Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1920-01-04

ec4sN e4e&A IN UNySS - ~ au~'s
after he receives the or wires back
the false statement that ~ hay II not
~ ~ frade and he will not receive It,
the buyer than becomes the malefac-
tor and II entitled to the condemnation
OF AL good citizens.
APPLIES 70 OTHERS
The same applies to grain, fruit and
all other products OF the soil.
In urging on behalf OF the farmer the
maximum amount of money for his
produce, the establishment OF fair and
open market and the promoting of
free and friendly feeling between buyer
and seller, the department Of agricui-
ture has established rules and regula-
tons intended to be fair to all con-
cerned. Through q large number Of in
spectors the department examines the
product and places thereon the estab-
iished grade. The buyer Is thereby as
sured that he gets what he pays for
and that In turn brings more buyers,
more competition and better conditions.
Already more than 5000 cars Of hay,
potatoes and grain have undergone this
grading and inspection and 1t may be
said as matter of pride that not only
the farmer but the shipper the COM
mission man, the dealer and the con-
sumer have all entered into the spirit Of
the work as q result OF which an under
taking which at first assumed a threat
ening hue has been made easy, pleas
ant and profitable to all alike.
SEEKS BEST PRODUCT
The department OF agriculture urges
the producer to put up the finest pro-
duct possible and in doing so he has
been rewarded with a cash market and
price relatively higher than any COM
peting states In the union. During the
present season 1t was impossible for
anyone, whether buyer or seller, to
indulge in sharp practices or violations
of the rules for the simple reason that
the fans surrounding the ring would
not stand for 1t and the department of
agriculture stood ready at all times TO
prosecute any offender.
The work is not yet finished, howev-
er. The grain crop of the state of
Idaho, including wheat. corn. oats, rye,
barley, beans. etc, aggregate in value
perhaps $45,000.000. The department of
agriculture has established rules COW
ering the transfer OF this great wealth
In the hands of the producer to the
dealer and consumer.
OBJECT TO RULES
These rules, however. have not been
accepted by the officials of the United
States grain corporation who are tenn
porarily in charge of the situation. 1t
is safe to say that in all the elements
of commerce that unite in producing
the untold wealth of this country there
is no single feature handled in such a
confused, Illogical and unsatisfactory
manner as is the production OF wheat
and its transformation into bread for
consumption. Bread is said to be the
staff of life. and every man, woman
and child that lives, no matter in what
condition must participate in it's con-
gt1fnnti0n. financial ttnY ,s
of gigantic proportions should aspire
TO control the distribution Of this pro-
duct and exact an undue toll from the
public. reveals remarkable phenom-
enon in human nature. That it has al
ways been thus, however can be no
reasonable doubt.
FORMER CUSTOMS
Formerly it was the custom of the
farmer TO take his wheat to the mill
where the miller would exact "a toll for
grinding. Most of the states, many of
them by act of the legislature, estab-
lishcd this toll at one-eighth of the
wheat. That is to say that IL a farm
mer desired two barrels of flour he
would bring nine bushels of wheat to
the local mill and the miller was en-
titled to 9-S bushels for grinding 1t.
The farmer in addition to his nine
bushels then would bring in n bush
ell which the miller would take, care
fully measuring same in his toll
bucket to see that the farmer had
been accurate in his measurements.
The ordinary value of this wheat dur
ing the period under consideration was
about 60 cents per bushel or one cent
per pound.
MILLER's PROFIT
The miller would therefore have
67h cents worth of wheat for grinding
Two barrels of flour for the farmer, Civ
ing him back the by-products as well
as the flour. This would allow the
miller gross profit of 1871 cents a bar
rel for grinding flour. This system
prevailed all over the United States
for mills and with this toll the miller
was supposed To prosper and live on
the fat of the land. He usually oper-
ated his mill by water power of the
crudest kind, or steam engines, using
the old fashioned mill stones.
A miller greeting one of his GUS
toners, as the story goes, inquired of
the visitor IL he knew anything. The
wit replied that he knew some things
and other things he didn't know. Being
pressed for an example of what he did
know. he said he knew that miilers
had fat hogs. Then being asked for
an example of what he didn't know he
replied that he didn't know where they
got their grain
PROTECTION DEMANDED
The discontent with the toll and The
manner of taking the toll gave rise to
various forms of legislation to pro-
tect the producer. One of the most
common enactments Is here reproduced
from the Colorado laws section 1862.
IF any person shall knowing
~ sell by false weights or meas
ures, or shall knowingly use false
measures at any mill. in taking
toll Tor grinding corn wheat, rye
or other grain. he shall be deemed
a common cheat, and on conviction
shall be fined not less than 5000
and be imprisoned in the county
jail not exceeding three months"
Owing TO the rapid progress OF events
and the continual evolution i'm com
merce, statutes to remedy any particu-
lar evil soon become obsolete. The
roller mills supplemented the old fash
Toned burss and electricity drove the
mills from the banks of the streams 10
the interior of the grain producing
belts whittier the power was trans
mitted from the hydro electric plants
by means of transmission wires even