THE STORAGE OF WHEAT 211 



Wheat was stored the entire year in elevators, and sometimes 

 for 2 or 3 years. The expense per bushel of wheat in operating 

 a line elevator was given as 2.25 cents if 50,000 bushels were 

 handled annually, and 1.75 cents if 100,000 bushels were han- 

 dled. Very few houses handled 100,000 bushels of wheat in a 

 year. Three-fourths cent per bushel was charged for transfer- 

 ring grain from a car to an elevator and into another car. It 

 has been estimated that the cost was only one-eighth cent. 



In 1885 the country elevator charge was from 3 to 5 cents 

 per bushel. In 1900 it was from 0.5 cent to 2 cents. Elevator 

 transfer charges were 1.25 cents in Chicago in 1885, and 0.75 

 cent at the close of the century. The usual commission for 

 selling on consignment at the terminal markets in 1900 was one 

 cent a bushel. Inspection and weighing charges amounted to 0.01 

 cent per bushel. About 80 per cent of the charges involved in 

 concentrating wheat in Chicago were railroad charges and 20 

 per cent were commercial charges. Charges made per car 

 were usually those of inspection, 25 to 30 cents, and weighing, 

 15 to 30 cents. Storage charges at the terminal elevators were 

 about 1 cent per bushel for the first 10 days or any part there- 

 of, and about one-fourth cent for each additional 10 days or any 

 part thereof. Charges for recleaning grain were from 1 to 2 

 cents per bushel. 



In New York the charges on grain in store are, for receiving, 

 weighing and discharging sound grain, including storage for 

 10 days or a part thereof, five-eighths cent per bushel, and 

 for every succeeding 10 days or a part thereof, one-fourth 

 cent a bushel. There is extra storage of half a cent per bushel 

 on grain delivered to ocean vessels. Screening and blowing on 

 receipt or delivery costs one-eighth cent per bushel. This may 

 also include mixing. Inspection charges are 25 cents per 1,000 

 bushels. This, and verification of track weights, involves a 

 charge of 50 cents per car load. One cent per bushel is the 

 charge of weighing and discharging track wheat. Grain loaded 

 from elevator to car is charged one-half cent per bushel, and 

 that transferred while in store one-fourth cent per bushel. At 

 Buffalo the cost for elevating is 0.5 cent per bushel, but this 

 includes free storage for 10 days. If the grain is left in storage 

 longer than 10 days, the charge is 0.25 cents for each day. 



