The representative., 1895-04-03
NO. I. HARD ARGUMENT.
More About the Grading OF Wheat in
Liverpool.

NO. I. HARD ARGUMENT.
More About the Grading OF Wheat in
Liverpool.
To the Editor:
VIII you kindly allow me little space
in which to reply to the letter Of Seth Bot
tomley, published in your issue of the 20th,
inasmuch, in previous issue, you invite
discussion upon this subject.
Some of the statements made bv Mr.. b.
are mislead ns N their character and unless
refuted are apt to create the impression on
the outsider that he is thoroughly versed
upon the subject and knows what he is
talking about.
First-He says " Our wheat is sold in
Liverpool under the name of red western
spring" CBy the term 'our' 1 assume that
he means Minnesota No. 1 hard) Now,
the facts of the matter are, that the red
western spring which he quotes includes
Our Northwestern l northern and all Chi
cago spring wheat of the hard varieties
which during the previous crop year was
sent from Minnesota to Chicago. Western
spring or American spring, is quoted in the
Liverpool papers and recognized in the
Liverpool markets as a distinct wheat from
our No. l hard, much as the River
Platte and Rosario which is grown in the
Argentine republic, and resembles closely
our No l and No 2 northern. The name
red winter spring do not find enumerated
In the list of wheats quoted in the Liverpool
Corn Trade News at ALL 1t is quoted
there as American spring or Western
spring.
Hn snI1r !, ord Mr..
Donnelly states, never reaches Liverpool
under that name. 1t is used to tone up
inferior grades or to make winter wheat
flour"
In the above Mr.. Donnelly makes the
statement, and Mr.. Bottomley verifies and
substantiates it. Where they get their
authority for this statement they know
best, but they have been misinformed, and
It, like the other is calculated to mslead
/ was in New York city not long SINCE
and upon the floor of the Produce Ex-
change was introduced to Mr.. Bingham
member of one of the heaviest grain
firms in Great Britain, and l had long
conversation with him upon the subject of
the English markets and their methods
of conducting the grain business of the
same. He had then bought a cargo of
Duluth No. l hard, the cargo certificate
given at Duluth, which he showed me,
guaranteed him the shipment at Duluth of
$1,000 bushels of No. l hard wheat, Mime
sofa grades and weights on board the
steamer City of Rome. His commission
man in Buffalo advised him of it's arrival
in Buffalo and transhipment upon certain
canal boats, of which he had duplicate
bills of lading, and upon the arrival of
the canal boats, curiosity and a natural
desire for more light upon the wheat ques-
ton led me to thoroughly examine this lot
OF wheat while being transferred into the
elevator, and became thoroughly satisfied
hat "a
luth had been strictly preserved and that
the Buffalo elevators had not for any rea-
son attempted to play it low down" on
the Brltisher by running in little winter,
Some Chicago No and possibly a little
corn, and then deluded him into the belief
that it was shipped from Duluth in that
condition and must therefore be Minnesota
No. l hard, such as his certificate called
for. l also ascertained from the elevator
foreman that this lot of wheat was to be
placed in a special bin and shipped to
Great Britain upon a certain ocean steam
er. the name of which given me, but
have since forgotten l Furthermore
certained in my conversation with Mr..
Bingham. that when he bought and paid
for Minnesota wheat, he knew perfectly
well that he was getting what he paid for,
and when Mr. Donnelly, Mr.. Bottomley, or
anyone else imagines that they can bam-
boozle the Liverpool wheat purchaser into
spring except No. hard spring, which he
has bought and paid for, they will get
beautifully left. Mr.. Bottomley is an Eng
lishman, I am informed, and he should
know better than to make such state
ment, for whatever may be his other weak
nesses, the average British business man
Is no fool, and usually manages to get what
he pays for.
Again, this department wrote a wear ago
TO prominent commission firm in Liver
lhfv for. lot Of
in number) of the different kinds of wheat
marketed there, and in due course of time
received samples of wheat grown in Rus
sia, Egypt, India, Argentine. Chilli, Oregon,
California, Manitaba and Minneso-
ia. Yes, Duluth. Minn., No. 1
hard, as bright and as pure as
Minn., No. l hard, as bright and as pure as
the day it was shipped, and if Mr. Bottom
ley or Mr.. Donnelly will kindly call and ex-
anime the samples 1 will give them a dol
lar for each and every kernal of red west
ern spring or any other spring that does
not legltimately belong there. So, gentle
men, please let up on that stock argument
OF yours that our No. hard never reaches
Liverpool in it's purity; it has got to be a
chestnut, and an antiquated one at that
Again, Mr.. Bottomley says of our No.
hard: 1T is used to tone up inferior
grades" OF course it u.s. Mr.. b. that is
what is done with it everywhere. even in
your own town and under your own nose
this is done, and therein lies it's chief value
No miller makes flour from exclusive No
j hard wheat; it has not the proper ingredi-
ents for flour, hence no one can be blamed
for doing that which you would have 9TH
ers infer was crime, and that through the
mixing process by the miller or any one
else the farmer is cheated out of two
grades, for when this No. l hard wheat
reaches the British miller the American
farmer is in the position of Abner Dean of
Angels, subsequent proceedings interest
him no more"
Relative to the long description Mr.. r
gives of the method of handling wheat at
Liverpool, it does not in the least refute
nor d1sprove one of the figures shown in
my statement, but rather substantiatas 4bo
charge which l make of '2b cents nor
bushel from the ships side to the GRAN
ary."
The opinion advanced by Mr. Bottomley
tnat my facts as to the cost of handling
Wheat are derived from the Pioneer Press y
simply say that it is only an on;nior
ana MS opinion, unsubstantiated by facts
or proofs, carries no weight and is entitled
~ no cohsiuefa'ion. Very respectfully
yours X. c. BURDICK
(The fact that Englishman buvs Min
nesota wheat in America under the namo
of Duluth No. hard does not prove that
such a grade is known in the English mar
ket. The Englishman simply does in Rome
as the Romans do He buys Amerioo,,
wheat by the American name: but that
title, Duluth No l hard" does not rean-