The Elk Mountain pilot., 1920-12-02

IHty tTleQ 10 make an issue IN l9ZU
of the failure of the farmer gov
ernment to have number of ter
minal elevators operating at that
time.
A Program Carried Out
How thoroughly the farmer gov
ernment endeavored to meet the
wishes of the public in the 1919 ses-
sion may be seen by the following
comparison between the program and
what the legislature did:
I. Exemption of Farm Improve
ments from Taxstion.-All structures
and improvements on agricultural
lands exempted from assessment,
and tools, implements and other
equipment of farmer to the amount
of $1,000. Household goods exempted
to the amount of $500; the tools of
workmen to the amount of $500;
clothing and personal effects to the
amount of $500; and town homes to
the amount of $1,000.
2. Rural Credit Banks Operated at
Cost-The Bank Of North Dakota es-
tablished, empowered to receive de-
posits and given custody of all pub
lie funds, and to make loans on prop
er security such as real estate and
warehouse receipts at cost. This
bank also serves as bank of redis-
count and as a clearing house for
state banks. In addition to funds of
the bank which the bank may loan on
powered to sell bonds supported by
such mortgages to the amount of
S10,00O,0OO. This limit established
in the interest of conservatism at
first can be increased by future leg
islatures as the business grows. By
the end of February, 1920. seven
months after beginning business,
this bank had resources of over $780,
100000. By that time it had made
farm mortgage loans to the amount
of S3,000,0O0 on terms of 6 per cent
interest, with principal payable grad
ually over period of 30 years. Pre-
vious to the war the average mort
gage interest rate in the state had
been 2-3 per cent. with the princi-
pal payable in one, two or a few
years. When the lcans on warehouse
receipts system has been developed,
the farmer will be able to get tempo
rary loans on terms hitherto un-
known. He will be able to hold his
wheat for better price and get
money to pay the fall bills at the
same time.
3. State Hsil lssurance--The sys-
TEN devised levies fat tax of 3
cents an acre on all tillable land and
the farmers pay sufficient assessment
for the acres under Manageable crops
each year to meet the remainder OF
the expense and claims. The amount
paid for total loss is 81 an acre. All
farmers are considered to be in the
plan unless they give official notice
of withdrawal
This law was in full operation dur
ing the 1919 crop season. An assess
ment of 25 cents an acre was found
to be necessary to cover all expenses,
including small emergency fund.
Inasmuch as stock company hail in
surance is generally 10 per cent Of
the damages to be paid, it viii be
seen that the North Dakota farmer
got for % cents what would have
otherwise cost him 10 cents.
4. State-Owned Terminal Elevators
Mills, Mines, Packing Houses. Etc.
An Industrial commission established
with an appropriation of S5,o0o.o00
to have charge of all work of this
kind. The commission bought small
mill at Drake, N. d., chiefly for ex-
perimental purposes, but was pre-
vented from doing more than pioneer
development work because of forced
delays in the sale of state bonds. By
the spring of 1920 an elevator of l.
600,00O bushels capacity and a 5000
barrel mill were in process of con-
struction at Grand Forks, N. d.
In the meantime the commission is
exploring the other fields. but will
undoubtedly devote most of its re-
sources to elevators and mills for
some time to come.
S. State Inspection of Doclsage and
Grading of Graln.-The splendid grain
inspection law passed in 1917 was
added to in several important re-
spects. The state Inspector of grades,
weights and measures now has power
to establish fair margins in which
elevators may do business, to compel
payment for dockage, to enforce fed
eral grades on grain bought, to es-