The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1913-06-04
r A INSPECTION LAW.

The marketing of Montana grain
this year will be conducted under q
better system than has prevailed in
former seasons, q new law creating
. state grain inspection department
that provides protection for the farm
er. The grading and storage of his
grain will be under the direction of
state officials.
Iu q statement concerning the work
Of his department, ]. E. Templeton, re-
Gently appointed chief grain inspector,
explains the principal provisions Of
the new law - follows:
One of the most Important features
of the grain inspection law concerns
the storage of grain. The subject 10
covered very thoroughly, and it is
thought that every possible protection
10 afforded the grower of grain and
warehouse men storing it. The pri.
mary object ia storing grain 10 to keep
It In . suitable place In anticipation
of q higher market, and the function OF
the state in this matter is properly to
grade, weigh and safeguard the grain.
The safety lies In the fact that a ware.
house nan accepting grain for stor-
age, must furnish bonds covering the
value OF all such grain, aud this
makes the warehouse receipts abso-
lutely valid and negotiable instru-
ments.
1t is the duty of the department to
formulate rules and regulations for
the storing and handling Of grain in
public warehouses, and the rules will
be made public a. soon as they can
be prepared. The establishment of
grain inspection points is left to the
discretion of the governor, and it will
be his policy to designate such points
Is may seem necessary, according to
the amount Of grain being stored.
Another important function of the
depsrtmet concerns itself with the
weighing and inspection OF all grain
transported by the railroads of the
state, either wholly within the state
or in transit to outside terminals.
This weighing will be done at Or as
near as possible to the loading point,
aud is q measure of protection to the
grower in the matter of weights, and
at the sam time giving him an accu.
rate knowledge of the grade of his
grain. In addition to this, the law
provides for the %stationing of inspec.
tors carefully to watch the grading
and handling of all grain from this
state arriving at Mime apolis and
Duluth, thus doubly protecting the
interests OF the shipper.
The governor will appoint a grain
grading commission, whose duties
consist of meeting once each year and
establishing what ls known as Mon
tana grades. This work will be done
a. soon as samples of the new crop
can be secured, and the grades so
established will stand for one year.
The commission will doubtless work
in harmony with q similar commission
in Minnesota, that state being the
principal market for grain shipped
from Montana. The high milling
quality of the wheat grown in this
state is we'll known, and the establish
ment OF the grain inspection depart
ment is expected to be of material as.
sistance in enabling the grower to
realize the full value Of his products.
Ia this connection, it is interesting
to note that the recent legislature also
passed a law providing for the es'
Establishment of q grain testing la
boratory at the state agricultural
college at Bozeman, the purpose be-
ing to enable the ready determination
OF the milling and baking qualities OF
the wheat grown in this state. This
department. is entirely separate from
the grain inspection department., but il
Unexpected that tthey will cooperate
when the occasion demands.
A copy of the new grain inspection
law will be mailed to anyone making
application to the chief grain inspec
tor at Helena.