The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-03-30
great west, where still the sentiments of
1776 linger among the people. God de-
fend the Republic.
GRADING md WEIGHlNG WHEAT


proper manner Of grading wheat is by Its
weight, and believe if this system was adopt.
ed by the State it would result i'll saving of
thousands Of dollars to the farmer by estab-
fishing uniformity in grades and thus re-
move anydoubt in the minds of the purchaser
~ to the proper grade into which certain
wheat should BE- placed. This doubt will al
ways exist so long as the wheat when shipped
to the consumer is subject to second inspect
ion in which the grade is determined BY no
fixed system or rule but entirely depending
upon the opinion Of some individual
This correspondent recognises very
clearly the disadvantage which the
grain raisers OF the State now labor
under. while the grades of their wheat
are '.determined by no fixed system or
rule, but entirely depend upon the opin-
ion ofsome individual" And too often
that opinion is corrupt and dishonest
one. 1t is question with us, however
whether the various grades can be tested
by weight alone. What say our farmer
friends? 1t seems to US that wheat may
weigh pretty we'll and yet be musty
or sprouted.
This correspondent further says:
There is another leak which seems quite as
unfair to the farmer as the present system OF
grading. Perhaps the statement would be
| doubted by many, that the farmers Of this state
send to the different markets OF the state at the
very least 10 200 bushels of wheat per yea r
which they receive no compensation whatever
Yet think this statement can be verified be-
yond any question by the confession of pur-
chasers themselves. We Will assume that
there is marketed in this State 10000, 900
bushels. The average load being about 50
bushels. This gives us 666, ,666 loads market
ed each year. 1t is now quite universally ad-
mitted by ware house men, that they cannot
make their weights hold out when shipped to
the consumer or commercial centers without
taking from the actual weights about lOlts. to
each load. This will amount on the 666, ,66o
loads to the trifling sum of lli,l bushels in
the year. 1t is not simply of the tenth on the
load that complain, but it is the principal in
vo!ved in it against which mainly protest
Why not require ofour petroleum men to put
into each barrel Of Kerosene q gallon or 50
more than the actual measurment? What
would our own .nllers say If We should COM
pel them to pack into each barrel of -four Ave
or six pounds more than the 1856 to allow tor
lcakages Why, ii the farmer when he puf-
chases tea, coffee, or sugar, gets but the amount
| he pays for, should he be required to bring to
ma, ket more of his produce than he gets pay
fort Some one may say '.there is no justice in
| it, but still ten or fifteen pounds OF wheat
amounts to so little it is hardly worth while to
speak Oft" But great or small loss the pTin-
| q pie involved is the same. Aud besides, you
sonce,,e so much. Let wheat buyer practic.
| on this principle ard soon you will find him
| taking from you many times the ten pounds
| This is the natural and legitimate result o
such pr ctice. The true statement Of the case
| is simply this, that the wheat grower must not
only sustain all the losses and l-akages OF whsa
white in his own hands, but any actual or sup
posed losses that NAV occur until it g.ts I've
the miller's ston.ss this is required Of M
other class of producers.
Our bill, which was defeated in the
House Of Representatives, provided no
only for grating. and inspecting wheat
and thus establishing uniform grades al
over the state but it also provided tha
the wheat inspector in each t0wr
should be an inspector Of weights ane
measures. and should have full authority
to examine all scales upon which whea
was publicly bought and sold; aud tn,
bill also provided severe penalties for 81
parties VINO cheated in weights.
We sincerely believe that some suct
bill would save the farmers of Minncso
ta y million dollars annually. Few
things are more provoking than 70 be u
the trouble and expense of raising COOK
No. whea: and then have some knav'
grade it down to No. and put the diff
erence into his own pocket; and not sal
isfied with that. proceed to rob the farm
er of from ten to eighty pounds per loa,
by ialse scales. Ii the people have no
the Intelligence to stop these egregiou
wrongs the doctrine Of SELF governme a
is \ delusiou and mockary.