550 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



than nine per cent of the corn in Iowa was number two the grain trade would 

 then be forced to recognize the grade and the farmers would receive an 

 additional one half to one cent per bushel and at times much more. 



A more definite system of grain inspection would certainly be a great 

 benefit to the grain trade and prevent much of the misunderstanding that 

 now occurs between the grain dealers and the farmers. ' 



FARMERS ELEVATORS AND CO-OPERATIVE COMPANIES. 



Z. T, BarringeVy Before the Palo Alto County Farmers'' Institute. 



In presenting to you a few thoughts on the subject of farmers' elevators, 

 I will say that, elevators are built to facilitate the unloading of grain from 

 farmers wagons and loading it again into cars for shipment. They are a 

 modern necessity in the handling of grain. My subject, however, does not 

 deal with these buildings, but rather with such principles as I believe will 

 enable farmers to more intelligently do the marketing of the products of 

 their farms, hence, my line of thought will be somewhat different from those 

 usually discussed in meetings of this kind. 



Not a few of the friends of the farmers' elevators believe that they see in 

 this movement the first step, the ABC, or introduction of modern business 

 methods in the selling of their farm products. They believe these elevators 

 will be built in every town all over the grain producing sections of the west; 

 that they will unite into State associations, and these again into a National 

 association; that through this organization they will determine the true 

 average cost of products; that they will then weigh, grade and price their 

 goods to buyers the same as sellers of manufactured goods weigh, grade and 

 price their goods to us. In other words, farmers will do business as other 

 men do. 



My efforts today will be to show by comparison and various forms of 

 reasoning that the plan is a feasible one; that it would work to benefit, not 

 only the farmer^ but all classes of society, and that its realization in the near 

 future is not only possible but altogether probable. You all understand that 

 society, taken as a whole, is composed of many parts, something like a mill 

 or a machine; that no industry or branch of society is independent or com- 

 plete within itself, but that men in all classes, and in every occupation, are 

 dependent, one upon another, and by reason of this fact anything that 

 works to injure any branch of society must necessarily work an injury to 

 society as a whole, and from this standpoint we shall endeavor to treat our 

 subject. 



Farmers as a whole believe that the laws of supply and demand some- 

 how work to govern the prices on all kinds of products. Now, I wish to 

 advance the thought that if this view is correct we farmers ought to become 

 familiarly acquainted with the workings of this law. Senator Tillman told 

 the cotton growers of the South a few days ago that the laws of supply and 



