182 DEEP FURROWS 



opinion of the Grain Growers that these contraventions 

 of the Grain Act would be prevented only by acquisition 

 of the terminals by the Dominion Government. Mere 

 legislation and supervision by the Government would 

 not provide an effective remedy. 



At the head of the lakes the grain passed out of the 

 control of the transportation companies into the hands 

 of the grain dealers; it was the only point in transit 

 where it became subject to manipulation. With the 

 exception of those owned by the C. P. R., the terminal 

 elevators were operated by dealers, largely controlled 

 by United States concerns and managed by experts 

 from across the line. It was frequently charged that 

 terminal operators forgot that they ought to be ware- 

 housemen solely and sought profits outside those of 

 legitimate elevation and storage charges, although 

 these authorized charges paid ample return on capital 

 investment. The farmers wanted this temptation of 

 handling and mixing grain at the terminals removed 

 so that terminal operators could not tamper with the 

 grain while it was in their custody. The claims of the 

 Grain Growers that mixing was going on at Fort 

 William and Port Arthur were based upon the report 

 of the Royal Grain Commission which had investigated 

 the grain trade in 1906-7. 



The first definite step taken to lay these matters 

 before the Dominion Government was in the winter of 

 1908 after the formation of the Inter-Provincial Council 

 of Grain Growers' and Farmers' Associations. At a 

 meeting of these representatives of all the organized 

 farmers it was decided to send delegates to Ottawa. 

 When these gentlemen reached their destination in 

 / May, 1909, they found themselves face to face with a 

 large and active group of grain men, railway officials 





