The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-16
From the NetDark Daily advertiser.
The Wheat Market or California.

An interesting letter from William G. Morehead,
late United States consul at Valparaiso, recently
published in the Philadelphia North Anerican, fur
nishes some very important information with re-
gard to the wheat crops Of California, to supply the
latter with flour, which, if true-and there Is no
reason to doubt twill have important bearing
upon the interests Of our merchants, who are max
ing prepare tons to ship large quantities to that re-
gion twill seriously affect the interests OF the
grain producing portions OF our own population,
who have been hopefully watching our rising set
Elements along the Pacific coast promising to
call upon the almost inexhaustibe resources of the
North for their supplies.
We cannot reasonably be expected always to sup
ply or control the grain market of 80 distant and
so situated a country as California, when it is
known that the immense tracts of fertile soil in
South America and in its own territory lie ready
To answer any call that the agricuturist can rea-
| sonably make upon it, though they may lose their
advantages when the resstless energy our north
| ern shall have overcome all the obstacles OF
travel between and them by railroads and
steam.
| Mr.. Morehead states that the first shipment of
flour from Chill TO California will take place within
| a few weeks and thereafter regularly, commence
| ing with twenty five thousand barrels month;
and adds
The harvest that has Just been secured, i am in
formed. has well rewarded the husbandman, the
crop being very large. The price of wheat is there
| fore comparatively low, twenty six to thirtyone
and quarter cents per bushel in the interior on
delivery at the mills Iobtained from gentleman
of high character, who is perfectly conversant with
the subject, the following information: At Concep
ton and vicinity there ten rstrate -four mills,
| the machinery for which was obtained in the Uni
ted States, and, with the exception Of two, are
| owned and managed by Americans and English
men. The average monthly product of these mills
| is about thirty thousand barrels Of superhne flour
for export, which in quality is regarded as being
equal to the best flour manufactured in the United
| States. Between Conception and Santiago there
are two good mills, which manufacture for export
some four to five thousand barrels per month; and
at the capital Santiago, there five or six estab
lishments of considerable extent in manufacturing
for export, which, together, produce from eighteen
| to twenty thousand barrels monthly; besides which,
there arc large number OF small mills engaged in
manufacturing for home consumption. Thus 1t
appears that there produced in Chill some fifty
to fifty five thousand barrels Of superne flour for
export monthly, all Of which must find markets in
the Pacihc-the principal being California.
The great fluctuations that have 30 frequently
occurred in that market during the past year-the
price of -four varying from less than the cost Of
placing it there TO $50, $40, and even SO per bar
rel-have induced the millers to enter into tic
| rangement alluded 10 above, by which they (the
millers) bind themselves to supply this company
the entire product of their mills, at the price Of
| S4 A per barrel, delivered in the warehouse for
| shipment. The company have large and COM
modious warehouse at San Francisco, at which they
are bound 10 keep regular and constant supply OF
1 -four, adequate at all times TO meet the demand,
and dispose Of the same at moderate proht-thus
securing TO the citizens OF California supply OF the
4 staff of life at lotc price.
| The consumption of that market is estimated by
these gentlemen 10 be not less than $4,000 barrels
per month at present, calculating an increase OF,
say 5000 barrels per month consider itimportant
that the above facts should be generally known
throughout the United States of America, that per-
| sons who may be induced (by the recent extrava-
giant price of -FOUR 10 ship to California can do 30
| tndrstandingIy