Daily Kennebec journal., 1877-08-06
The Taxation of Bread,

The millers of the country are good deal ex-
ercised over a recent decision OF the L. 5. Su-
preme Court. 1t appears that the alleged paten n
tees of purifying process brought a suit for
infringement of the patent. and the Supreme
Court sustained the patentees, who have now pro-
cured injunctions restraining some Of the largest
millers in the country from using machinery which
some of them have had in their mills fer wears
Governor Washburne, of Illinois, who owns the
largest Touring mill in the nited States has been
| compelled 10 give bond OF S25o,00U in order 10
run his mill. This has created no small stir not
only among mlllers but among those VINO use
flour for the success of the claim Of the patentees
means Unlimited tax upon bread.
Ii Is said that the patent Is humbug; that the
decision of the Supreme Court was obtained by
collusion between the plaintiff and defendant and
that the patentee cannot sustain himself in fair
trial; but that, armed with the decision of the
highest court in the land, he intends by ipiupc-
tions and suits to trighten mlliers into compro-
misses with him. Should the patent be permane Mt
y sustained, the patentees can oi course, demand
what roy atty they please. The process on which
their claims rest is Indispensable to milling. De-
prve any miller Of the right 10 the process of
cleaning mddhngs before grinding, and of the use
Of the machinery whereby ii Is done, and he is
rained.
But the parties who are trying 10 control this
licenses to such millers rs will recognize the val
idity of their patent for $4,000 for each run of
stones. As there are 600 of stones in the
United States, the desired licenses would amount
TO the pleasing sum OF S36, 100000. Minneapolis,
Mimi, would have to pay Sl,2O0,000 OF this
amount, and the people OF Minnesota are so mu ch
exercised that the minneapolis Tribune publishes
call for all the people in the State to unite in
requesting their senators and Representatives to
demand, rs soon as Congress is in session, com
mittee of Investigation upon the issuance of the
patent, and upon the suit upon which the decision
Of the Supreme Court was based
Gov. Washburne says that the patent was grant
ed for Q process which has been in public use IN
Europe tor over fifty years. The way in which
the process came into use here Is interesting
Eight or ten years ago, Minnesota wheat and
Minnesota flour were decidedly Inferior Sudden
ly there was q change, and Minnesota -four be-
came q iavorlte in the trade and has since remain
ed in the front rank. This revolution was brough
about by change IN the system Of milling. In
1871, MIR. George Ii. Christian became satisfied
from an examination OF samples of French flour
that the French millers practiced q system of
milling which was not in use in this country. He
soon after became acquainted with French mil
Ter, who introduced the French process in CHRIS
tan Il Co.'S mill. The process was q success from
the first, and resulted ID the now celebrated Min
neapolis flour. Shortly afterward Mr. Christian
went to France, and brought back more perfect
machines, which he has since used and which are
the ones on which royalty is now demanded.
The process, it may be of interest to say con-
ssts in high grinding the wheat, and purify Ing
the material thus higaly ground before finally re-
ducng 1t to flour. Low grinding was the method
in almost universal use until 1871. Low gSinding
means the bringing the upper or running mill
stones down low Oh IN close proximity to the meth
er stone, by the reason OF which the largest amount
of flour is derived from the first grinding, but
AS necessarily must be the case, great deal OF
the outer coating of the wheat, together with the
embryo would be reduced to such q fneness as
to 90 into the flour, and a separation would be
impossible. The high grinding is the directly op-
poslte the low, and the object at the first grind
ing is to get rid of the bran at once and make as
little as possible. Necessarily in passing wheat
between mill-stones, even by this high grinding,
portion is converted into flour. That portion is
oolted out, leaving large resduum of bran and
other Impurities, mixed with small white granula-
tons Of the grain OF wheat, which, when separated
from the impurities aud ground to powder, makes
the Minneapolis flour. The process OF purifying
the material above named, is the process for
which Mr. Cochrane and his partners claim to
have patent.