The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-08-14
CORN WEIGHTS IN INDIANA
Grain Dealers Evading the Statutory Stand
ard There.

Sci Oo6Ai liOt " oc COIIIpelIcU 10 UO 50.
CORN WEIGHTS IN INDIANA
Grain Dealers Evsding the Statutory stand
ard There.
Clinton, Ind, Aug. 13.-There is much
complaint in this section Of the country
arising from the manner in which grain
dealers evade the statutory requirements
that sixty-eight pounds shall constitute
a bushel OF corn in the ear. The farm
ers were much elated when the law was
passed. but the cunning of grain dealers
is teaching the horny handed just how
little law amounts to when men see fit
to ignore it.
Despite the statutory provisions, the
farmers are compelled to accede to the
demands Of grain dealers and haul up
seventy "sixteen-ounces pounds before
they receive credit for a bushel Of corn.
When farmer approaches grain deal
er with a proposition to sell corn and
asks Whats clear white worth a bushel
today?" the dealer smiles a knowing
smile and repuies: I'VE are not buying
20 cents for 70 pounds Of good corn
The farmer can swear as loud as ne
likes, but ne can neither disturb the
blandnesS Of the gram dealers smile nor
induce him to buy ear corn in accord
ance with "the statutes in such cases
made and provided" The dealers insist
that they are not violating the law
which compels them to buy grain by the
bushei, or even 10 recognize the term
'bushel' in any of their purchases. The
evasion of the statntes Is being more
severely felt among the bottom farmers
along the Wabash valley. where cribs
containing many thousand bushels Of
corn have been held in waiting for the
advance in price. Some Of the bottom
farmers in Vernillion county have three
years accumulation OF corn in their
cribs, which they would sell az the pres
ent price II they could force grain deaf
ers 70 an observance OF the statutory
provisions that 'sixty-e.ght pounds shall
constitute a bushel OF ear corn in the
state OF Indiana The evasion OF the
dealers is small consideration at first
glance. but when applied to the enormous
holdings Of corn along the Wabash val
ley Il will aggregate thousands Of dollars.
would go to the farmers.
Grain dealers in discussing the matter
say they have no desire TO violate or
evade the statutes. but that they are
handicapped by the laws regu
iating corn weight in other states 20
which they ship-the states in which are
the cities which practically regulate the
markets OF the world. In Illinois the
Ia is that seventy pounds OF ear corn
shall constitute a busheL Most OF the
corn along the Wabash valley is ship
ped 10 the Chicago market Therefore /
4 q dealer buys sixty-eigh,-pound !
bushei and sells il to Chicago dealers he |
IS compelled 70 al two pounds 10 IL .,e- 4
fore IL will be received as pushel by The 4
purchaser. Thus the Hoosier dealer SAYS /
mat by a compliance with the meaning 4
% tee Indiana statutes he would lose 4
two pounds OF ear corn on every bushel 4
he buys and ships 10 the Chicago or s.; |
Louis market. He insists that there Is |
Jnly q close margin on corn and that
I IL a financial inlpossibility 20 recog-
aize the sixey-eight-poundb ushel with
tut less.
IN many OF the elevator offices This
placard occupies the most conspicuous
place en- the wall: The price quoted
today on corn is FOR seventy pounds"
Tae dealer insists tina; the present law
weights and measures Is I'M
practicable so far as the ear CORE clause
> concerned This is because OF the fact
lat Il is not uniform with The lax IN
,ther states Practically all me corn
'aised IN Indiana is shipped % the mar
ts:s outside the state ard a compliance
With the Eoosisr statutes would incur a
oss 70 grain dealers % two pounds on
very bushel saipped. as in al other
Rates the weight O. ear corn Is hTe3 al
evenly pounds 20 the bushei Shsiiei
o-n 10 ffty-six pounds u The busAei AMI
he lav governing Z IS Uniform with al
he s-aseA Therefore il Is claimed b.
,o-n buyers tina. the laz requiring sixty
.ghs pounds 70 constitute q bEs1sl =
n3iana il sn injustice AMI they are
's.ly justified in. the EVASION Q. IL They
ave tried all x nds % corn AMI ani ;has
ix.y-eig.f pounGs n the ear viii 10: !
-.e.i a.iy-six pounds 0. grain They IL
il. Ia, this fac: alone should show TIE
rtusti.e o: Tire law ana tie ss.;iaess o: