The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1919-04-11
FLOUR MILLS.

- NV XvAA1lAAys
It IL much to be regretted that a
report OF the exhaustive ~investiga-
ton, made by the Federal Trade
Commission on Touring mills Is not
available, for we have reason to be-
lieve it will bring our important
facts and point the way for solution
OF this problem through Federal
legislation.
What has been said with reference
to terminal elevators has much bear
ing on -four mills. One of the very
large items Of expense in this indus
try is that of fuel. This gives a big
advantage to the water-power driven
Touring mills in Minneapolis. Mills
located in South Dakota have SO far,
necessarily, depended on high priced
coal.
At many points within the state,
attempts have been made to operate
Touring mills, but the industry, as a
rule, has not been profitable under
normal conditions. This lack OF rue
cess was largely due. not only to OK
Pensive power, but also to inequality
OF freight rates in this state as COM
pared with rates granted outside
mills, or the large Minnesota mills,
which do business in this territory.
which rates, as already pointed out,
cannot be controlled by state legisla-
ton.
Many Of the mills have been turned
to other ses Under the regula-
lions of the Food Administration and
lack OF facilities for trans-oceanic
shipment existing during the war, the
mills, formerly closed, have in most
cases. conducted a profitable bust
ness, but it is fair to sun that
these conditions are Only temporary.
The project Of our waite. power
development, with its possibilities
for cheap power, may change condi-
lions within q few years. and give
a decided advantage to mills located
within u borders.
Furthermore, 1t now seems certain
that n Of our neighboring states
will soon enter into the terminal ele-
vator and milling business on a large
scale, for which q preliminary an
preparation Of $1,000, 100000 seems
certain. and 1t will undoubtedly be
Illuminating and instructive for Us to
wait and Q what the results are.
All things considered, we do not
think 1t wise for the state to 20 into
the milling business at this time.
TERMINAL ELEVATORS.
Terminal elevators perform many
functions such a. storing, drying.
cleaning and mixing Of grain; the
drying and cleaning and mixing II
frequently called "conditioning."
The Committee found that many
terminal elevators are for rent. Or
for sale ct less than cost OF replace
ment, owing to the fact that mills
arc taking more Of the grain direct
and also owing to the fact that the
use Of such elevators % conditioning
houses has declined sharply. a. IA
cilities for cleaning ct local elevators
have Increased, resulting IN keeping
screenings within the state.
There are no terminal elevators
In this state, nor r there any state
owned terminal elevators In this
country. The experiment has been
tried out in the provinces OF Canada
during the last twenty years. This
public ownership plan OF u nei9h-
Dor seems to have been q failure. Tor
O0SA s0A AAs00Ao ~ uOW 0LtQ0T IN 0Tle
vato ownership or leased to private
organizations. The Co-operativa
movement in Canada has. however.
removed most Of the grain marketinx
difficulties.
These provinces In Canada had
one decided advantage over South
Dakota. Most Of their grain went "a
market through or two gatevays.
and farmers IN different parts OF the
provinces could reach the terminal
elevator without back haul" re-
su1ting In extra freight charges. The
situation In North Dakota 10 quite
slmilar, - . very large pr cent 81
the grain raised within IL borders
may b routed to leave the state &
. single point without such routing
ovof the railroads - would reeult Il
ogtfa freight charges.
he 1itnat5oa - 1oath Dakota n
vosy muon 6i16eont: Cur oaaeveyp
Afo n1ny. n = McnMc1ao = . 49,
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