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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 1912)
i THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE 75 Inspection and Weighing at Omaha By George B. Powell 1 1 IT HAS been seven years since the directors of the Omaha Grain exchange adopted a system of inspection and weighing which at the time was de signed to cover the best features of the systems in vogue in the other large grain centers of the country. During that time every effort has been put forth to maintain a high standard of service. We have looked forward, accepting always the best ideas offered; and at the same time, we have originated safeguards both in the inspection and the weighing departments. We have looked carefully into the new idea of office inspection, and regard it as an advanced step, but we believe that we have a more accurate inspection in the system of inspecting on track and then reviewing the track inspectors' work by office inspection. We value highly our original idea of using paraffine-lined boxes in which to carry in perfect condition, corn or other grain. We were the first, and at the present time we are the only exchange furnishing boxes George B. Powell, Chief Inspector and Weighmaster to inspectors for delivery to the office of grain in a moist or heating condition. We adopted the paraffine-lined boxes because we found that in no other way could the exact condition of grain at the car be con veyed to the place of sale or the office. We found that by the use of these boxes an intelligent and fair test could be made of moisture content at our laboratory. After ex perience had shown the merit of the box, we found it possible to make tests for grades on all doubtful cars. We have apparatus at our labora tory for testing at least forty cars of grain an hour, and we have at each elevator moisture testers to de termine the moisture content of all grain for shipment from Omaha. So far as we know, Omaha is the only market testing practically all corn, both in and out. Our elevators were the first and possibly are now the only elevators that during the several months of a new crop movement, allot corn to bins strictly according to the mois- ' 3 11 Photo by Elnehart J. A. Cavers, Director ture content. If we continue the present policy, we shall be recognized as the original and only market buy ing and selling corn, according to the ,moisture content. The policy is safe and sane and is particularly valuable during the months when, from germi nation or moisture deterioration, a guide should be provided for each car or consignment. We find the south willing to take a risk on speci fied per cent corn while it would be impossible to sell that section on a grade with no moisture content. Scientific buying and selling by cereal manufacturers is now beyond the experimental stage, and from the manufacturing points and grain cen ters a campaign of education will go on until the buying at country points will be based on actual moisture content. We call attention to the cut pro duced here of the ticket we use in weighing grain. , This cut shows a two-draft car and is balanced by the pencil denomina tions of weights as against the auto matic register of the actual weight. We have used this ticket now for five years and know its value. Mistakes which happen in the usual run of business are discovered by compari son of the work of the man with the F i 1 r 4r, .CM MO. UM0ADI ' MAM AND MAD. - DENOMINATION Of WEIGHTS - riRIT SHAFT 1 1 W1'-' U o-ou WMIIIMHA luaaiittit nuiMun ,"3? (' I, -To Aotal uunJ.Jt.'?..a. caic no-.. mechanical impression. It is abso lutely impossible to make a mistake in weighing grain in the hopper, and we have found many times that the two-draft part of the ticket makes accurate entries of the small or on second draft of large loads. The double check at the scales is followed by a check at the office with requests furnished by individual elevator companies. These requests are de manded by the railroad companies, and we act as the railroads' rep resentative in checking for them the weights furnished by the elevator companies. The variances which oc cur through clerical errors and other wise give great value to our ticket and the double-checking system. This whole systtyn originated in Omaha, and we are still looking for new ideas. Within the last month we have perfected a system of joint inspection with the railroads, of the leaking of grain and the physical condition of grain cars and grain doors. An inspector in authority for the railroad company and the grain man's inspector employed by the Omaha Grain exchange will sign in original and duplicate a report on the exact condition of the car and grain doors. Credit should be given the Union Pacific railroad for its action in helping to perfect the joint inspec tion scheme. We believe that Omaha originated this joint inspection and think it will be equally valuable to the shippers Into the market and the claim departments of the railroads. The new form of report was drafted to cover a complete analysis of the physical condition of the car, and should clear up all points which have been doubtful in the past. In order to build up a grain center, it is necessary to give fair inspection and good weights to realize the high est comparative market values and to reasonably and accurately figure dis counts on off grade grain between consignor and consignee. Omaha has become a great grain market by practicing equal rights in all the es sential points necessary to the steady growth of a grain center. Introduc tions have been going on now for six years and our business acquaintance has extended to the western coast both from a receiving as well as a shipping viewpoint. The magnet of the Omaha market is drawing wheat and barley from irrigated states, in cluding California, and the live wires of our market are finding an outlet through the same current for our corn, oats and alfalfa feeds. Our nat ural outlet to the south and southeast is being extended and protected. Everything being equal, preference is always given to Omaha because of the courtesy of our people and the high quality of our grain. Situated in the very heart of the great corn belt, and with its rail roads branching out in every direction, like the tentacles of the giant octo pus, Omaha 1b par ticularly well , situ ated to afford a vantage ground for the establishment and maintenance of a big grain ex change in its ef forts to extend its organization and draw from those sections which have heretofore neglected to align themselves with any one center. Nebraska, the focal point of the combination, Is peculiarly well lo cated for the grain men to get in di rect touch with the men who till the soil and who have made the states known throughout the country in the grain world and with the men, the SECOND DftAT i 1 l o o f 1.1 , .v'v Photo by Fitneliart P. H. Brown, Director middlemen, if you please, who, with their capital and energy, make it possible for the producers to market their products to the best advan tage. No branch of industry has shown a greater development in the last ten years and particularly in the Beven years since the establishment of the grain exchange, than the grain busi ness. Nebraska was raising, on the average, nearly as much grain ten years ago as now, but Omaha, the metropolitan city of the state, was not a grain market. Probably as much grain was passed through Omaha then as now, but it actually passed through it did not stop. And no city can be a grain market unless the grain stops there, unless it has facilities for distributing and does distribute the wealth of the farms to the various parts of the country. A. B. Stickney of the Great West ern made proportionate rates east, allowing the grain to stop at Omaha. Soon every other road out of Omaha had promulgated rates, which made Omaha a permanent grain market. Grain receipts at Omaha now run to about 43,000,000 bushels annu ally. The market is also gradually developing a milling business, and the two big mills now established are doing a flourishing business. ! f " J Photo by Klnehirt t T. P. Blake, Director