The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-10-05
NEARLY TWO THOUSAND CARS
OF WHEAT INSPECTED AT Ia
COMA IN SEPTEMBER.
Record Exceeded by But One Sep
TENDER, That of 1902-New Expert
ment to be Tried.

during the month OF september, dC-
| cording to the report of the state grain
commission, completed yesterday, there
was received in Tacoma for inspection
a total of 1872 cars of grain. 1t is
said that this period has been ex-
ceeded by but one superintendent of
| 1902, when there was the largest wheat
crop on record. The receipts since
| that time nave in all cases fallen
short of this years figures by at least
800 to 400 cars for the month of Sep
| TENDER.
An experiment to determine the
proper amount of dockage is to be
tried during the month of October
that is being watched with interest by
all engaged in the wheat trade, says
the Ledger. The experiment is the
result of a request which was
sent to the state grain commission re-
Gently by the Washington Millers' as
ISOLATION, asking that the amount of
dockage be designated at the same
time that the grain is inspected. 1t
was desired that the amount of dock
age be made sufficient to cover the
shrinkage and expense of cleaning.
Reasons for the Experiment.
The reason for this request was
that, in the judgment of the associa-
ton, the practice of grading wheat
as mo. 1, if cleaned" is not suffi-
cient. and leaves the principal source
of friction and contention open, which
is much worse than if the question of
grade were undecided.
The decision finally arrived at by
the commission in the matter was as
fellows:
Under the state inspection law
this commission is not permitted to
| fix prices. Therefore the commission
could not make a dockage on smutty
wheat sufficient to cover the amount
of shrinkage and expense of cleaning
as requested by the milers' associa-
ton. This commission can determine
the number of pounds of foreign mat
ter which should be deducted from the
weight of the wheat, but cannot fix
the value thereof, nor the charge to
be made for the work of cleaning.
ct is of the opinion that it would
be advisable to fix the delight dock
age which the buyer should make. If
the commission makes such official
weight deduction, it must not be done
by guess, but by machinery which will
be accurate, and thus conclusive. Such
machinery, except in too great bulk,
this commission has not yet learned of.
However, it will lendeavor to obtain
suitable machinery; and it does now
direct the state inspection department
to make a trial of fixing the weight
dockage on all wheat requiring clean
ing which comes to Tacoma during the
month of October, 1905. This is to be
flying the commission of it's practi-
cability, and it is not to be officially
enforced between the seller and the
buyer. If by this trial dockage OF
dirty wheat by the state grain de-
partment it is found to be practicable
and satisfactory, this commission will
then establish state weight dockage
for wheat requiring cleaning"
The present experiments are being
made by the commission in accord
ance with the above ruling decided On
a its session of September II and u, |
and whether the plan will be contin-
ued longer than this month or not de- |
ponds entirely upon the result of the
work done in October.