t 80 DEEP FURROWS 



Grain Commission. Six members are recommended by 

 the Winnipeg Board of Trade and two each by the 

 Minister of Agriculture in each of the three prairie 

 provinces.* The verdict of the Survey Board is final. 

 i Now, back in 1905 the machinery for moving the crop 

 ft upon its way was little understood by the average 

 { I Western Canadian farmer. The wheels went around, 

 gave a click and away went his wheat ; but in approach- 

 ing it all with the idea of understanding everything he 

 was in the position of the small boy examining the works 

 of a watch to see how it told the time. He felt that he 

 ought to understand what went on down at Winnipeg ; 

 for of course where there were so many rules and 

 regulations to be broken there must be " funny work." 

 w^^the^natural suspicion of the man who lived much 

 himself ia^th^Se^^paces^ who could not believe 

 that grain dealers could be honest and build palatial 

 residences in Winnipeg while his own toil in producing 

 the grain was rewarded with a living only. It looked 

 as if the roost was being robbed and with his newborn 

 initiative he wanted to find out how it was done and 

 who was doing it. 



The satisfactory manner in which things are con- 

 ducted in the grain trade to-day is the result of long 

 experience and gradual improvement of conditions. It 

 must be remembered that in the earlier days the trade 

 was not so well organized for efficiency and in 1905 

 when E. A. Partridge began to probe for "plugging" 

 he had a big job on his hands, especially in view of the 

 fact that he was treated for the most part as a meddler 

 who was not entitled to reliable information. 



* In 1905 three members of the Survey Board were recommended by 

 the Winnipeg Board of Trade and three each by the respective Depart- 

 ments of Agriculture in the three Prairie Provinces. 



