The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-06
HELPS SPRING WHEAT M1LLERs.
Export Competition OF Southwest
ern Flour Cut Of.

Export Competition of Southwest
ern Flour Cut OFF.
Herbert Bradley, export agent for the
Minneapolis nlillers, with headquarters
at New York, was in the city yesterday,
looking after the interests of his con-
stituents. Mr.. Bradley's position was
one that was created several years ago
for the purpose of securing better service
from the steamship lines at the seaboa I'd,
and also to take care of any DANA &c
claims that might be presented on export
Business.
Before Mr.. Bradley began TO look after
this business, delays were numerous and
costly, on nearly al export business; the
steamship people would allow flour to
lay on their docks for an indefinite length
of time, provided they could get other
freight that paid better. They would en-
tirely ignore contracts, and take the
freight when they got good and ready.
If there were any claims for damages,
the matter of settling the responsibility,
as between the road and the steamship
lires was one that was continually caus-
ing no end Of trouble
The roads would claim they delivered
the goods in good condition, and the
steamship people would claim that it was
rot in good condition, and claims would
be declined by both carriers until the
shipper would have to resort to law OF
take anything he could get in order to
have it settled
Mr.. Bradley has given all these mat
tiers his personal attention and when
folr arrives now at the seaboard 1t IS
inspected, and if it IS damaged before
the steamship lines receive it the claim
goes in against the railroad companies,
but If it is in good condition, and is
damaged on the ocean the liability Is
with the steamship company, and they
are forced to settle.
In the matter of delays there has also
been a great Improvement Contracts
are now made for certain sailings. and il
the flour is at seaboard at certain
specified time the steamship must take
it as offered. If any Of the steamship
lines refuse to carry out their partr Of
the contract, they are refused any future
shipments, and bookings are all maze
with ocean lines that will carry out their
contracts to the letter. Shipments have
been known to have taken three months
to get from the mill to destination. and.
at the present way Of doing business
shipments have been made from Min.
neapolis to London in twenty-eight days.
The port of New Orleans has been max
ing a strong bid for export business dur
ing the past six months, and the South
western mills have been sending all their
flour via that port. They have been able
to lay down flour much cheaper than the
mills in their territory could do on ac-
count Of being able to get better rates.
This situation has been completely chang
ed in the past few weeks on account of
the weevil that seems to thrive in South
ern ports during the cold weather; 1t Is
not cold enough in the South to freeze
them up and they get into the -four which
makes 1t unstable. During the past two
weeks there were $1,000 sacks of flour
refused at Belfast that had been shipped
via the port of New Orleans and had ar
rived at destination literally alive with
these little bugs.
The consignee, OF course, will not accept
the -four IN this condition and as 1t is
impossible to ship via the Southern ports
ut the present tine without the weevil
getting into the -four. the result is that