UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BULLETIN No. 362 A. 
fc "si. 
5r Contribution from the Office of Markets and Rural Organization "^SVy""/\ 
=^U"t. CHARLES J. BRAND, Chief J>v£^W^ 
Washington, D. C. ▼ May 6, 1916 
A SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTS FOR PRIMARY GRAIN 
ELEVATORS. 
By John R. Humphrey, Assistant in Market Business Practice, and W. H. Kerr, 
Investigator in Market Business Practice. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. Page. 
Introduction 1 
Types of elevator accounting systems 2 
Office equipment 2 
Taking an inventory 3 
Auditing the books 3 
Hedging 4 
Insurance of elevators 4 
Description of the Office of Markets and 
Rural Organization grain elevator account- 
ing system 4 
Instructions for operating the system 8 
Conclusion 19 
Blank forms Nos. 1 to 15, following 20 
INTRODUCTION. 
The rapid growth of the business of primary grain elevators 
has emphasized the importance of adequate accounting systems. 
It has been realized that the adoption of a uniform system suffi- 
ciently comprehensive to accommodate itself to the conditions pre- 
vailing in the grain-producing States would be a step in advance. 
This bulletin describes a grain elevator accounting system which 
has been devised by the Office of Markets and Rural Organizations 
and which is now being used by representative elevators in all of 
the leading grain-producing States. 
In drawing up the various forms comprising this system reference 
has been made to many other systems now in operation. A firsts 
hand study of conditions existing in the elevator business has like- 
wise had a bearing on the final form of this system. 
"Note.— This bulletin is intended for all primary grain elevators throughout the United States. It con- 
tains copies of forms and a description of their uses for a system of accounts which is being recommended 
by the Office of Markets and Rural Organization, United States Department of Agriculture, as a uniform 
system for primary grain elevators. 
25749°— Bull. 362—16 1 
