Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-05-24
EXPLAINS ELE..
vAT0RS|TUA7|ON
County Agent Chris Christ
ensOn Writes Article
Telling of Hand
leaps.
SELLING AT LOSS
Declares Under Present Sys-
tenn 5 Cents Bushel
Lost.

LOSC.
The following article, written by
Agent Chris Christensen and
published in the last issue of the Ham
iltOn County Farmers Messenger, re-
garding the erection of Il farmer elc-
vator here, is of general interest:
1t is the purpose of this article to set
the conditions surrounding the
Grain company at Webster
City, as it is only fair that the public
in general should know. the handicap
under which this company is working
in beginning the organization.
What has happened could only have
been expected and has been true in q
good many other cases. 1t has been
very difficult for the Farmers Grain
company to start to do business under
conditions of that sort. 1t would be
an exception if some erroneous stories
should not be started, but where. there
are stories there is usually material
from which they are made and the say
ing goes where there is smoke, there
is some fire"
Hanging Fire Five Years.
~ AAAN l"'As ~ VA W
more, there has been considerable agi-
tatiOn among the farmers who desire
to have a farmers cooperative elcva-
tor at Webster City, their reason for
this being the difference in price paid
at Webster City and the adjoining
towns where cooperative elevators are
located. At different times different
farmers have volunteered that they
xx-n,tl1 ln ,.nSrNnnsilln fn,. f1n ,nlli,,r 1T
$1,000 worth of stock, should a com
basis. These farmers so willing to
offer their assistance, did not do it be-
cause it was to the advantage of the
farmers alone, but they realized the
advantage it would be to them i'll
dividually. Any farmer living in the
vicinity Of Webster City has been
forced to sell at a loss of III average
of five cents per bushcl as against
what has been paid by cooperative Gle
vators in adjoining towns. An cleva-
tor is considered by the farmers who
haul grain to it, one of the mechanical
means in the system Of marketing.
He is willing to pay for the service
that it renders but he is not willing to
pay five cents more per bushel than
has been found to be the running eX-
pcnscs at other towns and for that
reason Il grain company was formed.
Cost as Cheap.
Some may say that Webster City is
Il poor grain market and that there is
not enough grain handled to justify
Il top price, but eve that being true,
does it cost more to weigh Il bushcl Of,
grain and load it on the cars than it
does at any other town!
Five years ago there was nO market
at Stonega at all; today they are
handling more grain that is handled
by both elevators at Webster Ci-y.
This would be Il fair reason for IL
to assume. that the market has '"en
brought about by the price paid to the
farmers for their produce.
When the organization was finally
launched on Jan. 10 and later pcrma-
ncnt officers and directors were elect
ed, considerable discussion was heard,
hut few can deny that it is of advan-
tage to the farmers to get ii fair price
for their grain. 1t is difficult to realize
how it might affect in the slightest
way the business prosperity of WEB
stcr City but there the argument seems
to have begun.
True is it that the farmer would OBJ
ject should anyone encroach on his
business and the business man has as
good Il right to object as does the farm
cr who is an in~dividualiSt. But when
the business interests of Webster city
are considered rs Il whole. it Is hard
to realize how the town can be hrlc-
fitted by paying a low price for grain
and thereby forcing the farmers to
haul their produce to adjoining towns.
Forced to Act.
The story was circulated that the
farmers would handle everything from
IA needle to Il horse, but the people who
made up these stories knew very little
about the nature of the farmer and his
organization. 1t has been found that
only does things by necessity and
unless it is necessary for him to handled
all of the commodities necessary Ton
his business, he will not be found do
ing so, unless he is forced to, us III the
of the grain.
Applications for different sites have
been ignored, some because Of u just
reason and some for no reason. The
gave the officers and directors
considerable concern. Our marketing
SNSteIl WHICH IiS tunSh IA ~
five years to build up under what
might be termed big business control,
s a very complicated machine about
which the public is supposed to know
cry little but what has in the past
,ccn found true in other towns where
Elevators have been formed, is seem
ngly true at Webster City.
Nail Officials Support Elevators.
There is seemingly Il friendly feel
ny between the officials of the railroad
companies and the private elevator
,wIer as indicated by Supt. Mike
Golden of Boone, who made this state
ncnt: IF l were In his business.
to of u elevators, Il
would allow no one to freeze me ont.
Whether it will be through Mr.. Col
lens own suggestion of freezing ott
he present marketing system or eStah-
fishing a new one. ii is difficult to say.
1ut before long the farmers will be
handling their own produce. sympathy
# Il number Of railroad officials and
resent business interests may be able
o delay the. time when the farmers
will handle their w grain, but the
armer will win in the end. We regret
1911. N1A.4 ~. -N Alh /