Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1909-12-24

In Minnesota was to show that
substantially one-half of the grain
received there is weighed on track
scales; that such method of weigh.
ing is of comparatively recent
origin that every person connect.
ed with this department in Min.
nesota, including the members OF
the railroad commission, its sec.
rotary (who has been with the
grain inspection department
since its inception more than q
quarter of a century ago., the
chief Inspector, the state weigh
master, and every employee of the
department, are emphatic in their
statement that track scales furn-
ish the best and most satisfactory
means of ascertaining the weight
of the contents of the car; that in
all weighing over hopper scales
the percentage of error is against
the shipper. Every liability of
leakage in the elevators, the chok-
ing of grain in the pit and err
ror in diversion of part of the
grain into a different bin, the
lclogging Of valves in the hoppers,
or any one of several causes,
gives an opportunity for error
which would not occur in weigh
ing on track scales. The determ-
nation in favor Of track scales
is based on such scales being prop
erly placed on a concrete base
and protected from the weather
by a covering. A representative
of the railways accompanied Mr..
Lawrence in this investigation, at
his request, owing to the diver
gent views at the Puget Sound
terminals, and there was no con-
tention as to the facts as found.
In Minnesota the shippers are
required to place a card in each
car, showing the weight of the
contents. This card is prima fac
lie evidence of the weight of the
car. A variation of over a hun
dred pounds in this weight must
be accounted for. Millions of
bushels of grain are re-weighed in
that state, with a variation of an
average of one pound per thous-
and, or one bushel to 10000
pound car. On an average, the
weight at the terminals over-runs
the country weights.
In Chicago some five hundred
million bushels of grain is receiv-
ed annually and weighed by the
state weighmaster. The state
weighmaster, as in Minnesota, was
emphatic in his preference for
track scales, properly set, as af-
fording the best means of secur-
ing the accurate weight of car
loads OF grain. In that city some
twenty to twenty-five per cent of
the grain received is weighed over
track scales, amounting to over
one hundred million bushels of
grain annually, or more than three
times the total receipts on Puget
Sound.
The investigation in these two
states would seem to settle the
question as to the practicability
of the use of track scales in weigh
ling sacked grain in Washington.
This is the only method available
here, aside from that of the small
platform scales now used. If, in
the states of Minnesota and Hi
nois, where the grain is handled
In bulk and is available for weigh
ing in hopper scales, the state au-
thorltles favor the use of track
scales as the most accurate me-
thod of weighing, there would
seem to be no question as to the
Ipracticability of such weighing
in the state of Washington where
hopper scales cannot be used for
1
the weighing of sacked grain.
The state inspector and weigh
masters Offices in Missouri were
visited, and hopper scales were
found to be in use there exclusive
Ily. An interesting fact in con-
nection with the investigation in
that state is that the officials
there are regularly changed, serv-
ing but one term, as the offices
are regarded as 'pie" which
should be distributed among the
many applicants clamoring for
positions. One fee is charged in
that state for the inspection of
grain by one set of officials; an
other fee is charged for weigh
ing the same grain by a. different
set of officials; then comes in the
board of trade of st. Louis and
Kansas City with an additional
charge for an official of that or