The Detroit times., 1909-01-13
DETROIT. IS GREAT
FLOUR MILLING
CENTER
ANNUAL OUTPUT is ABOUT soo,-
600 BARRELs-suPERIoR PROD
ucT BUILDS UP LARGE HOME
TRADE.

Few Detroiters think or this city as
milling center. and yet the fact re-
mains that. while Detroit has gone
back as a wheat market for general
trading, there is an immense amount
OF grain ground into -four here every
year. The annual output OF the city
is estimated at 600, 900 barrels OF -four,
which Is a barrel and half each for
each inhabitant. II the product be
averaged.
Realization of the advantages OF the
Detroit-made fiours has resulted In an
increased home demand, even aside
from the natural increase OF demand
due to the growth OF the city. Sun
there Is a large amount OF flour ex-
ported from Detroit and indications
are that this will tend To increase.
While both winter wheat and spring
wheat are ground here, the Detroit
mills have an especial advantage in
grinding northwestern grain, getting
II by water freight. while the north
western millers must grind the grain
and then pay railroad rates on its
shipment, thus largely increasing the
cost to the consumer.
There are two large milling COM
panies here, the Detroit Milling Co,
OF which David Stott is the head. and
the Commercial Milling Co.. founded
by the late Peter Henkel. There are
ten public and private grain elevators
In the city with total capacity Of
100000 bushels Of grain. This. in
spite of the fact that Michigan no
longer produces as much wheat as
formerly.
Detroit millers have the advantage
In many ways" says David Stott, pres
ident of the Detroit Milling Co. Mich
igan, as is well known. produces tho
best winter wheat and we get the
pick of the state crop. We also have
an advantage In getting northwestern
wheat in ship cargo lots.
THE mills OF Detroit are first-class
In every particular, having the most
up-to-date machinery and processes.
The eastern trade OF Detroit Is con-
siderable and there IL also an export
trade to England, Ireland, Scotland,
Holland, Norway and the West Indies.
Quality is the thing that counts In
keeping UP the Detroit -four trade and
the superior quality OF the local make
is being recognized generally"
Prospects are for an excellent trade
this year for the Detroit millers." says
w. V. Brace, vice-president and man
ager of the Commercial Milling Co.
Detroit is peculiarly adapted to sup
ply spring wheat -four ground from the
wheat OF the northwest. II Is brought
down here In shiploads at very
small price per bushel, while the mills
grinding In the northwest are obliged
to ship their -four down by car in or
der to protect the packages.
Detroit millers can and do buy the
spring wheat OF Minnesota and the
Dakotas, grind 1t and put 1t on the
market at a much lower price than
the mills of the northwest can hope
to do. Because OF the trade conditions
we are bound to buy the very best
wheat that can be secured: we know
we have to produce a better -four
against the reputation OF the north
western millers.
IAN advantage possessed for he
home trade Is that we can deliver the
-four to the retailer directly from the
mills. Thus he gets fresh -four that
has not been transported in what may
have been In ill-smelling freight cars
or stored In ill-adapted warehouses.
Four Is extremely susceptible to odor,
and flour that has been transported
by rail is apt TO take the odor OF what
ever has been last shipped In the car.
Hardly q retailer In Detroit, but
has for customer some -four mill
hand or some of his family, so that
the interests of the retail trade of the
city are bound up with those OF the
miller"