Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1907-06-20
FEDERAL INSPECTION
Elevator and Grain Men Assem-
blsd at Valley City. nansbrough
on y. S. INSPECTION


Valley City, Nd, June ls.-Ab bout
100 grain shippers. members of the
State Bankers Assn and others dir
ectly interested met TO discuss
remedies for car shortage, discrimi-
nation and federal inspection. The
convention adjourned last night,
after selecting Devils Lake for next
session.
So far as discrimination between
the line and independent elevators,
there has been less complaint since
last February, and it was suggested
that the state law compelling roads
to distribute an equal number of cars
to all houses regardless of size or
business in some instances worked
injustice.
The most important matter taken
up was the discussion of federal
grain inspection, Senator Hansb1ough
giving an able address detailing the
work done by the government to-
wards standardizing grain grading
that the grain producer should get
the full benefit of his crop.
The difficulty had been, the sena-
tor said, in inventing and putting
into use an accurate method of grad
ing, as the old method of hand grad
ing had proven unsatisfactory, unfair,
and inaccurate. The buyer had
everything in his favor. He would
say that a wagon load or consign-
ment of grain was worth so much to
him; that it was damp or ..shriveled
or dirty or all of these, ,and the seller,
generally in need of money, had no
option in the matter. He must sell
the grain or haul 1t back home.
A scientific method of grading was
necessary, so a committee Son agrI-
culture, of which Senator Hans
brough was member, put bill
through Congress establishing two
laboratories, one at Baltimore and
one at New Orleans, later three more
we're added &C Minneapolis, Duluth
and Kansas City, for the purpose Of
examining scientifically and report-
ing upon the nature, quality and con-
dition of samples of grain submitted
them, the report to serve as basis
for fixing definite grades; this was a
step towards federal grain standard
ization.
Senator Hansbrough gave extracts
of a letter from B. T. Galloway OF
the Agricultural bureau at Washing
ton, describing the methods used in
the laboratories. Results, accurate
and just were obtained as to the
quality and condition of samples,
lgiving percentage of foreign material
damaged grain, moisture, weight per
bushel, all of which determines the
grade of a sample. The test for
moisture is made by condensing over
a fame, all the moisture OF 100 grams
of the sample put in flask; the
moisture drips off, is measured az
curately, and thus exact per centage
derived.
Another SO grams of the sample is
then taken and separation made
SHOWING the sound grain, the dirt
and foreign material, the different
kinds Of damaged grain, and other
defects. This is all done on a per-
centage basis. The weight per bushel
and the weight per 100 grains are
also obtained. A report showing the
results of such examination is then
given to the person who Submitted
the sample, or his agent. The object
of this work is for the purpose of as
certaining just what factors 60 to
make up the values of commercial
grades of grain and the relative
value Of each of these factors In
determining the proper grade. When
these factors have been worked out,
it will be possible to c0rrelate the
results with the present existing
commerial grades. When we have
worked this out, I'VE shall be able to
establish United States standards for
grain grades on definite percentage
basis.
The senator expressed his con-
fidence In the complete success of
the grain grading policy Of the
government. He thought.it would be
necessary..to put laboratories aG other
points. They were not expensive.
The wheat buyers themselves, he
thought, put them into their eleva-
tors, and they should be under govern
ment supervision as far .as possible.
He predicted. that the old hand grad
Ing system was doomed. It would
surely be supplanted by this more
scientific method.
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