The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-09-05
CALIFORNIA WHEAT.
San Francisco Chronicle, |

lh1AA AeAiioAoCO SAAOu4CAcsI
The comparative failure of the wheat crop in
California last season renders any comparison
between the business of this and last year in
this particular trade of little value. 1t is with
l676-77 that the present season may best be
compared, because the circumstances are more
nearly similar. In 1851 California sent
abroad the largest quantity of grain known in
the history of the State, the exports of wheat
and four-the latter reduced to its equivalent
in wheat-amounting in round numbers to
100000 tons, or 12000, 900 centals. This sea-
aon the estim1tc of the available surplus. is,
in the opinion of the best informed
dealers, about the same, although there are not
wanting many persons who believe that the
unprecedented surplus Of that year will be ex-
ceeded, owing to the wonderful yield in the
San Joaquin valley. So far the movement of
wheat closely approximates that of 1876, the
quantity which has come to tide-water during
the first six weeks of the season being almost
Identical. The exports also nearly correspond.
Up to August 1876, 1,140,610 centals, valued
at 81, ,773, ,957. were sent away. This year, to a
like date, 1,l9l, ,269 centals, valued at s2.022.-
400, have been dispatched. Preparations for
moving the crop are, however, on more extern
sive scale this season. 68,4 AS tons of shipping
being under engagement to load against Al, ,675
tons in 1876, and the quantity Of disengaged
tonnage in port is also much larger, footing up
69, $50 tons against only 80. 200 tons two years
ago.
1t is not only in a bountiful yield that our
farmers are blessed this season. Prices and
rates of foreign freights are also greatly in
their favor. In the middle of August, 1876.
California wheat in Liverpool was qoted at
Ga 1d@9s I'D per GENITAL for average, and 9s 5d9
10d per GENITAL for club. To-day the value is
los 9d@10s I'd per GENITAL for average, and los
Gd@10s l0d for club, and wooden ships are
rocurablc for Cork for orders, at e2 "a Cd per
ton, while in August, 1876, they were worth
;e2 lGs per ton. The result is that good ship
ping grades of wheat bring in this market
per GENITAL at this time in 1876, and the fixed
| charges, such as harvesting labor,
sacks, and transportation to market,
being lower than they were, even
| cents per GENITAL goes directly into the pockets
| of farmers. Practically, the crop is realizing
quite 20 per cent. more to producers, and the
outlook is favorable, as the English markets
! have a strong tendency. In only one respect
| is this market likely to have Il setback. The
| rates of freights now ruling are quite unre-
| munerativc to ship-owners, and the decline
| which has occurred from f3 per ton, ut which
the season opened. to f2 q Cd to :f2 IS per ton,
! the best now obtainable, has checked the in
flux of ships, and the number on the way
| shows a marked decline. The tonnage under
cuSdSeuit-iG ID AnAEcA3 IAc uAseuEdbeu tonnage
in port is larger, but the tonnage on the way
| makes poor showing. Summed up, the visi-
BILE supply is:
1876. 1878.
Vessels engaged, tons. ........ 47,675 68445
Vessels disengaged, tons...... S3,290 69,356
Vessels on tho way here, tons. .266, ,03l 160,574
Totals, tons................94 SAC. 996 29s, ,s75
So that while the requirements are quite as
large, the prospective supply is smaller, a,d
the freights now ruling do not encourage &C
cessions to the list of vessels bound hither.
Under these circumstances wheat is likely to
be pushed forward to take advantage of the re-
duction to which ships have been compelled to
submit in order to fill up and get away, and,
! within the next two months much larger
proportion than in 1876 will have been realized
from the proceeds of our crop.