The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-06-08
FARMERS PREPARE
TO FIGHT EIGHT
CENT WHEAT RATE
PORTABLE ELEVATOR CONSIDER
ED IMPORTANT FACTOR OF
GRAIN MOVEMENT IN STATE

Oklahoma City, June THE farm
mers OF Oklahoma are willing TO pay
the elevator man n reasonable fee foi
handling their grain, but they do not
propose TO be held up They will not
pay eight cents bushcl for putting
the wheat and other rralns through
the elevators They are going to do
something, what ] don't know that
can tell you gentlemen, But II is GER
tain that when three cents bushel
is considered reasonable charge they
will not stand for an eight cents dig
This statement by n district farm
agent at the informal hearing before
the state corporation commission rela-
tive to the handling of the 1919 wheat
crop by the railways, WIS the essence
of the farmers position, lie viii de-
mand that he be given the right to
use portable elevators or scoop shov'
els, handle his grain himself, If he can.
The portable elevator was defined by
one farmer as being generally, d
scoop shovel. willing heart. strong
arms and sturdy back" There are,
however, portable machines used in
many localities where elevators are not
the wagon ana load II into the cars.
was agreed that the 1919 crop will
be- as great or greater, in view of the
increased acreage. of the bumper crop
of 1915 The railways which were well
represented, maintained that they have
ample cars available and hundreds of
them are now on sidetrlcks in the
grain belt ready to move wheat. In
many instances crews of cruisers"
are being dispatched along the lines
of railway repairing cars and putting
them in proper shape for loading. on.
ly one railway, the ft. Smith X West
ern, acknowledged that it would be
unable to furnish n sufficient amount
of carriers and asked for assistance
from the Santa I'e. Katy and Frisco. |
Lack Storage
Lack of storage facilities upon the |
farm, the high price which is indicated |
for the new crop and the need for
ready money is regarded as the incen-
tive for an immediate marketing of
the crop.
"The farmers intend to rush their
grain TO market and there will be a
very small proportion of the yield held
by the producers one of the gentle.
men declared in u warning note that
conditions are so much different this
year as TO indicate that the problem
of handling the small grain will be the
most difficult in the history of the
state.
In the southwestern portion of the
state, one of the statements includ.
ed. where the farm land has hereto.
fore been given up almost entirely to
cotton the farmers have yielded to our
opportunities to plant more wheat and
as result of this campaign and the
large yield than informer years we
VIII nave tremendous problem
Most of these farmers are tenants.
It was necessary for the government
o advance them money with which TO
purchase their seed wheat, for two
ears of crop failures in Southwestern
)klahoma left them almost without re.
sources The amount of this federal
id reached about $4,000. These pro
lucers are going to put their wheat
m the market just as fast as they can.
Lhey do not believe the railroads and
leNators can handle this crop unless
hey are permitted to use the portable
ieVator ana the scoop and they are
insisting that if the elevator man is TO
'ouge them at the rate of eight cents
buShel they should have the right
o do their own loading"
lhe corporation commission some
lhe ago made ruling requiring the
To spot cars for portable ele
atorS and scoop leaders, what are
hoWn in wheat parlance as track
uNers.' The supreme court held that
ms would be an Interference with in.
Tstate commerce and issued and re.
framing order. Unless the railroads
gree to spot cars for Individual load.
lS the commission may hold u formal
curing make new order and con
overt the claim of Interstate com
le'ce interference, which is said TO
uhfounded and in that event il is
-heNed the courts will not interfere