The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-10-19


grain was not properly graded, and from his
observation he was OF the opinion that grain
| shipped to Duluth had received as high
grade as 1t was entitled to. He thought 1t In
advisable to change the existing rules, as
they were understood among Eastern buyers
and any change would result In injury to the
farmers and grain ment of the Northwest, as
| 1t would confuse the Eastern consumers and
| curtail their trade in Northwestern wheat and
| that nothing should be done to impair con-
| fidence in Minnesota grades now thoroughly
established In other markets.
COULD BE JUSTIFIED.
Mr.. Simonds, representative of So
called Zine elevator company, said that his
company had suffered considerable loss on
grades thus far on the present crop, but
| thought the grades given by the state inspec-
| tors could be justified under the established
rules. He said that the crop had more cookie
and smut and foul seed than that of last
| year. and that the excessive rains shortly
| after harvest and recently had damaged the
| bleaching 1t badly In some sections, and that
! their inspectors in the country had some diff
fculty in trying to do justice equally with
| the state inspectors at terminal points.
Mr.. Schain appeared before the commits
| sion on the 9th especially in behalf Of the
| farmers and business men in Browns Valley
and vicinity. At the request of the commits
! sion he remained and attended the meeting
on the 2Sth. He stated that Browns Valley
was losing its trade by reason Of the strict
| inspection of grain shipped from that point;
|
received as No. northern, claiming that was
as high grade they could get at the ter
minals and that by reason OF this the com
| peting stations or SiSSeton ana Wllmot, IN
| South Dakota were buying grain tributary
to Browns Valley, giving better grades than
! the elevator men were giving at the latter
! point.
Mr. j. L. Robbins submitted a sample Of
wheat which he thought should be graded
| as No. l northern, but which he claimed mad
| been graded as No. northern by a state in
ic W. "
eral present, and there was a difference or
! opinion to the grade to which 1t was en-
titled. majority. of those present who ex,
| amined it were of the opinion that 1t had
| been properly graded
The above constituted brief summary of
the opinions expressed and statements made by
| those present. Because of the complaint OF Mr..
! Schan on the 2Tth the commission immedi-
! ately called on the Great Northern Railroad
| company and the Chicago, Milwaukee st.
| Paul Railroad company for q list or all the
! cars shipped from Browns Valley, Sisseton
and Wilmot during the month of September,
and, on obtaining the same, ascertained from
! the inspection records in Minneapolis what
had been the grade put upon the wheat IN
those cars by the inspectors. Before the
| meeting closed this information had been OBJ
| tained and was submitted to the meeting. The
| result was as follows: From Wilmot the total
number of cars shipped was 49, of which %
were graded No. northern and 10 as No. 2
| northern; from Sisseton total cars shipped
were so. of which As graded No. northern
! l as No. northern and l as no grade; from
| Browns Valley cars had been shipped, Of
which 7 graded No. 1 northern and as
No. 8.
At a later date the commission received
| a report from the inspection Office in >Du
four No. 1 northern and three No. north
ern; from Sisseton, total cars five, all No.
! 1 northern.
| Since the meeting the commission have
made inquiries respecting the inspection and
| grading Of wheat at the terminals both from
those connected with the department and
I ct,
and unbiased opinion upon the question,
and from the investigation made, the opinions
expressed and the samples examined, the
commission believes and so finds:
RULES COMPLIED WITH.
That the rules established for the inspec-
| ton and grading Of grain have been sub
stantially complied with. The commission
deem it proper to state that the same rules
are in force this year as were last year,
and that under such rules 1t is made the
| duty of inspectors, where there is any doubt
| in their minds to which grade the grain
being inspected is entitled to take, to give
the benefit of the doubt to the shipper.
1t is believed by the commission, and is
| so found, that In practice the inspectors
substantially conform to this rule. In re-
| gard to this we would say that inspectors
in examining the grain, are required by the
nature Of the work in fixing grades to de-
pend to a large extent upon judgment, and
! it would not be possible, in the opinion Of
the, commission, for any set of men under
! ly or to always judge alike, and it follows
| that occasional errors are made. This the
commission most certainly regrets, and if
| they knew Of any way practicable whereby
errors of judgment could be eliminated and
grades could be determined with absolute
accuracy it would be put in force.
To provide proper means for redress In
| case of grievance or dissatisfaction with the
grades fixed by the original inspection, ship
pers have the right, under the rules, to call
a reinspection, either in person or through
their agents, and If the result is still I'M
satisfactory they again appeal to this
commission, where the most careful consid-
| GRAFTON is given such cases before the grade
| is finally determined.
| AS bearing upon the question of the eff
| 6ciency of the service, the commission has
| endeavored to ascertain far possible
| the results of inspection on shipments made
! from few stations which, in their opinion,
! fairly represent the character Of the crop
| in Western and Northern Minnesota and
| portion of North Dakota. The result of this
| investigation is as follows:
Statement showing number Of cars Of wheat
| inspected at the terminal points during month
| OF September, 1885, from following stations:
| Contract Below