The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-10-15
Strict Inspection Here-Loose
Inspection Elsewhere.
WHERE is THE FAULT7
Inspector Barncard Says He Is Com
plying With the Rules.
MEANTIME RECEIPTS FALL OFF
LOOAer Grading Elsewhere May At
feet Exports, but Is That
an Ofsetf

Receivers Of grain at Minneapolis assert
that inspection is so rigid at this point
that shipments are being diverted to
other markets. They say that while Min
neapolis receipts are subjected to more
rigid inspection than last year, Chicago,
Milwaukee and Duluth are allowing the
same latitude and liberality in grades
that was general in wheat inspection a
year ago. The effect of this during the
past three or four weeks has been to di-
vert grain shipments from Minneapolis to
Chicago, Milwaukee and Duluth.
Competing Markets Active.
Several Of the prominent receivers Of
grain support their assertions by letters
received from wheat shippers in the coun-
try explaining that while they prefer Min
neapolis as a market on an even basis,
the inspection at other points is more
liberal. They also complain that this con-
dition Of things has given Chicago and
Milwaukee an opportunity to encroach
still further on Minneapolis territory.
Chicago this year has men soliciting ship
ments successfully for distance Of fifty
miles past the line where the freight rate
gives the territory to Minneapolis on an
even basis. Milwaukee has also been do
ing more hustling for the trade that on
even terms usually comes here. large
amount of the wheat south and west Of
Minneapolis which usually comes to this
market has gone to those points.
Where Duluth is favored is on the wheat
to the north and west. Country shippers
are writing their correspondents here that
grades are easier at Duluth. During the
past two weeks a large amount Of wheat
received in Minneapolis has been sent on
to Duluth. Part of this movement has
been fostered by commission concerns and
partly by elevators.
The Inspection Attacked.
One Of the prominent buyers her says:
"There is certainly something wrong
with the inspection here, and it is having
a bad effect upon Minneapolis as a wheat
market. l do not believe that any dis
elimination whatever is shown as be-
decidedly fair on that score and efficient
as well. But we are out Of line with
other markets. have forwarded large
number of cars received here on to Du-
luth and in many instances the inspec-
tion there has given me a grade better
than the inspection here. These are
statements which can be supported from
other sources. This condition explain=
the comparatively large receipts at Duluth
during the past three weeks. The ele-
vators are shipping grain there for the
same reason. They find that Duluth in
spection is more liberal"
Chief Deputy Inspector ]. N. Barncard
said that the department was doing all in
its power to give a fair inspection of all
grain. 1t had certain rules to follow and
these wer being followed to the letter
He said that he did not know what the
policy of the department was last year
because he was not connected with it at
that time. He said that each year brought
its kicks. The department had the usual
number this year and they were about
evenly divided on both sides of the fence.
Last Years Policy.
From another source 1t was learned that
the policy of last year had been objected
to vigorously as too liberal; that some of
the receivers Of wheat lost money on
damp grain as result of it, and the de-
partment did not propose to be subject to
that criticism this year; that rigid in
spection was necessary because there is
much damp grain coming
One of the prominent millers said that
as far as he had Investigated, he re-
garded the inspection this year as fair.
A big wheat shipper made the point that
a good, straight inspection would help
the export wheat trade of Minneapolis as
against the other markets This point
was also brought up by men who criti-
ciZe the inspection and the statement was
made that the little prestige Minneapolis
would gain on that score would not begin
to Offset the loss due to the wheat being
diverted to other markets. AS it is now,
other markets than Minneapolis are re-
ceiving the preference on higher grades.
In all of the appeals so far, the appeal
board has sustained the inspection.