The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-10
MEN WHO GRIND THE GRAIN
A Day Spent in Hearing Several Papers
and Discussions on Milling Topics.
The Credit System Injuries the Industry and
Adds to the Cost Of FL our-Story
of Mill Run BY Ghosts.


The attendance at the meeting Of the State
Millsrs' Association yesterday was much larger
than on the previous day. number of persons
interested in its proceedings arriving yesterday
morning and the night before. When the meet
ing was called to order an invitation Was read
from the Nordyks & Marmon Company, ask
ing the members of the association to take ride
around the Belt road in . special car at o'clock
in the afternoon. The invitation was accepted.
President Boyer then delivered his annual ad-
dress. He discussed the rise Of the association.
and gave the causes which had impelled the
milers over the State to organize. believing that
the lack Of cooperation on the part of many was
serious injury to the business, and that the
ignorance and Encouragement OF many millers
are due TO the fact that they have not
joined the association. and have not had
the benefit OF its knowledge. They
carry on their business in manner.
They buy wheat grind is into -four
and dispose Of the product. but they are unac-
quainted with real scientific milling in all its
Departments and hence do not get out of their
business what they would if they understood it
trouble, az that is its present and distinctive
purpose
According TO the programme, Governor Gray
was to deliver an address of welcome preceding
the speech Of Mr.. Boyer. He was. however. en-
gagged in some business in his Office at the time
and was unable to come. At the conclusion Of
Mr.. Boysr's remarks, he was introduced and
spoke very briefly to the convention. He dwelt
upon the importance of tho milling trade as .
factor in the States development; up ON the
prominence Of Indiana in the production of all
kinds Of cereals, and complimented the associa-
ton on the number of enterprisine, intelligent
men IL contained He expressed the wish that
it might be an instrument Of great help in lead
ing to better development in the milling in
dustry
President G. H. Seybt, of the National Millers
Association, next discussed the subject Local
Organization He said there was time when
miller was always known by his dusty clothes;
but now the present association might be taken
for Methodist Conference. TLauGhter He
called attention to the fact Of the increasing con-
sideration of the commercial aspect of the busi-
ness, and the less attention devoted to the mere
ly mechanical II now required q broader view
and better business capacity to be q success
full miller. He spoke Of the rapid development in
milling machinery and OF the effect on the trade.
He thought that by proper organization the
millers could do much toward regulating the
market and deprsciating the influence OF all
kind OF speculation. He contrasted the rivalry
and opposition Of those engaged in tho business
in the same locality in former times with the
organization and cooperation that is every
whore now taking place, showing that the inter-
est OF the trade lies not In wrangling and oppo-
sitlon. but In organization and cooperation.
Mr.. Seybt then briefly discussed insurance in
its relation to millers, taking the ground that
mutual insurance was the best in all respects
fors h mil HA sha far had
been very successful! in number OF Western
States. The duty Of millers uniting to maintain
rates was emphasized, as were the benefits OF
local and district organization. He thought of
course, that in q State like Indiana there must
necessarily be q great variety of interests. max
ing it necessary, In order to secure the best re-
suits, to organize In small organizations, these
all to be united in a strong State organization.
After some other business had been attended
TO, Mr.. Seybt again addressed the association,
on the subject. Small Millers and the Export
Trade" He thought that the small miller should
confne his attention to the home market, make
as much flour as there was demand for and ship
his surplus wheat to larger dealer. The risks
are too great in shipping 70 Europe to make
it profitable for q man OF limited capt.
tai to engage in it. and the one
was appointed by the chair. at this point. to try
and secure milling in transit" rate, some
thing enjoyed by neighboring States. but hith-
erto unobtsinable in Indiana Nicholas Ellis,
| y
form System of Grading" after which the con-
vention adjourned for dinner.
In the afternoon three interesting papers were
read. one by Mr.. G. w. Mcdaniel. Of franklin.
on mill Bookkeeping" one by L. II. Gibson,
of Indianapolis, on Mutual Insurance. paper
that was received with great favor by the asso-
citation. and one by the secretary. written by
MIR. l.. b. Blsnton. on Cash VS.. Credit in the
Sale OF Flour" Mr. Blanton said that he was
convinced that the custom Of selling flour on
epadi ~ A. - hnf in
''The force of custom. and competition, howev-
or, makes it hard to desert the present system,
which 10 unsafe and vicious-that is. TO pay
cash for wheat and sell -four on credit The
have to take the risk Of losing what
little they make by selling on credit.
The practice OF selling on credit has been In
vogue . long time-indeed. since milling began
but 1t has greatly grown in the last few years
"A result of severe competition In the trade.
The increase in milling capacity in the last
six or eight years has made 1t difficult tor mill
srs to dispose OF their product, hence they have
made greater concessions in the credit business.
The surplus has caused the trouble. It is first
offered at . low price, and then on time 1t is
not difficult to figure out how this system began,
but il is TO figure out the extent VI loss Credit
but it nevertheless has ample one TO tho mill
er, which he has learned by experience. Mr..
Blanton then presented the following statistics:
In 1887 there was one failure for every l78 per-
sons doing business in Indiana, with an
average liability OF $S,672. Az estimated
by members Of four branches OF whole
sale trade Of Indianapolis, the average loss on
time sales 10 fve-eighths OF per cent loss
of fve-elghths of per cent means that on each
ST. 600 of sales there has followed loss Of Sc %.
Taking -four at "a per barrel. this would give
extra item Of expense of n cents per barrel to
be added to the cost Of manufacturng-no small
item In year. In conclusion he said MANY
forcibls reasons against the custom of selling
-four on credit exist 1t increases the business
risk. requires more capital. adds 20 the milling
expense account, complexities bookkeeping and
is in many other ways dstriment." After the
reading Of this paper the association adjourned
to take the ride on the Belt road.
at the session in the evening an unusually in
teresting paper read by Mr.. Albert Hoppin,
Of Milwaukee, Wis, on Steam Power for
FIGURING Mills He discussed at great length
the various classes Of engines from the stand
point of economy, going into detail In his In.
vestieation and giving q large mass OF facts and
figures of an interesting nature to his audience.
THE Exchange System from the Farmers
Standpoint" was the subject of . short paper by
w. W. Sullivan, Of Liberty. read by the secre-