St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-05
w, f. Steele.

MI w. L. OlSG10 VI SlSSiC, OoA.s q
farmer and elevator man, was appointed
one of the commissioners of the Dakota
legislature to appear before the Minnesota
legislature and try to effect a community OF
grading between Dakota and Minnesota.
He was at the Merchants hotel last evening
and GLOBE reporter showed to him the
schedule of wheat grades prepared by the
commission and its explanatory remarks.
He carefully read the definition OF each
grade and approved them. Concerning the
first grade he said: ''About No. 1 hard, OF
course, there's no argument 1t is the
proper grade to establish for the best quality
of wheat. This grade should be considered
as most important to the interests OF the
Northwest, as this grade is known world
wide, and its interests would deter
iorate were it not recognized and kept up"
Concerning No. 1 Northern he said:
''That's o. K. too. 1t gives an OPP
portunity to market a great amount
of soft wheat grown in the hard
belt, or gum wheat, which millers
term soft, although it takes the hard form
in our country, and gives the opportunity
for getting in a lighter grade of hard wheat,
which is very important. The grade OF
No. 2 Northern we could not do without,
and will. be good, merchantable wheat,
being about the same as Chicago No. 2
spring. No. 3 absorbs certain wheat
which couldn't go in except as condemned.
The establishing of the mo grade" VIII
put the wheat on its merits, and result
largely to the interests of the farmers"
Concerning the influence this would
have on Dakota farming, Mr.. Steele sad:
DAKOTA LEGISLATION.
s'Our legislature had intended to pass
law similar to yours, and to accept Min
nesota's grades for Dakota. The farmers,
however thought that an open market
was sufficient and better for them than the
system of grading Consequently no law
was passed of this nature. l predict,
however. that Dakota will eagerly
watch the workings of this system and will
see that it is largely to its interest to estab-
lish a system of grades similar to yours
when the legislature shall meet again.
have always been a strong believer IN this.
s'When it was celebrating this question,
the commission sent an invitation to me and
[ believe to other Dakota farmers and all
whom they met from Dakota to be present
when hearing different arguments looking
toward the establishing of grades. We ac-
cepted the invitation of the committee and
attended and expressed our views. l
thought this extreme courtesy on the part
of the commission. showing that they con-
sidered the interests of Dakota and Mime
sofa in harmony if not identical. Dakota
will most fully appreciate such treatment
81 cannot compliment the commission
for its attitude on the question of dockage
for dirt. 1t is system that should not
exist and if the farmer be thorough one,
he will so clean his seeds and keep his grain
clean. If he be poor one his grain uSu-
ally shows it by the quantity of foul matter
it contains This system of no dockage
makes a premium for irst-class farming,
and will eventually compel all farmers to
farm at least reasonably well.
HAVE ALWAYS FAVORED
this system of grading and my convictions
are stronger than ever. / can't see how
it is possible for the farmers to get all their
grain is worth in any other manner, as they
can't identify their grain without grading
it. Now, if they desire to ship their wheat
in quantity they can do so feeling sure that
it will receive its just grading at the termi-
nus"
DConcerning the effect of the grading ON
the interests of Dakota farmers Mr.. Steele
said it would be beneficial. They would
still be under the thumb of the elevator
man-that is, those who were pressed for
money and were obliged to raise cash on
their crops as soon as harvested. But for
those who could ship in car lots to Duluth,
Minneapolis or st. Paul, the effect would
not be otherwise than beneficial.