Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-07-15
Rail Commissions
Duties Are Varied
Continued from Page u


scientious and impartial, and, over
la long period of years, have become
highly expert in judging the many
lgradeS of grain. There are 102 grades
of wheat alone.
When car arrives at public
house, it goes on the track scale, or
is unloaded and conveyed to a hopper
scale and the weight taken The
state weights are the basis used for
determining the amount or capacity.
Scales that give recognized state
weights are inspected twice a year
A state weigher records the weight,
and the entire process is under state
supervision.
Protects Buyer and Seller.
The Grain Inspection and Weighing
department is the best protection the
buyer or seller has. 1t protects both
ards that it is considered indispen-
sable to the trade.
AS the So-called terminal cities of
Minneapolis and Duluth increased in
size and commercial Importance,
business increased proportionately
Trackage became insufficient to ac-
commodate the heavy grain ship
ments. The condition grew worse
until sampling stations were estab-
lished at Thief River Falls, Glen
wood, Willmar, st. Cloud and Staples,
where samples of grain are taken
from the cars and forwarded to the
Inspection departments at Duluth or
Minneapolis. The grade is deter
mined and sent to the destination of
the car, and usually arrives ahead
of the grain itself
The Grain Inspection department
is entirely self-sustaining, deriving
its cost of operation from fees assessed
against grain inspected or weighed
A few years ago, during a heavy
movement of grain, 1,147 ,438, 800
bushels of grain were handled by the
department. This grain was weighed,
sampled and inspected at the ex-
tremely low cost of 25 bushels for
one cent.
Regulating Public Warehouses.
The laws of the state provide that
the Commission shall exercise gen.
eral supervision over the grain in
terestS of the state, and of the buy
ing and selling, handling, inspection,
weighing and storage of grain, and
of the management of public ware
houses and public grain markets in
Of
Boards of Trade and Grain Exchanges
1t further provides that the Com
mission shall investigate all COM
plants of fraud and injustice in the
grain trade, unfair practices, and
discrimination in the buying and
selling of grain. 1t fixes the charges
of public Warehousemen and makes
the proper rules and regulations for
carrying out and enforcing this law
and all laws relating to public ware
houses.
Public Warehouses Defined.
Public warehouses are defined as:
"All elevators, flour, cereal and feed
mills, malthouses and warehouses in
which grain is received, stored or
handled, situate on the right-of-way
of any railroad or adjacent thereto,
to be used in connection with a line
of railway at any station or siding
other than Minneapolis, st. Paul and
Duluth"
The business of receiving, handling
and storing of grain is of a public
character, and affected with public
interest. For this reason the Legis-
lature has seen fit to provide for the
protection of those who transact busi-
ness with elevators or warehouses.
The Railroad and Warehouse Com
mission provides for licenses for ele-
vators and sufficient bonds to at
all times protect farmers from losses.
1t maintains strict supervision over
all elevators and warehouses for the
protection of the public and the farm
erS of the state. There are approx
mately 1880 elevators and warehouses
licensed under the Minnesota law.
Livestock Weighing Department.
In 1885, the Legislature passed an
act providing for the weighing of all
livestock handled at packing plants,
concentration points and public stock
yards within the State of Minnesota.
This is to provide fair, accurate and
impartial weights to buyer and seller
alike. There are at the present time
employed in this department SO per-
sons, all of whom are bonded for the
faithful performance of their duties.
The scales are all tested at regular
intervals, and a permanent record
is kept of all animals weighed. In
terested parties can get complete in
formation on any animal sent to the
packing plant, concentration point.
or public stockyard from the South
st. Paul office. A fee is charged for
the weighing of livestock of &c per
head for cattle, lee for hogs, and 1c
for sheep.
Since June 3Oth, 1885, all buyers
of livestock in the state are licensed
by the Commission. They are also
required to file surety bond in the
sum OF $4,000 for the purpose of pro-