The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-26
CITY OFFICIAL PAPER.
SEATTLE, TUESDAY, oor. "a.


There seems 20 be no doubt that there
is considerable dissatisfaction among
the farmers and dealers with the grades
which have been established for grain
b. the state Inspector. Whether the
standard has been set too high IN order
70 bring larger quantity Of wheat
within the lower grade. in order to give
exporters q chance 10 pay lower prices
and make a greater profit. or whether
the state grain commission has gone TO
an unreasonable extreme in determin-
ing what shall constitute FIRST grade,
the law affords an opening for II.
II there are three grades and the
qualities ofwneat called for By these are
always the same, II can make no diffes-
snce what the numbers may be. The
sole object Ia TO enable buyers 10 deter
mine from sample what the quality OF
the wheat IL. For instance. No. red
winter IL standard a. TO which there
II never any dispute, In his state the
standard is not maintained. but may be
changed every year There wac great
complaint by The foreign buyers of the
quality of 1898 Washington wheat
Much OF IL was damaged by rain. al
though otherwise OF good quality. and
although shipped as No grain. ar
rived in a damaged condition at its
destination. So serious was this that
the foreign buyers became afraid TO
buy Washington wheat: and the un-
easiness among the farmers led To the
passage of the act of 1895, creating a
state grain commission and providing
for standard
Under the law the commission.
which consists of the state inspector
and two persons appointed by the gov
ernor. Is required before the Goth day
OF September OF each year 20 meet at
some place within the state and estab-
lish standard grades of all grains
bought or handled by any public ware
house In the state. which should be
known as Washington grades" Last
year the No was set at fifty-eight
pounds. but this year the quality VAS
SO much better that Il was determined
q make Tho No. / grade fifty nine
roaneS. Farmers and dealers, who
have born t,ading on TIE assumption
THAI the grade weigh, would be the
sane fiad themselves ~ disadvan-
tage, and there mist always &c dis.
81 t.faotioa unless the standard is
maintained aud not changed every
year. and be subject TO the varying
sndsa-At % inspectors and commits
sie.s.
The wheat buyers seem 70 generally
sprrute Ct the raising OF he standard.
because they realize that II onco II can
IL Known 10 the markets = the world
that No. ! Washington Ghea. means
TT e IS = frst-class article. aas can
always IL depended upon. ( will com
mand lrst-class price. This eau
n~vfr be accomplished II the ars: quail
itY Is ever Permitted TO doIerioyaic. o.
ecegse, the ouyeg ls always sceklug -
At wheat at Lew price. aud there ID
80 much money involved be the differ
enca Letstcn No. / and 10. . that
the farmers. Who Ere alwavs suspicton-
@. the buyer. are ready enough TO be-
iieEe that 2 standard is sometimes sat
t. accommodate The exporter Tals
could not be ig the standard ,eorc main
1lnaf. and Rails IS good scar ,o keep
il oN>d where Il c>v O.. Even Ter G
Nc. aeai TIE price i5 ycry far above
The average for a $o. I. Net only ire
farmers, bat dealers. wareAoueerneu
shippers exporters ans buyers arc cit
Interested sR maintaining FOR the state
- " 'shngiCD the very test ~ .rpgEa-
;-Aes Ter tae 6cst ~ .,s wheat Thcro
8re some Authorities w1o eiala tha.
10 wheat q the quality raised IN the
siate %: Washington tt TO IA classc1 as
80 J Vill weight less tbaa atsy-a.ne.
s0ch wheat as ,3lls below tha, Er@se
is bees sigAi'r 4amfsed lv The rain
Although otherwise -o1s. 8. Il we're
se'Fpei @Tonn1 the aa-a. ss Il prob
shY voa.d Be. d; woald arrive AZ Earo-
rtan pctts n lhe same coalition -
tia q; l>sa aa4 very serious lamazo
voald IL doos 70 car :atare prospects.
i "a imPoss-h,s 80 determine. With
eai 81 se,ual Inspection = ne rra.a
whether lbs complain, .: t2e farmers
Is vel founded OF Cot ugt .hcrs can
- 20 t'1es'ncs @. eVlr!oa IS 70 the
foly u changing tAe GraGe every wear