HISTORY OF GRAIN INSPECTION 273 



The earliest record of any attempt at the inspection of grain in the 

 west, if not in the entire country, was in Chicago, in 1848. Previous 

 to that time all transactions were made from samples shown or grain 

 as offered from farmers' wagons. In 1854 the volume of grain having 

 very largely increased, the old manner of measuring by the half bushel 

 became too slow and uncertain, and agitation resulted in a change to 

 the present system of weighing grain, by which a stated number of 

 pounds represents a bushel of each of the different kinds. 



The foundation of the present system of inspection was laid by 

 the Chicago Board of Trade in 1858, and this system has since been 

 adopted, substantially in the same form, throughout the country 

 where grain is inspected at all, and its influence is now felt in the grain 

 trade all over the world. 



In 1871 the state, through its General Assembly, enacted a law 

 creating a Board of Railroad and Warehouse Commissioners and pro- 

 vided further for the classification and supervision of elevators and 

 warehouses; and for the appointment of a chief grain inspector and a 

 registrar of grain for the City of Chicago, together with the necessary 

 corps of assistants to each. In compliance with this law, the inspec- 

 tion of grain in Illinois has since been under the jurisdiction of the 

 state. 



All grain was first inspected in the cars. A large force of men 

 was necessarily employed for this work in such a market as Chicago. 

 Each man stood alone. Dissatisfaction grew out of this method on 

 account of a lack of uniformity in grading. 



The change of. inspection was initiated by Mr. J. C. F. Merrill, 

 Secretary of the Chicago Board of Trade. A committee of three com- 

 petent judges was first provided to pass on all grain on which the 

 inspector's grade was doubtful. 



Room inspection originated in Minneapolis and Duluth. During 

 the cold winter months, when a large per cent of the corn crop reached 

 the primary and terminal markets, and during stormy weither, con- 

 ditions were not very favorable for accurate grading in the cars on 

 track. None of the official grading is now done at the car. 



All grading and inspection is now done by government officials, or 

 by those appointed by the Board of Trade, Chaniber of Commerce, or 

 Railroad and Warehouse Commissioners. In many states, federal 

 inspection is already effective. 



