Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-19

| vulge that conditions and prices Ia Iof-
eign markets will not permit the ex,
portation of Montana hard wheat ana
its products. Following is the report
of the committee:
eve find that an export rate on
wheat and it's products was recently
| established by the Great Northern,
! Northern Pacific and Chicago, Mlwau-
kee & st. Paul railway companies from
many points in Montana to Seattle,
Tacoma. Portland and Astoria. with
| milling in transit rules and regulations
in connection Herewith.
Deny Farmer Benefited
at has been stated that this rate
was established for the purpose OF ere
ating q w%estbound movement of cars
under load, thereby relieving the car
riers from hauling empty cars to the
coast for loading, also to give the
producer a higher price for his wheat
In fact, there seems to have been sur
ficient propaganda regarding the lat
| of this state OF believe they would de-
rive a substantial benefit therefrom.
This, however, is erroneous.
I'VE believe the export rate was es-
tablished at the instigation of Seattle
business interests, who obtained assist
ance of others interested in building up
an export business through Puget
sound. 1t is our opinion that they did
not divulge the fact that they only
would derive a benefit and that the
economic conditions and prices in for
eign markets prohibited the expectation
of Montana hard wheat and its prod
ucts.
"We find that the amount paid the
| hfnntana forrar Cor his x,haot ic 0nv-
erned by the Minneapolis market, from
which is deducted the cost of transport
alton, handling and other costs.
1--WE believe that if the freight rate
from Montana points to Minneapolis
was reduced or raised at any time, it
would Immediately be reflected in the
price paid the farmer. The Minneap-
oils market is used as q basis because
it is dependable and can absorb any
amount of wheat which might be
shipped there. An open market is
maintained there and anyone shipping
there is satisfied that he will receive
the prevailing market price on the day
his grain is sold.
I'VE believe that the same conditions
do not prevail at any of the Pacific
coast ports. No open market is MAIN
tanned there, neither will the market
DoO @HS hASAb ohlSAhI VI VHShs
and anyone shipping wheat there is
not assured of receiving the prevailing
market price. In fact, there is nc
market such as is maintained at Min
neapolis, so the shipper might find
himself at the mercy of a few buyers.
If an unusual amount of wheat was
shipped there, the buyers would pur-
chase their requirements and retire
from the market. leaving a large
amount of the offerings unsold and the
cars would stand on track at the x
pense of the shipper or be sold at ma
terial sacrifice.
Think Coast Uncertain
I'VE believe that because of thes,
:. uncertainties, the Pacific coast market!
cannot be relied upon, therefore can
not be used as a basis on which t
purchase wheat at points IN Montana
We find that the Montana miller i
vitality Interested as his market in tn
Pacific coast states is jeopardized. Be
i cause flour made from hard Montan
I wheat is better than flour made iron
soft Washington wheat, the public il
western states have learned to deman
I and use this high grade flour. Hereto
fore, the Pacific coast miller has ship
ped wheat from Montana at the sam
freight rate as paid by the Montan
miller and has converted the wheat t
h flour and sold the flour in the Pacifi
coast cities on an equal basis with tn
Q Montana miller.
g we find that the Montana miller
q no longer on an equal basis with th
Is Pacific coast miller. The Pacific Goa,
e miller now has a decided advantag
y because he can ship wheat from Nor
tana points to his mill on the coas
u - he p,o1a into flour nrac,,na hlu 81
4 export, on which he pays a freight rat
of only about 80 cents a hundred. A
,e soon as this wheat reaches his mi
and is converted into flour, it is so
in the coast cities in competition wit
Montana flour on which the MontaI
d miller S paying a freight rate of sbol
80 cents q hundred.
10 1--WE believe that when making e,
d port shipments from the mill. the p.
"a cific coast miller will substitute flor
~ made from Washington soft wheat #
the export tonnage created by IL
movement of wheat from Montana. j
. this subterfuge, the Pacific coast mill,
has an advantage over the MontaT
miller of about % cents a barrel, ar
can thereby entirely eliminate Il
Montana miller from the flour mark
j in the Pacific coast states.
after giving this situation our mo
careful consideration, we urgently pr
pose that the carriers be requested
. reduce the domestic rates on wheat
Pacific coast ports Co the rates recen
ly established for the so-called expo
business. 1t is our opinion that this
d the only way ir which the discrimini
7 ton against the Montana milling il
dustry can be removed.
Want Cut Going East
q CAS- the price paid the Montal
B farmer is controlled by the Minneapol
Y market any ordinary reduction in Il
4, freight rate to any other point won
) J not materially help our agricultural j
\ dustry. We, therefore, also urgent
\ propose that the carriers be request,
n 10 reduce the rates on wheat and j
products from points in Montana
Minneapolis, st. Paul, Duluth, Superb,
and Chicago and points taking sar
rates to a point where they will n
exceed the rate to the Pacific Goa
points mentioned above by more tn;
the present spread between the caste
and western terminal rates. We belle
that this is the only way in which t.
Montana farmers and wheat grove
can be benefited.
1--WE find that the grain rates
effect in Montana are higher thar +
same services in any of the stat
o;tbor aaSt IN. uocf of nc bainc frn