OBJECTS OF BOARD OF TRADE 309 



This department found and reported in the same year 26,011 cars, 

 or 11.5 per cent of the total in-bound cars weighed, with leakage. 

 Besides this their deputies went over each shipped car at the time of 

 loading to see that it did not show any evidence of leakage before it 

 left the loading elevator. 



The number of people detected and arrested for pilfering cars in 

 the railroad yards was 254. 



At interior or country loading stations, this department tested 74 

 scales of which 46, or 62.2 per cent, were weighing incorrectly. In the 

 Chicago district, 716 scales were tested of which 105, or 14.7 per cent, 

 were in need of adjustment. 



Department of Grain Sampling and Seed Inspection. This depart- 

 ment works in conjunction with the Illinois State Grain Inspection 

 Department. A staff of about thirty men is maintained. These men 

 sample and inspect shipments of grain and seed coming into the cen- 

 tral market. Often they send their men to other points to give help in 

 settling disputes or other difficulties. They have men in the railroad 

 yards and at all of the public warehouses to inspect grain, coming in 

 and being shipped out. Much that has been accomplished in estab- 

 lishing uniform grades for grain might be credited either directly or 

 indirectly to this department. 



During the year 1914, the inspection department sampled 123,537 

 cars of grain, and sampled 29,000,543 bushels for lake shipment. 



OBJECTS OF THE BOARD OF TRADE ANALYZED.* The 



purpose of the Board of Trade has already been stated. Whatever 

 objections have existed with reference to the Board of Trade in the 

 past, or may exist at present time, it remains to be seen whether or 

 not it is living up to the objects set forth. They are considered briefly 

 in the following: 



First — To promote uniformity in customs and usages of merchants. 



The value of some uniform means of marketing all products is at once 



grasped. The buyer wishes at all times to have the advantage of the 



most favorable market, and the producer is constantly on the lookout 



for the highest price for his product. It would not be possible for 



either to keep posted in regard to the various markets if there were not 



some uniformity in customs and usages. The average person could 



not interpret intelligently the market quotations. The Boards of 

 (111 



