With all of the changes taking place during the 1940's and 50's in the Palouse, it is difficult to determine which events happened first, and if they caused the other events to occur. Mechanization and automation spread across America. Burlap became scarce, and as a result farmers moved towards bulk handling. Headers and threshers were combined and converted to bulk grain which reduced the needed farming manpower. Trucks replaced wagons and further reduced the number of men required for harvest operations. Farm storage became typical as most of the older commercial warehouses had limited amounts of storage space for bulk grain. World War II began and pulled a large portion of the men typically involved in farming into war production or military service.
The development of the tramways was a logical necessity growing out of the geography of the area and the early mechanization of farming. The further mechanization of farming led to the decline of sacked grain handling. The decline of sacked grain led to the antiquation of the tramways. The tramways were constructed to haul sacked grain. Had building supplies been available during the war years, the tramways may have been converted to bulk handling and enjoyed more years of use. Had the war not siphoned off available man power, farmers may not have found it necessary to convert as quickly to bulk handling to conserve their labor force.
Farmers faced a complex set of problems that were solved in many different ways. In Garfield county, the solution was bulk grain handling. This solution answered the problem of the labor shortage for farmers throughout America during World War II. World War II brought about the end of horse powered farming in America, and with the end of horses came the end of sacked grain. The chutes, bucket lines, and tramways are all examples of the willingness to experiment with new ideas and methods to accomplish a goal. In the Palouse, the goal was marketing grain. The solution was to take the geography that was an impediment to the farmers and use it to solve the farmer's problem.
Introduction
Geography
• Farming
• Transportation
• Grain Chutes
• Mayview Tramway
Bulk Handling
• Conclusion
• Bibliography
• Oral Interviews
• Maps
• Illustrations
Acknowledgements
• Comments
