The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-03-17
Shows That Minnesota Grades
in Foreign Markets $500
COME Up TO THE PROPER STANDARD
An Open Letter in Reply to His
Censorious Critics.

grain inspection department has re-
ceived much unpleasant notoriety
through the country press, in conse-
qucncc OF the attacks recently made
upon Minnesota grades and the methods
OF the department. To Chief Inspector
Reishus it has become apparent that
the Republican country press has been
given false lead by articles which have
appeared i'll some Of the city papers,
and to correct false views the chief in
spector has issued the following open
letter, in which he maintains that Min
nesota grain grades are standard and
that the attacks made upon the depart
mcnt were based upon transformation,
if not malice. The letter reads:
while wishing to avoid the appear
ance OF seeking political skirmish, it
has become apparent that the depart
mcnt Of which l am the chief is rcceiv-
ing uncalled for and unjustifable criti-
cism at the hands OF the Republican
state press. Not alone have the editors
OF Republican papers throughout the
state fallen into error, but the articles
appearing i'll St. Paul partisan papers
have been accepted by them at face
value without close scrutiny OF facts.
Briefly, the charges against the de-
partment are that the Minnesota grades
are not maintaining their own upon the
domestic and foreign market, that the
methods Of the department are lax with
reference to the process OF inspection,
and that Minnesota wheat, the contract
grades, are detcriorating. Further than
this, the allegation has been made that
the Minnesota inspector has openly
charged Buffalo grain inspectors with
tampering with the grades and lowering
their market value. With reference to
the latter, nothing more than my un-
qualified denial and the statement that
the allegation is false in its entirety is
necessary.
The people Of the state should know
what methods are employed by this de-
partment and how grain passing
through the State inspectors hands is
passed upon for grade. Concerning the
charge that the methods OF the depart
mcnt are lax, have only this to say,
that with the one exception that appeals
may now be taken before the state
board OF grain appeals instead Of the
railroad and warehouse commission the
changes made under the present admin
istration have been very few. The best
methods Of the previous administration
have been retained and improved upon
The inspection was never more rigid.
Briefly, the method 10 this: A shipper
sends his wheat to tho Duluth or Min
neapolis markets. At that point it 10
) examined by the track inspector &C
companied by HE helper The helper
uses a probe. pushing it through the
load from top to bottom and securing
4 sample, This 10 emptied and the in
spector passes upon it for grade. He
also determines the amount of dockags
This is the method OF inspection.
"In the event that the shipper wishes
to appeal from the track inspectors de-
cision, he carries his case before the
chief Inspector. In such cases a REIN
spection is ordered and the chief deputy
himself passes upon the wheat. He
either sustains or changes the decision
of the track inspector and from such de-
cision there is no appeal except to the
board Of appeals, whose decision is final
The wheat 10 then subject to market at
the grade and dockage determined.
II quote the following from the stand-
ard OF grain grades adopted under the
previous administration, inasmuch a. it
concerns the contract grade, No. /
northern:
"No. ! Northern Spring Wheat
No. 1 northern spring wheat must be
sound and we'll cleaned, and must be
composed OF the hard and soft varieties
Of spring wheat.
"'Note-It is to be understood that
the minimum test weight of this grade
shall not be LEES than ffty-seven pounds
to the measured bushel, and must con-
tain not les than about 50 per cent OF
the hard varisties OF spring wheat.
1.-THE following rules are taken from
the standard OF grades a. adopted Aug.
a6, 1890, by the state board OF grain
appeals. 1t will be seen that in every
essential particular it shows the same
standards as the rule formerly used.
"'No. I Northern Spring Wheat
No northern spring wheat must be
sound and we'll cleaned, and must be
composed equally OF the hard and soft
varieties OF spring wheat and weigh not
less than fity-seven pounds to the mea-
surcd bushcl
From this it will be seen that, as
far as the standards OF grades are con-
ccrned, they are practically identical
The same is true OF No. red winter
and all the other grades OF wheat, the
! different grades OF oats and the impor-