The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-12-12

The ninth annual report of the state
weighmaster at Minneapolis has been SUBJ
mitted to the State Railroad and Ware
mouse Commission. 1t gives in detail the
report of the business of the Minneapolis
Weighing Department for the grain year
ending August 81, 1894
The force of the department numbers
Is employees, and the system now en-
braces every elevator and mill in the city,
with the exception of the Phoenix mill.
The report says: There was a decrease
in the total number Of cars weighed dur
Ing the past year as compared with the
foregoing, of 2S,710 and with the year
ending August 81, 1892, of 5S.O3S. This is
due to a partial failure of crops in the
grain growing district that is tributary to
this market, and as a natural consequence
the REGENTS have been lessened in a cor
responding degree.
"The expenses for the year were S. 320.6S
less than the year ending August 81, 1888,
and this lessening has been effected by
furloughipg a certain humber of weighers
each month without pay when the business
would permit still the total deficiency for
the year REACHED the large figure of S.
1882. This has been occasioned by the
fact that quite a number Of the elevators
did not handle a sufficient number OF cars,
| and the weighing charges paid by them
were therefore insufficient to pay for the
services at these places. To avoid con-
tinued deficiency, it therefore became nee
essary to take such steps as would insure
against further loss, and accordingly, the
state grain and warehouse commission
place the fees for weighing for the coming
year at rs cents per car for all in and
ali out weighing. A material increase in
receipts will thereby follow, and with the
carrying out of your Instructions of Aug
ust TO- 1894, to affect arrangements with
elevators at which losses had occurred last
year. by which they be required to guaran-
tee a revenue sufficient to pay the salary
of the Wesher employed thereat will, it
is expected, make the department self
sustaining.
Notwithstanding the fact that the num-
Der of places at which we weigh have been
increased, the number of employees are now
less-due to the reason that at elevators
where weighing is done in the cupola and
helpers have been stationed on the ground
floor, such service has, according to your
instructions, been discontinued, and the men
so employed have either been discharged
or assigned to Weighing. l regret that this
system had to be abandoned, for the ex-
pertinent was found to be in the line Of i'm
provement and greater efficiency of service,
our financial status; however, made it nee
essary. g
Tine Acknowledgements of shippers and
receivers of the efficiency of the depart
ment find cause for congratulation, and
as appreciative of our efforts to make it
what it should be- of great efficiency and in
which full confidence can be placed. To the
men on the force, who, By constant watch
funess and care in the exercise of duty
great credit for the results obtained is due
and take pleasure in commencing them for
the interest they take in the service.
Before the Inauguration of the state
weighing department, which has now been
III successful operation for nine years, the
chamber of Commerce had all the weigh
ing in charge, because. by experience it had
lot
like ours, system OF weighing with at
tendant organization and rules, was simply
Indispensable The necessity for it is as
great today Or greater than ever, and were
the state weighing department to be dis
pensed with, it would have to be succeeded
by the Chamber OF Commerce or other or
sanized body. 1t follows then, that when
the operating expenses are not greater tn
der state control than under private, that
the former would be to shipper and receiver
alike the most preferable, for all persons
connected with the state service are ap-
pointed by the railroad and warehouse COM
mission, are entirely impartial, and are I'M
der heavy bonds and are sworn officers of
the state. glance taken at our Office any
forenoon when the same is thronged with
the representatives of the railroads. eleva-
tor companies, millers, commission men
and others desirable to obtain weights of
cars received and weighed the day previous
will demonstrate the usefulness of the de-
of receiving and shipping grain, and ac-
customed as business interests have now be-
come to the conveniences afforded by the
office in the matter of service and infor-
nation, any irregularty or delay, should
the same occur would greatly discommode
such interests. State certificates of weight
are now generally demanded by the trade
upon which payment and settlement is
made: they are issued in large numbers
and the making of them occupies much of
piled to any one interested, free of cost
upon receipt Of information at the office
Of number and initial of car and date Of
shipment.
CAUSES OF SHORTAGES
"Shortages complained OF are due to foI-
loving causes: Poor and careless cooper
Ing by shippers, differing and stealing from
cars while in transit and at railroad yards
and defective scales and facilities at points
of shipment. AS to the first cause, which
is largely preventative, I cannot too
strongly impress upon shippers the i'm
portance of looking after this necessity
to safe shipment, and see, too, that every
precaution is taken against shortages re-
suting therefrom and that cars are clean
and dry and in good condition when load
ed Traces of lime and coal dust in cars
not properly swept before loading are also
productive of shortages as these ingredi-
ents are highly Objectionable to millers
and the cars cannot be thoroughly swept
at point Of destination on account of the
presence thereof. Pilfering from cars is
perhaps the most frequent cause for ac-
tual shortage, to prevent this evil our ef-
forts are directed at all times, and with
the full cooperation Of the railroads and
others interested it can be largely sup
pressed
ITO cite this take the liberty to quote
letter from G. D. Rogers. secretary Of
the Chamber of Commerce:
minneapolis, Mimi, April %, 1894
&C M. Reese, State Weighnhaster:
dear Sir: You are, doing most excel