The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-30

this rule of rigid inspection continues
from three to four weeks, and If this was
the only damage resulting from this sys-
tenn of inspection, the loss would not be
so disastrous, but from this very fact,
the country buyer becomes overcautious
IN buying and in order to protect them
selves, generally continue the rigid grad
ing from two to three weeks after the
inspection department at the terminal
points has changed their system of grad
ing, and this results in additional heavy
loss to the producer throughout the state
From this it appears that nearly one
third of the crop has been marketed each
year before the farmer is enabled to get
the grade that his crop merits
IN regard to this abuse which has eX-
listed heretofore, I am authorized, both
by the board of appeals who have the
supervision of grades, and by the chief
inspector and his deputies, who have
charge of the administrative work, to
state that it will not be permitted to ex-
ist hereafter, and that the grades will
be maintained with the same integrity
and fidelity at all seasons for the protec-
ton of the seller and buyer alike.
Another abuse which has grown up
and become a menace both to the produce
ers and the legitimate trade is the prac-
tice of handling the wheat crop through
mixing houses and giving the mixed out
put, containing not only Minnesota and
Dakota wheats, but wheat from Iowa
and Nebraska and further SOUTH the
certificate of quality and grade which
Minnesota state Inspection implies
NOT LEGIT1MATELY GRADED.
"I am satisfied from an abundance of
creditable evidence that has come to me
that this mixed output has frequently
been accorded grades that it was not
fairly entitled to. This practice has
done more to destroy confidence in Min
nesota grades and in the integrity of our
inspection system, and is today depress-
ing prices in a greater degree in the East
and abroad than even such articles as
your editorial. In Minneapolis there are
th1rty-SiX warehouses which avail them
selves of state inspection and state
weighing. Out of these thirty-six only
TOUR are state warehouses; which by law
are prohibited from mixing the various
grades. The statement was made to me
some weeks ago by an apparently reput-
able man, who has been employed for
fourteen years in one of these mixing
houses, that some three years ago. in
the house in which he was employed.
under the direction of the foreman. he
and two others mixed $500 bushels of
hne flax screenings with the wheat in
the warehouse; that 80, 0G0 bushels Of that
wheat was afterwards purchased bv &ha
FlIlSbury company. The statement
seemed to me so astounding that 1 could
hardly give it credence. I sent for Mr..
=. A. Plllsbury and repeated the state
ment to him, without disclosing the nama
of either the company operating the ole
yator or the mill that made the purchase
simply asked him whether he believed
such a statement to be within the range
OF possibility. His answer was in the
afnrmative. He stated further that M
consumer of wheat in Minneapolis can
spected out of mixing elevator as he
can Tor the like grade bought on the
track, and this for the reason that undnr
the inspection out from mixing houses
they are compelled to receive the lowest
duailty within the grade, or as he termed
1t, the skin grade
ROW MARKET Is AFFECTED
This accounts for the fact that the QUO
tatlons for future delivery ou+ of ware
houses IN Minneapolis are invariably he
low the track quotations. AS the prices
Ter Ter future delivery always affect the mar
yet, 1t follows that by this svstern of roIx-
Ing which has been permitted witho,+ re-
stfaint heretofore, the farmer who raises
ana markets good grade of grain or.
the Whole, receives pay for ONLY the Skin,
quality of that particular grade Wheth-
er the practice of handling grain through
mixing houses can or should be prevent
=" eil'he ely IS question that 1t is not
necessary to discuss, but it is the SET
tled and determined policy of the board
or appeals and the inspection department
that hereafter grades and inspection will
be applied with the same rigidness and
with the same care in the inspection out
OF wheat from the mixing elevators as in
the inspection of the producers grain on
the track. This, and this alone. will do
tull justice to the producers and main
tain the integrity and good name of Min
nesota wheat
without further discussing the grain
service as heretofore conducted, I wilP
simply call your attention TO the fact that
II you will take the trouble to send a re-
porter to the railroad and warehouse
commission you will find numerous com
plants on file from purchasers in the
East and abroad who complain of the
grace and quality of shipments out un-
DER Minnesota inspection. That such NAV
not occur m the future, I am not pre-
pared to say, but I do say that If thew
occur hereafter it will be without cause.
IN conclusion, permit me to assure YOU
that your attacks upon the present execu-
i've department are a matter of personal
lldlne1ence to me. 1 will only notice
them when they evince a fixed motive to
lnJure important interests of our people
as In this instance. There are DEPART
ments OF the administrati ton uDon which
you can eXpend partisan zeal without ma
terlal injury to any interest-say. for in
stance, that of the public examiner on
which you already have your hand in >
but leave our wheat grades alone until
you have facts.