Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1880-07-09
The Foul Wheat Question.

The admixture of foreign substance
with wheat has so lowered the reputa
ton of California wheat that it is nov
only sixth ON the list in quotation in
stead of first IS formally. On this i'm
portant question the Nears Letter di
lates.
So far back as January last we call
ed attention to the necessity of requir
ing some important reforms in gu,
wheat business, and we are extremel,
glad to welcome the action of the mil
lers of the state and the members OF
our Produce Exc ange. with this oh
iect in view. The matter has been
forced upon the attention of all par
ties Upon the millers, through the
damage to their millstones and serious
expenses of repairs, caused by the
presence Of large quantities of adobe
and gravel mixed in with the wheat
which passes through their mills
upon the country dealers, who have
suffered much through having large
quantities of wheat thrown back on
their hands by the exporters and mil
lers; upon the exporters, many of
whom, not having exercised the
care in selecting which they ought
to have done, have had heavy reclama-
tons from the other sideto make good
and, lastly upon the farmers them
selves, who, perhaps the greatest suf
ferers of all, have lost consideiab in
consequence Of the deprecated 9alue
of their produce in the European mar
kets, not to mention the losses which
they must sustain, either directly or
indirectly, through reflections along
side ship at this port. We are not
sorry for the farmer; he is frequently
either careless or dishonest. 1t is
usually quite easy for him to keep his
good wheat apart from his poor, and
his foul wheat, adobe or gravel, from
the clean.
A largely attended meeting of the
members of the Produce Exchange,
millers, and others connected nth the
grain trade, was held on Friday of
last week, when petition Of the mil
lers was presented, calling attention to
the irregular pratices OF the farmer in
packing his wheat, and the evils and
ipconveniences which follow in conse
quenee, and asking that some action
might be taken to bring about refor
nation of the system. A number of
resolutions were passed unanimously,
which was ordered to be printed for
distribution among the farmers and
.,hers interested, the effect of which
10 is hoped will secure some improve
ment during the coming season. We
have not space TO give the resolutions
IN e.rtcaso. They embody and appeal
to the farmers to he more honest in
their packing, and to give more atten-
ton to the cleaning of their produce
to the dealers up eountry, to keep the
different grades destiuet to carriers,
to exercise more care in keeping differ
ent lots seperate to the purchas-
ers, to insist upon getting what they
have bought according to sample or
grade and to all, upon the ground Of
self-interest and self-protection. 1t is
disgraceful to California that her
wheat, which, few years since, real |
lied the highest price in the European
should now have fallen to a
fifth or sixth place in the quotations
Anstraliaq, Ghilan, Oregon and even
some of the cas-. Indian wheats over
sellng.it now, The pith of the cause
Of all Thu is, however, reached in the
following extract. whieh we make
from the resolutions.
THE condition of affairs which has
brought this matter before the
Exchange, and has compelled this ac-
ton, has been produced by mutual
neglect, and can only be semedied by
mutual action.
The purchasers and exporters have
It much in their power to remedy the
evils complained of Let them all ex.
srcise proper and honest care when re-
Giving the wheat which they have
bought, and neither be "bulldosed'
themselves nor pay employees who
nay be ''bulidozedf into taking foul
md inferior wheat in execution of
OF contracts The subject
8 OF vast importants to California,
md We hope, by the persistent aud
United action of all concerned, that our
'roduca will shortly again take up its
I'D position in the European markets.
Ia.