The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-10-25
The Wheat Crop and Prices.

lug WItdI lOT IuSilsu anu COullucutdl
consumption. The districts of Russia
which produce wheat for export are those
tributary to the Black Sea. If it were
not for the war closing these ports, Rus
STA, although her products are reduced,
would send out wheat enough to seriously
affect our export trade, for the reason
that we have 1O0,OO0,O0O bushels of
wheat for export this year in excess to
that Of the previous season. Not only is
the winter wheat crop Of the country one
the largest ever harvested, and of supe-
rior quality, but the spring wheat crop is
immense, and of a quality as superior as
is the yield. 1t is dry enough to grind
or export directly from the field.
Last year our wheat crop amounted to
100000 bushels. This year it is fair
ly estimated at over 100000 bushels.
The largest amount ever exported in one
year from the United States was 100000
900 bushels. The average export is about
60,00O,00O bushels; but last year only
4O,OOO,OOO bushels of wheat was export
ed, owing to short crop.
Under ordinary circumstances, there
fore, we might naturally expect to see
the prices of wheat 90 below living rates.
The spectators of the wheat markets,
among the most ingenious, INSCRIPTIONS
and well-informed of any class, have al
ready attempted to carry prices down, so
that they mis- ht get large bulk on hand,
to control prices within the near future.
With this view they have already sue
ceeded in carrying the price down to
81 .O4 for No. wheat. We have advised
farmers to get their crop in condition to
sell so it might reach tide water before
the close of navigation. We see no rea-
son to alter this opinion now; but while
doing this, they must at. the same time
use due business tact, watch the varying
phases of the market, and judge for them
export crop of wheat this year must come
from east of the Rocky Mountains, for the
California wheat crop is short and will
cut but little figure in the problem.
Vast amounts of grain have lately
gone forward over the Erie Canal, owing
to the low tolls now adopted on this line
of transit. When winter sets in, the
Eastern railways will undoubtedly es-
tablish rates to make up losses sustained
during the summer. If the farmer is
wise, he may measurably take advantage
of these fluctuations The present crop
of wheat will pay good profit at $1.OO
and over, delivered in Chicago, st. Louis,
or other prominent shipping points in the
West. We do not think it need even re-
main at this price; certainly not if farm
ers are prepared to carry good portion
of the crops until next season. This,
however, has its risks, and every bust
ness man must, in this respect, figure for
himself.
We believe that large as is our wheat
crop for 1877, it may all be absorbed in
European markets, at good prices this
year. There is now no prospect that the
Russian Turkish war is to be ended this
season. If it continues next year it will
PROSTATE the agricultural resources of
the Russian Empire, so far as their eX-
port of grain is concerned. If the farm
ers of the West were in condition to CO.
operate, they might control the grain
trade of the country, as some other indus
tries control their speciAlties; this, how
ever, is difficult, on account of their seq
regation; nevertheless, much may be
done by individuals and communities by
watching the market, and through mu
tual assistance to given end. Ii grain
is rushed into market upon failing
price, spectators will take advantage to
force prices lower and then hold for
rise. The difficulty is, too many sell at
the ebb, and thus get minimum, when
they should get maximum prices.-Prai-
RE Farmer.
CARRIER DOvEs.-These useful birds
increase in value with each new develop
ment of their usefulness. The latest APP
plication of the ''homiug" faculty, as it
is called, of this bird, is the establishment
of communication between lightships
and the shore, at times when it is i'm
possible to convey intelligence by any
other method. The maratime code of
signals is taken advantage of, and two or
three letters are stamped on the wing,
intimating the nature of the assistance
required. The bird is then let loose, and
makes its way to its haunts on shore. BY
this means many shipwrecked mariner
may be saved from death. In a great
many cases "pigeOn service" might be
made to supercede the electric telegraph.
This would but be reviving the practice
of the great stockholders at the begin
ming of the century. During the war re-
lays of pigeons were kept along the road
from Paris to London, so that these
speculative gentlemen obtained the earli-
est news Of the course Of events. The
carrier-pigeon came into special prom
inence during the late siege of Paris;
letters photographed on the minutest