The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-20
POLITICAL GOSSIP.
Mr.. RadfOrd,- Grain Inspector,
Wants Law Changed.
Would Have Track Scales at All
Elevators.
DO THEY APPROVE 1T.
Grain Association Securing
Sentiment of Dealers.
Mr.. Mohler Making Some Sugar
Beet Investigations.

]. W. Radford, chief grain inspector
for the state of Kansas, will present to
the next legislature a plan to make use
of track scales at all public elevators
instead of the hopper scales now in gen
eral use He holds that by this system,
the state can reduce the inspectors fee
TO % cents per car, and effect a further
saving to grain shippers by securing
more exact weights .-+..-l q sts
In a long letter to E. J. Smiley, sec
rotary of the Kansas Grain Dealers as
ISOLATION, Mr.. Radford says in part:
"A hopper scale has all the opportun-
3tys runs all the chances of being out
OF form that track scale does; where
the track scale is covered with a shed
and in addition to that the vibration
caused by machinery, most always in
terferes more or less with the accuracy
of the hopper scales, which is not true
with the track scales. A hopper scale
IN the center of an elevator, away up
next to the top, is subject to leaning
and settling, which is not true with the
track scales I take it for granted that
operators of elevators are anxious to be
able to tell whether their scales are
wrong. or whether the shortage is
caused from other sources, and with a
complicated set of hopper scales, it is
always hard to determine what the
trouble is. It may be that the scales
are out of line, or it may be something
wrong with the boot; or it may be some
defect in the leg or elevators; it may be
something wrong with the head or
spout, or it may be something wrong
with the garner or hopper or the slides;
any of these conditions might exist for
an indefinite time in a small way and
be a very hard matter to detect. The
elevator might be getting the worst of
It or the best of it, and really not know
"A great many elevators In the coun-
try have track scales and 1 understand
good many more are willing to put
them in. and as the agitation for the
In, for. E.
consider 1t very appropriate at this
time to address you on this subject and
to say to you, that in the past twenty
months my departments has weighed
approximately $4,000 cars; reduce that
rs cents a car and it would mean SIS, $50
saved, or enough to pay for the in
Etalling of ten sets of good modern
track scales Now if they want to re
duce the fees, this is a first class way
TO do it,, as the saving in fees in
short time at an elevator doing bust
ness, will pay for the new scales. AS
will recommend to this coming legisla-
ture that fee of % cents per car is
ample to insure perfect inspection and
supervision of weights, backed by
certificate, that is second to none in the
country, If done over a modern up-to-
date track scale"
Mr.. Smiley has written letters to
members of the Kansas Grain Dealers
association. asking them if they APP
prove OF the change which Mr.. Radford
proposes, to write to their representa-
lives in the legislature and urge the
passage of the bill
J. c. Mohler, assistant secretary of
the Kansas state board of agriculture.
has gone to St. Francis and other
towns in the northwest corner of the
state for the purpose of securing affi-
davits and other proofs regarding the
amount of sugar beets showing over
II per cent of sugar which was raised
In that part of the state. The state
pays a bounty of 81 per ton on all
beets having the II per cent of sugar.
In Cheyenne, Rawlins and Decatur
eounties, the sugar beet acreage was