238 THE BOOK OF CORN 



MERITS OF THE COUNTRY ELEVATOR SYSTEM 



Farmers' elevators and co-operative societies for 

 the economical handling of corn in producing sections 

 are increasing in number. This is particularly true in 

 territory west of the Mississippi river. Where inde- 

 pendent or "line" elevators lack in competitive bidding, 

 or refuse to pay prices satisfactory to producers, city 

 markets considered, the farmers' elevators find a true 

 place. These are usually organized on the co-opera- 

 tive plan, farmers adjacent to a given shipping point 

 choosing their own officers and manager, subscribing 

 for the stock, erecting a new warehouse and elevator, 

 or buying and refitting an old one. 



Attitude of Railway Companies — As a rule these 

 are quite willing to grant switching facilities, in their 

 logical effort to develop the production of any given 

 commodity which will mean more business. The char- 

 ter being secured, and the elevator built and equipped, 

 the farmers' company buys grain from producer and 

 operator as any other business concern. The grain 

 dealers' associations operating in various western 

 states, and largely made up of line elevators, or those 

 with important terminal connections, generally oppose 

 the farmers' elevators. In some of these co-operative 

 institutions each shareholder is limited to one vote, no 

 matter how many shares he may hold. 



At times, when other dealers promise to pay more 

 for grain than this elevator, farmers will be allowed to 

 sell to the opposition elevator. Proper restrictions are 

 observed, however, to prevent grain combinations from 

 breaking up the farmers' organizations through tempo- 

 rarily paying a stiff advance, perhaps more than mar- 

 ket conditions warrant. Growers patronizing farm- 

 ers' elevators claim they get the benefit of the premium 

 arising from the superior grade of their local product ; 



