102 



on or part of it. It is in a similar conditicn to barley or oats taken from the- 

 thrasher, but often with less shell, depending upon the kind of rice. The 

 Japan and Bengal rice has less shell when imported than the Siam or 

 Burma, and this is one reason why the former commands higher prices 

 than the latter. The cost price in Japan is stated at g2.40 per 100 pounds ; 

 in Bengal, at ^2A6 to ^2.40 per 100 pounds ; in Siam, at ^l.iO to gl.40 

 per 100 pounds ; in Burma at ^1.08 to |1. 44 per 100 pounds. The cost 

 price of cour£e varies with the market and may be governed by the pur- 

 chaser, the quantities and grades purchased, and the kind of connection the 

 purchaser may have with the place of production. 



Eice is always imported in sacks of about 100 pounds each. Freight 

 rates from China to Bremen are ^4.80 per ton by steamer ; by sale, $1.92 

 to $2.16 per ton. The rates are governed largely by opportunity and com- 

 petition in shipping. The laigest concern in Bremen usually imports in 

 its own vessels. 



Cost of milling,— No reliable figures can be ascertained as to the cost of 

 milling in Bremen. There are so many different grades of the paddy going 

 to mill, and so many different grades of the milled rice produced, each at 

 a different cost from the others, that detailed information regarding the 

 whole would be necessary for an accurate conclusion. This it is impossible 

 to get ; at least the millers, if they know, are not disposed to impart the 

 knowledge. 



By-products. — The coarser part of the shell of the rice is used mainly 

 for packing purposes. The finer part of the shell is cut up and mixed with 

 the bran, and is used for cattle feed, as are the middlings or shorts. All of 

 these by-products aire consumed in Germany and sell, according to grade 

 and quality, at from 22 cents to $1.40 per 100 pounds. 



Work of the largest mills. — The largest mill in Bremen, which is said to 

 be the largest of its kind in the world, uses engines of 800 to 900 horse- 

 power, and SO runs of stone ; all of the shelling and grinding is done with 

 the stone ; the breaking or cracking of the rice (" skinning") is effected by 

 steel rollers. The daily output of this mill, running twenty-four hours, is 

 from 5,0CO to 6,000 bags, each bag weighing, 110 pounds. The yearly 

 capacity is 125,CC0 tons, 5C0 hands are employed, and there is a capital 

 stock of $3,200,000. The wage rate is from 75 cents to $1 a day. From 

 260,C00 to i 00,000 sacks of the unmilled product are in store constantly. 



Ihere are three others— one with a yearly capacity of 70,000 tons, with 

 $700,0(0 capital, and working 300 hands; one with a yearly capacity of 

 of 40,000 tons, with $400,000 capital, and working 70 hands; the third about 

 half the size of the last-named concern. Starch is the chief product of 

 this mill, and the by-products are fed to cattle owned by the concern. 



The total import into Bremen for the year 1896 was 412,834,237 pounds,, 

 valued at$5,634,282. The total export for the same period was 401,578.694 

 pounds, valued at $6,723,133. Freight rates from Bremen to New York 

 on rice are — by steamer, $3,60 to $3.80 per ton ; by sail, $1.08 to $1.20 

 per ton. 



No intelligent information could be had concerning the number of 

 pounds of whole rice, or broken, or fine broken rice passed through a No. 

 12 wire sieve. This point does not appear to have been estimated or 

 measured by the millers here, at least they did not or could not give in- 

 formation conoerning it. 



As to the number of pounds of rice polish and rice bran obtained from . 

 100 pounds of paddy and uncleaned, the estimate varies from 8 to 30 per 

 cent, depending on the kind, quality, and condition of the rice, and also 

 upon the degree of polish given it. 



