The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-10-14
SHIPPING !, l.5AT.
A Few Suggestions to Farmers
That Are Well Worth
Attention.
Brief Statement About How
Grain Is Handled at the
Large Markets.
Farmers May Benefit Them
selves by Studying Our State
Grain Laws.

The grain and warehouse laws now in
force in this state were enacted March
8, 1885, in response to an overwhel ming
demand from all parts of the state for
legislative protection against injustices
practiced at the terminal points in the
matter Of grain grading. When the
state assumed control at the terminal
points, it found the work Of inspection
in very chaotic condition, each board
of trade being governed by its own
standard, and these individual standards
shifting to suit the exigencies of the
market. The Inauguration of the new
system of state inspection and weighing
was, therefore, received with congratu-
lations on all sides.
The benefcient results expected from
the new system have been felt every
where throughout the state. Many Of
the evils which formerly existed have
been mitigated and fairer grades and
more accurate weights at interior points
are generally the rule. No system that
could be devised by the wit of man
would be perfect, but it is safe to say
that the present system for grain in spec
ton in this state has been improving
from year to year, and that the enforce
ment Of the grain laws as they now
stand leav es little or nothing to be de-
sired.
The recent change in the wheat grades
is striking illustration of the indie
pendence of the state grain inspection
department. AS Is generally known,
the wheat crop of the Northwest this
year is of peculiar character. It is Of
an excellent quality for milling pur-
poses, but the wheat is lighter than
usual. Chief Grain Inspector Clausen
called attention to this fact in q circular
letter issued few weeks ago, empha-
sizing the necessity of changing the
grades, as it would be impossible to
handle the crop under the existing
grades without subjecting the farmers
to serious losses on their crop. The step
proposed was very grave one and
excited general opposition Imong the
elevator and commission men and others
actively interested in the grain trade.
But the elevator and wheat rings"
of which we hear so much, had to
come to terms. Mr.. Clausen demon
strated that he is the master of these
so-called wheat rings, and a watchful
and faithful servant of the people.
The change agreed upon was great
victory for the inspection department
and the farmers. 1t will save millions
of dollars to the wheat growers of the
Northwest on this years crop. The
people of Minnesota may well congratu-
late themselves upon the watchfulness,
integrity, efficiency and thorough indie
pendence of the grain inspection depart
ment.
That the farmers appreciate the bene-
fits conferred by the new system is only
natural and has been demonstrated time
and again. To illustrate, the platform
adopted by the state convention of the
Farmers Alliance in 1890 put stamp
Of emphatic approval upon the existing
system of handling the crops. The
third plank of that platform demands
''that the right to establish side tracks
to connect grain warehouses and the
equal use of cars shall in no manner be
abridged" and the fifth plank demands
''the maintenance Of the present free
dom of traffic law now in our stat
utes, the present grain laws and the law
for the distribution of cars.''
Certainly, no Endorsement could be
stronger than this.
About year ago careful and
thorough investigation of the operation
and enforcement of the inspection sys-
tenn in Minneapolis was made by The
State, the organ of the state Farmers
Alliance of Minnesota. The result of
this inquiry is described in an article of
nearly five columns which appeared in
the issue of The State published Oct. N,
1891. The Conclusions of the article
read substantially as follows:
''That state inspection is preferable to
board OF trade, or any other system, we
have no doubt.
1t is subject to public control and
supervision.
All of the details are open to the in
spection of interested parties.
Errors can be corrected when found. |
improvements made when necessary. It
may be made more efficient by eliminat-
ing partisan politics.
Mr.. Clausen, barring politics, is a !
practical, honest and efficient chief.
Neither he nor any other man can secure
the highest degree of efficiency when his
assistants are appointed for political
purposes.
1t is true that the principal positions,
20 far as we have Investigated, are well
klled.
Minnesota il behind the age in not