The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-10-16
TALK OF WHEAT.
Kansas MiIlers Discuss Its
Present Standing.
Satisfied That It is as Good as
the Best.
WILL BE CHALLENGE.
Northern Millers Asked to Sub
NIT TO a Test.
Take Steps to Prevent the Com
\
WILL BE CHALLENGE.
Take Steps to Prevent the Com
founding of the Products.


At a secret session held late in the
afternoon the question of prices was
brought UP and discussed. There are
about 140 millers belonging to the as
ISOLATION, including nearly all the prom
inent millers in the state. Some of these
milIers have made rates really lower
than they should to make a fair profit
It was urged that in the interest OF self
protection some action in this respect
would not be out of order.
Another meeting was held last night
at which the doors We're closed to the
public when the matter was further
discussed Owing to the small attend
ance no positive action could be taken.
However, the matter may come up at
subsequent meetings.
The meeting yesterday afternoon was
opened by President J. Fl. McNair of
Halstead asking the secretary to read the
call, and saying: We win be in session
only a few hours and you should not
be backward in introducing any BUSH
ness which should come before the meet
ing"
Herbert Hackney of the Hackney
Milling company of this city, arose and
explained to the members of the associ-
alton present the reason for the calling
of this meeting and how the project
which they were interested in originated.
@. B. Hoffman of Enterprise is an
energetic worker in the cause of setting
Kansas wheat right before the world
THE Northwestern people have the
advantage of US here in Kansas from
the fact that their mills have been. in
operation longer and have grown to
larger proportions and being better adj
yertised. While our wheat is equally as
good as the Minnesota product or per-
haps even superior it has not been on
the market SO prominently as the flour
from the Minnesota mills"
j. E. Howard of Wichita thought that
! it was the duty of the members of the
association while they were present to
challenge the northern nillers and de-
mand a speedy test either in public or
private to prove the relative merits or
the two f1ours, the one made from Kan
sas hard wheat and the other from the
wheat of the northwest.
II have no doubt he said, but that
the test would prove beyond a question
that the Kansas wheat is the superior in
every way
Mr. A. Fassler of the Inter-Oeean mills
of this city had a letter recently received
from miller, a friend of his in another
city, in which he SAID that he mad been
grinding spring wheat heretofore but that
just recently he had switched to Kansas
hard wheat and that he had been plac-
ing it on the market in the same sacks
and as the same grade of -four as the
spring wheat and that the consumers
had kept on using it, in bl1ssful lgnor-
ance apparently satisfied. This is an
other instance that goes to prove that
the Kansas hard wheat is suitable to
make the finest -four.
F. D. Coburn said: TT is a pleasing
circumstance to see the room full of
gentlemen assembled here for the purpose
Of taking council together for the agri-
cultural interests of this state"
Continuing, he said: kansas has
never been appreciated, think. The
question of the large value and the I'M
pOrtance of our wheat crop has taken on
new light within the last few months
We have every opportunity now to get
all that is due US in this regard and
think it is our duty to take steps to get
our dues
There is one suggestion I do not
want to forget 1t seems to be a prob
lem whether this hard wheat maintains
its value in this climate; whether the
seed that has been grown in this state
for Is years is not almost worn out. 1t
is enthusiastically true that it is best
that a change in seed be made every few
years. This organization should take
this matter up and arrange for the
bringing to this state cargo of the
best seed wheat of Russia"
Secretary Smiley. of the Grain Deal
ers' association, in speaking along the
lines touched BY Mr. Co6urn, said; rms
matter was first brought to my atten-
ton by Mr.. B. Warkent1ne' of Newton
He convinced me that it was necessary
that to secure the best seed wheat we
would have to send to Russia for it. He
requested me to breach the subject to
every one / met who might be interest
ed in it. I talked on the subject with
great many men, both dealers and grow
stood in favor Of the idea of the impor-
tation of some seed wheat from Russia.
Upon investigation I find that the cost
per busheI for the importation Of this
wheat will be about 81. so. I have been
the recipient of a great many letters
from both dealers and growers from all
parts of the state to keep this plan for
the importation of a cargo of Russian
wheat to be distributed over the state
agitated. This is a vital question and
demands the serious consideration of
every one interested in their line of in
dustry.
1T only takes a few years for grain
that is planted and replanted in the
same locality to deteriorate in value. l
will cite one instance. Some seed wheat
was taken from the northern part of this
state to the southern part and planted
along side a field of wheat which had
been a native of that locality for a
40 bushels to the acre while the latter
only brought forth about is bushels
And mind you this under the same eli
matte conditions
Mr.. H. Hackney thought that the or
ganization should appoint committee
to work with a committee from the
Grain Dealers association to inVesl-
gate and prod into this matter further
The plan was adopted by the body and
the chair appointed B. Warkentine of
Newton, G. 3. Hoffman of Enterprise
and Thomas Page of Topeka as the
members of that committee
w. H. Barnes, of the State Horticul-
tura1 society, was present and urged the
need of the millers taking advantage of
the opportunity to display and vindicate
the Kansas hard wheat before the world
in the n-American exposition which
is to be held in Buffalo beginning Mo-
yenber 1, 1901.
The following resolution which is self
explanatory was introduced and passed
as amended by the committee.
Whereas, It is known beyond question
that certain mills of the northwest and
other points are using Kansas hard
which is being sold as genuine hard