Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-07-10
CLEAN WHEAT
A CHARGERS Defense of the California
Farmers


EDs. RECORD UNION In the serni,weeklv
issue of the RECORD UNION Of July Sd
the following statement appears: .sThe
honest Changers have enough black sheep in
the flock to give all bad name by the st.
tempt to foist upon our English cousins
cheat, specimens of our sun-dried adobe.
selected gravel from our streams, foul seeds.
etc., for true grain The writer also EN-.
phazies the statement by asserting that their
(ths Grangers1 silence in not protesting
against the Islander is q proof of their guilt.
In order that tie public may have clearer
and fuller comprehension of the true state of
affirs, l would like to lay before it the fol-
lowing facts: To anyone conversant with
the cutting of grain, it is well known that
during the process nothing of either adobe
or sand can he mixed with the wheat. Cheat,
oats, and other seeds, however, are unavoid-
ably, though not Intentionally, gathered IN
with the wheat, and with it placed Ia the
stack, where they remain until thrashing
commences. Then the owner of the thrasher
with his employees assumes the responsibility
oistnrashing, tanning, cleaning and sscking
the grain, the farmer having no part in the
work. As it is at the time OF sackiug the
L
ask could any man in his proper senses think
for moment that at this time farmer
would go to the bed Of astream and haul from
there several loads Of gravel, aud then in the
presence OF htteen or more men commence
soaking it in with his grain. Thi5 seems 10
be so preposterous that it needs no argument
TO gainsay it. 1t would appear that there
could be found more convenient time and
place than the grain field Of the farmer at
IN effect OH
it be amiss to suspect that this ssnd.adulter.
alton might not have taken place at San
Frauciscog The sand hills are in close prox-
unity to the warehouses of the grain ring,
and as it is well known that q large percent
age of sand enters into the adulteration of
coffee, rice, sugar and various other neces-
saries and goods in that city, is there not a
strong presumption that the mixture of Sc
lected gravel with the wheat shipped to our
English kinsmen took place there too rather
than in the open grain fields of eur honest
Changers? 1t is great pity that a sample
of this sand-adulterated wheat is not at
hand. 1t would perhaps lead to the detec-
ton of the outlines of one or other of the
psrties-the Changers or the grain-dealers
In my mind, however, no doubt exists but
that careful analysis would reveal the fact
that the sand found in the mixture would APP
proach nearer in quality and character to
that forming the sand hills Of San Francisco
than to that found in the streams of our val
leys.
How cheat, adobe and foul seeds get mixed
with our grain is a question of easy solution.
When the bottom of the stack is reached dur
ing thrashing time some portion of adobe is
carried up by the derrick forks and, with the
grain. is fed into the machine. While pass
ing through the separator. however, a portion
of it is not sufficiently pulverized to be blown
off by the fan, and consequently that part
drops into the sack. OF the other foul seeds
spoken Of, all except the cheat can be seps-
rated from the wheat by the sleeves, or wheat
screens, as some call them. But as yet we
have no screen capable of thoroughly sitting
the cheat from wheat, but hope that before fall
some means will be employed to effect that
purpose.
Considerable comment has been made
through the press with regard to the careless
ness of farmers IN cleaning their wheat dur
ing the last two years This is uncalled for,
and is a surprise to none except those who are
misinfnmed with regard to the matter.
Few, except the tilers of the soil themselves,
know that millers and even shippers have
not Disseminated between clean and foul
wheat during the time mentioned. The quo
tations we're made from the unclean wheat
by the buyers, and that rate was fixed as the
maxiInun. Clean and foul wheat were there
fore held at the same market value. Is it
any woAder, then, for farmers to exhibit an
apathy and carelessness in producing clean
sample of grain? If manufacturer only
receives for well made and neatly fitting
garment no more than he does for an inferior
one, would he still continue to furnish the
better and more costly article, regardless of
his profits The rule that applies to one
should equally apply to the other. The
farmer, like the manufacturer, cannot be ex-
pected to supply clean article OF grain if he
can obtain no more for his clean sample than
he does for the foul. In transaction Of this
kind there can be no downright dishon-
esty," as the parties to the contract see it
with their eyes open and are satisfied with
the terms of the contract. +.
But, letting bygones be bygones, it is the
intention of the farmers throughout the val
ley to thoroughly clean their wheat this fall,
and have it in the best condition for either
milling or shipment. This will require addi-
tional labor, and will be equal to ten or fifteen
per cent of the grain value. This excess over
what it would be if the wheat was left az
heretofore, in foul condition, the buyers
ought to meet in liberal spirit Buyers are
expected also to grade the wheat when Of
fered for sale, and fix the rate Of each grade
according to its real value. Ii they act
thus it will be a proof of their sincerity in
endeavoring to obtain for California wheat
that prestige it once had in the English mar
ket. But should they act otherwise and not
pay the farmers a price for their wheat equal
TO that which clean sample is supposed to
obtain in England, then viii it be evident
that some trick is being devised and some cor
ner is being contemplated to cheat and de-
fraud the poor rancher. There is hut one
thing mere TO say. 1t has been stated that
the reticence of the Changers in not respond
ing to the dishonest charges laid against them
is proof of their guilt. In reply l beg to
say that the Changers generally enjoy
happy mediocrity of condition, and have
rough plenty. and to maintain that condition
and procure that rough plenty demands of
them incessant' toll and tireless exertion.
They have no time for anything else. More
over, they are educated to drive the pillow
and not the pen, and they taught also,
and they believe in the teaching, that it is
better to be good and happy citizens than
able and subtle disputants. Very respect
fully, MILoN JOHNSON,
Grange No. ISL, Placer.