Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-05-08
HANDLING GRAIN.
How'IT REACHES THE ELEvA-
TORS FROM WESTERN FARMS.

Big Bins and Subsequent Loading
on Vessels.
A grain of wheat is a little thing, yet
it passes through great many experiences
between its harvesting on the far-oG
western prairies and the time when 1t
forms part Of the loaf which graces the
board of the European consumer. It is
the same with corn, oats, peas, and, in
fact, all those various commodities which
are known to commerce under the gener-
al designation of 'grain.n Everybody
knows, in q general way, that the grain
exports of the United States are very
large, but there are very few persons. out
side the limits Of the trade itself, who
ever stop to think of the details of the
vast business and how they are carried
out.
After the grain is harvested by the
farmers it is shipped by rail to the near
est largest city-say to Chicago, for ex-
ample. Here, after a brief delay, it is
once more started on its journey over the
hundreds of miles of shining metal that
stretch from the Lake City to various
parts on the Eastern seaboard.
Arrived at the elevator the first ordeal
to be undergone by the grain is that of
inspection, which is performed by force
of inspectors. The inspector enters the
car, having in his hand an instrument
called ''grain trier." This consists of a
hollow steel tube, about four feet in
length and a little more than an inch in
diameter, sharply pointed at one end and
+ with six longitudinal openings along its
side. Inside this tube wooden plunger
fits snugly. The ''triern is thrust to its
full length into the grain, and the plunger
is then gradually withdrawn. As it re-
cedes, the openings are one by one ex-
posed, and each is filled by the grain
opposite it. When the plunger has been
wholly removed the ''trier'' is full of
giain, it holding about three pints. This
grain represents the quality at different
depths in the car, so that its use, in in
telligent hands, effectually prevents
s'deaconingn car of poor grain with a
top layer of good article, and thus caus-
ing the whole to pass muster.
The sample of grain removed by the
s'trier'' is examined by the inspector, who
then, if it is 'local' grain and not in
tended for export, places it in small
bag, on the outside of which he certifes
the quality and other necessary particu-
lars. 1t is. by this sample and on the
basis of the inspectors judgment thai
the subsequent sales or transfers of the
grain is made. In the case of export
grain the inspector makes out a ticke'
containing its grade, etc., which is. pu
on file. There are ten grades of mer
chantable winter wheat, eight of spring
wheat, seven of corn, ten of oats ane
three Of rye, SO that it is readily seel
that the inspector needs to possess accu
rate powers Of discrimination lest he com
init an injustice either to the owner or tt
the ultimate purchaser of the grain.
After the grain is inspected work is i'm
mediately, begun to unload it from tn
car. This is accomplished by two men
each with large wooden scoop, draw
by steam power, by means of which
car Of grain can be disposed Of in sur
prisingly short time. The grain fall
+ into a pit, from which it is elevated Il
( the top Of the lofty building, where it j
dropped into mammoth hopper holding
about 500 bushels. This hopper is in re
atty the "pan y of pair of scales, tn
beam Of which is on the lower foo
in sight of the man in charge of elevatini
the grain, When he finds that the ca
pacity of the hopper has been reached
he shuts off the further ascent of grain.
Right here let word be said abou
the process of tselevating." Any on
who has ever had the misfortune to max
the acquaintance of that old-fashione
invention known as the s'chain pump
will not need any further explanation
The principle of the grain elevator is a
there. Reduced to its simplest term
the elevator is nothing but a vertici
belt, having on its outer side row {
small iron troughs, set at reasonably clos
intervals. When this belt revolves th
troughs catch up the grain in the pit a
ready alluded to and carry it to the to
Of the building, where, as the belt passs
over pulley, the kernels are droppe
into the weighing hopper already mel
toned.
After being weighed the grain
dropped through the bottom of the hol
per into another one just below it, whie
is arranged on the principle of a railws
turntable. Around the edge of this turl
table are the openings of anumber
spouts, each Of which leads to certat
bin. According to the kind and qualit
of the grain the single spout Of the no
per is thrust into particular one of the
open mouths, and in few seconds q
the grain has disappeared into the dal
reeesses of the bin, and the yawnir
chute is still open, with its mute reque
for ssmore.n
When it is desired to load steam
with grain the latter is once more elevate
from the bins, and then, after weighin
is dropped into what are known as ''shii
ping Bins, which are ranged along Z
side of the elevetor next to the steamt
Large and heavy movable iron pipes q
connected with these bins through opc
ings iii the walls Of the building, Al
through them the grain slides down in
the hold of the ship. In case it is me
convenient to load a vessel directly fro
the cars it is done by the same process
is above described, except that, after
ing elevated, the intermediate stage
running it off into astorage bin is omitte
Ii il Just as If, when Jones pays you Il
$5 be has owed you SO long, you fl
vo,l,. creditor Robinson at your elbow,