wheat
l1,70O bushels of oats, 1880 bushels o
barley and 900 bushels of rye.
| Only the monthly and seasonal re
ports by threshermen are re-
quired by the food administration
Requests sent out for daily telephone
reports did not come from the foot
administration