The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-07-31
An Enormous Tax or Flour,

TIE CoCNRANE PATENT FOR MiTLING-WHAT
THE GREATEST MILLER IN THE UNITED
STATES SAYS ABOUT. IT-HOW IT WILL
GREATLY INCREASE THE PRICE OF FLOUR IF
MAINTAINED.
The New York Tribune SAYS:
Ex-Governor Cadwalladcr G. Washburn,
OF Wisconsin, in conversation with repre-
sentative OF the Tribune recently. gave 4
history OF patent for milling wheat, which
threatens to impose tax OF millions OF dol
lars on the flour-consumers OF the country.
He said .. | am particularly interested just
now in fighting the infamous patcnt-right
>windIe, which is going to levy tribute on
every loaf of bread made in this country.
You haven't heard about it! Why. its
making great sensation in the West. It's a
long story, but | can give you the gist OF 1t
in few moments. | am, by the way,
the largest miller in the United States; my
mills being ut Minneapolis. Mimi. All
millcrs are now using what is called the
high process OF grinding, which was gene
rally introduced in this country about 1871.
but had been in use in Europe for fifty
years. will explain the terms OF high and
low grinding. Low grinding means the
bringing the upper or running milestone
low down and in close proximity to the
netner-stone, by 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 outcr-coating OF
the wheat, together with the embryo, would
be reduced to such daencSs rs to 20 into
the flour, and q separation was Impossible.
The high grinding is the direct opposite OF
the low, and the object is at the first grind
ing to get rid OF bran at once and make as
little flour as possible. This is done by
blowing the bran off the coarsc-ground
grain or middlings, and afterwards grind
ing fine the small white granules. / bought
my machines in France This improved
process is now absolutely indispensable to
successful milling. Deprive any miller OF
it and he is ruined
a ring OF spectators in Washington
have lately got hold OF an old patent, never
used, and have rot it rcissucd so as to cover
all the machines for etlccting the process |
have described. 1t is called the Cochrane
patent. After quietly taking out the re-
issue, they went on without making any
noise and took 4 suit up to the Supreme
Court. with man of straw for defendant,
and as no real defence was made, they easily
obtained a decision based on an opinion
given by Justice Miiler. Now this gang OF
patent swindlers are attacking the heaviest
milers with suits, expecting to tcrrify all
the others. They have singled out the Jew
ellis OF Brooklyn, the HaNalls Of Rich
mond, and my mills at Minneapolis. They
have put me under bonds in the enormous
sum Of S250,000 pending the conclusion OF
injunction proceedings.
81 learn that the rascalS propose to be
magnanimous. and to grant licenses to such
millers as will recognize the validity OF their
patent for the moderate sum OF $4,000 for
each run Of stones, which for this city alone
amounts to the vast sum Of S1.200,000.
While primarily this great sum would come
from the millers, really it all comes out OF
the farmer and consumer at last, and they
are the real people most interested in the
defeat Of this enormity. As there are over
5000 runs of stones in the United States,
this license will amount to $50, 000,00 We
are going to bring this great outrage before
Congress next winter and try to have the
patent cancelled. The grain-growing sec
tions Of the West are indignant at the ex-
posure OF this enormous fraud, and the
gran-consulting East ought to be equally
aroused; for the attempted tax on the chief
necessary OF life affects both alike"