The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1917-01-19

elevators and flour mills in the state,
and, although the grain crop of 1915
fell considerably short of the pre-
vious years crop, the increase in the
number of elevators and mills was
far greater in 1916 than in 1915.
At the close of the year 1915
the records of the office show
that there were 6O2 elevators,
50 flour mills and Al buildings
known to the trade as flat
houses, which are not provided
with machinery for the rapid
handling of grain.
A year ago there were $50 eleva-
tors and as flour mills, the former
showing an increase of 33 1-3 per
cent and the latter 81 per cent. Flat
houses show a slight falling off in
number due to the fact that some
were being used temporarily pend
ing the construction of elevators.
The 700 buildings devoted exclu
sively to handling grain or milling
are all licensed by the department
and are divided into two general
classes; those in which grain stor-
age business is conducted are public
warehouses" of which there are $40,
the remaining 100 are warehouses"
without storage privileges. The
business is divided among 80 differ
ent concerns classified as follows: 33
line companies operating 339 houses.
1913 farmers companies operating
companies operating 223 houses.
These buildings are located at 800
railroad stations, exactly one half OF
whit h1
railway, while II additional loca-
lions are not on any railroad.
Equity Has 43 Elevators.
The largest single line is that Of
the Rocky Mountain Elevator COM
pany of Great Falls with 43 eleva-
tors. Equity Cooperative Associa-
lions operate So elevators and many
others are running under the coop
erative system.
The total grain storage capacity OF
the state is 19,165,000 bushels. The
milling capacity is $3.50 barrels of
flour per day. Two mills in the
course of construction at Great Falls
will bring the milling capacity to H.
$50 barrels. This n ans the con-
sumption of practically 10000 bush
els of wheat per day if running full
time, and If operating 800 days in
the year, an annual product Of s.
$4,000 barrels of flour, which
would require the grinding of little
less than 100000 bushels of
wheat or about 60 per cent of the
1916 crop.
The report says further:
Bonds to the extent of s2,500,000
are on file in the office of the Sec
rotary of state for the protection OF
grain stored in public warehouses.
It is perhaps not generally realized
that the handling of this security for
stored grain is the most important
work done by the department. This
Is form of insurance, the cost OF
which is so small as to compare
favorably with any kind of insurance
to be found. If the total cost of the
maintenance of the department, $4,-
618.65 for the year just closed, be
considered as premium, it will be
found to be less than one-fifth of
per cent of the amount of insurance
in force. This expense is not borne
by the farmers alone, who are the
direct beneficiaries, but is a general
contribution of all the taxpayers of
the state for the benefit of one of
our largest industries.
About Grain Inspection.
Our laws on the subject of the reg
ulation of the grain business are be-
lieved to be the best in the coun
try and not a great deal is needed
in the way of changes. 1t is recon-
mended that the name of the depart
ment and the title of chief grain in
spector be changed to the grain COM
mission of the state of Montana and
grain commissioner respectively. This
for the reason that the present name
and title are misleading. Although
ample provision for the inspection of
grain is contained in the law, none is
being done at the present time ex-
cept that of samples submitted to the
office. The matter of inspection is
put straight up to those most in
terested. and if they do not avail
themselves of the opportunities af-
forded it is indication that the state
is not yet ready for it. No doubt in
spection at some central points will
be necessary in the near future but
the general inspection of grain at
country elevators is practical i'm
possibility owing to it's excessive
cost and the difficulty in securing
sufficient number of competent in
spectors.
The regulation of the grain trade
is as important as that of railroads
or banks. Fortunately failures in
the grain trade of this state have
been fully protected. The business is
hazardous one and temptation to
speculate, sometimes with grain be-
longing to others, is always present,
In an adjoining state, failures have
been so numerous during the past
year as to constitute serious prob
lem. Our law offers no encourage
ment for commercial pirates to en-
gage in this business. The thing
most needed by the department is at
least two competent inspectors or ex-
aminers so that elevators and mills