Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-09-23

and the newly developed ones of the
Argentine Republic. The total exports
from these three countries last year
were 270,00O,0OO bushels. In our great
export years of 1892 and 1895 we had
crops to draw upon of 6S5.OOO,OO0
bushels grown in 1891 and 5S0,000,O0O
bushels grown in 1892. Last year our
crop was 470.O00,0O0 bushels. and this
year It is believed to amount to DO
100000 bushels.
From the moment this crop leaves
the hands Of the farmers it Is the sub
icct of the operations of n set OF clever
men, whose calculations are made
upon such an accurate basis that the
manner in which it shall reach the sea-
board and the ports from which it
shall be shipped would be determined
by difference of JIG Of cent a
bushel. AS a result the method of
gathering and forwarding the grain
has been reduced to q science. and
the cost has been brought to the lowest
possible figure. Preparations for buy
ing the grain are begun months before
it Is cut. Every buyer knows not only
the exact acreage planted in the sec
ton of country where he operates, bu;
also the entire acreage Ii would be pos
sible to plant there. From week to
week, as the crop natures, he gets tel
egraphic reports of its condition. and
when it Is ready to sell he is informed
10 the hour.
Formerly the operators were Otter
nampered for cars in which to receive
the grain. and this is so In some local.
ties yet, but within few years there
have sprung up thousands of small ele-
vators thickly dotting every feeder, as
well. as the main railroad lines In the
grain regions. Some of these are mere
roadside bins. where the farmer may
drive up upon an incline and shovel
his load out, but many of them have
capacity of 10000 to 10000 bushels
and have an endless belt elevator bins
for different qualities of grain. and big
hopper scales for weighing 1t. 1t is
chiefly from these wayside storehouses
that the grain finds its way into the
enormous elevators at Chicago. Du-
luth. Superior. st. Paul, Buffalo and
other railroad centers on the way to
the scaboard. east or south.
The biggest elevators are those Mt
Chicago and Buffalo. and the greatest
Of all grain routes is that over the
great lakes to Buffalo. From Buffalo
half dozen trunk line RAILROADS carry
the crop to the sea. In addition to New
York wheat is shipped from Boston,
Philadelphia. Baltimore. Newport
News, Norfolk, New Orleans and
Galveston. At each port are elevators
I'm which the grain Is received, graded.
stored, and finally passed out to the
ships which take 1t across the ocean.
Wheat Is shipped In only one kind Of
car--the box car--for 1t must not be
exposed to the weather. The standard
size holds LOCO bushels or G0.0OO
pounds. A few cars are made which
hold $4,000 pounds. Regular grain
cars have an inside door of light plank
ing, which Is hung on hinges that slide
down rods set in the car, one on each
side OF the doorway. When this door
Is not in use Il Is raised to the ceiling
where 1t lies Cat and Is hooked fast
When the car is TO be loaded Il Is run
alongside grain bin and n telescope
chute Is lowered into one doorway.
The grain doors are closed, n valve Is
opened and the grain pours into the
szr until 1t Is twothirds full. the reg