The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-15


advantage in being at the ports. Ac-
cordingly, many of the inland mills Were
abandoned, and the new and large |
mills were erected at the important sea-
ports. Some improvements were contin-
ually going on, but nothing OF great I'M
portance until after 1902.
In that year war tax was placed on |
wheat and flour imported and the mill
ers succeeded in having the tax on flour
! made gfAater, relatively, than on wheat.
| The awakening of the milling bust
ness really dates from this event. While
the discriminating tax did not diminish
the imports of American -four, it did
over, it seemed to put life and energy
into the British millers, as it demon
strated to them that united action on
their part might do what time and
chance had failed to do for them. Since
that time they have worked more In
harmony and for the general welfare
OF the trade than ever before.
British Millers Improve Their Methods.
The millers now began an aggressive
campaign in the large markets of the
United Kingdom. They were not only
aggressive. but they made better -four
than ever before. It was as if they
had been at school for years and had
just graduated It dawned slowly upon
| Cne American Hlllers CHdt dI idSC IhIy
had competitors who were really to be
feared, or at least respected.
American millers had never be-
lieved-some do not yet-that it is pos
sible to make as good flour from many
varieties of wheat drawn from all over
the world as from one or two varieties
in the United States. Yet the British
millers have, in the last few. years, be-
come very expert in blending their
wheats. They have the world to draw
upon and to select from.
The miller will, in selecting his
wheats. consider strength, color, flavor
and price. He must know the proper
ties and capabilities of the different
varieties from the different countries
And on his ability to do this largely
depends his success. A miller may at
one time grind one part American No.
2 northern wheat, two parts Russian
and three of English. Or he may have
a blend consisting of 60 per cent In
dian, part English and part Argentine.
Or, again, 10 per cent Indian, 40 Of
Argentine and the remainder something
To the American miller these would
seem unsolvable propositions, and one
.. is inclined to say. offhand, even grades
of flour cannot be made under such
conditions. Yet after talking with
many importers, competitors Of the To-
cal millers, and two American experts
who are investigating the system
am convinced that the British miller
has become one Of the best experts in
the world.
A Boom in Mill Building. =
A moderate crop of wheat in Amer
lea in 1908, followed by decreased ex-
ports of flour, combined with large
crops in the Argentine, India, Russia
IN fact, in every other wheat growing
, county - these favorable conditions
started a veritable mill building boom
in the United Kingdom Then came
the short crop Of 1904 in America, and
the British millers enjoyed prosperity
= probably never even dreamed Of Some
! OF the large milling companies made
L fortunes in one year.
= Some twenty new mills Were erected
and many. others enlarged during the
boom; and the capacity was increased
The milling centers are Liverpool
g Bristol, Hull. London 1.-TWO new mills II
I 1900, Cardiff and Newcastle.
The largest individual mill is about
s,4o0 barrels daily capacity. This is
good sized mill for America, and there
are few so large outside Of Minneap
, oils and less than half dozen larger
/ ones there. There are not, however
l. over ten very large mills in Grea
n Britain.
g It is estimated that the milling ca
3. pacity Of the United Kingdom i
y greater than the requirements, ant
IL there is talk of an export trade. TIL
1t mills of the United Kingdom make ap
'o proximately 100000 barrels of flou
g annually, while some 100000 is i'm
ported.
s. A Setback.
" The early part Of 1906 witnessed
! setback in the prosperity Of the mills
" Overproduction, the cutting of price
Is. Is in the London market and the delaye,
- -, arrivals Of numerous shipments fror
" ~ America, purchased in the fall-thes
=, together with declining prices cause
If great depression and some heavy losses
These, however, are but temporary cor
+ ditions. -
The Main Point. ...
The main point is that American mi
20 lers are confronted by new conditions
70 progressive and expert millers and
- milling capacity large enough to suppl
al all demands eanar.l s1 F4rtherm9re England
- and takes the surplus from the expor
az ing countries. And again, Canada an
CO the Argentine are steadily increasin
20 their acreage and have become esta1
he llshed factors in the wheat-supplyin
= trade. Australia is increasing, and Il
Ia dla Is more reliable source of suppl
%. than formerly. ..Esa s.,
Cd With these enlarged sources. of SUI
~ ply, can the United Kingdom do wit
H. out American wheat and four9
= 1t is certain that it is less depen
ent upon America than ever befor
-. American wheat, owing to improper i
~ sltactlon at export points, is in bad r
~ pute in England. Some Of the large
TO- Importers here have entirely withdraw
r. their connections from America. The
oaaee will not buy wheat in America if the
nt can get it elsewhere =
Flour is different. When prices a
on competitive basis, some America
90 flour will be used; but clearly, the bus
VI ness is on the wane In LIVERPOOL. +
er example, no American -four is used. !
~ tho importers bring it there for al
" tribution to inland cities
~ -Rollin E. Smith.
Ids GAVE rrE,nIrr ma oxrr--4.--