New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-15
MTyNE4POLIg FLOUR MILLs.

MINNEAPOLIS Mimi, Nov. S,--Nearly One-third OF
the -four mills of this city now idle, aud it Is
about settled that the rest of them will shut down
the last Of this week. The matter has formed tho
subject of much discussion IN the Millers AssOcia-
ton for number of weeks, and though the action
is not concerted the millers have individually de-
eded that II is the best thing to do. The principal
reasons are the wide difference between the cost
of wheat and the selling price Of flour, the mac
tivlty OF the flour market and the rise in freghts.
Another reason Is found in the lack of tTanspOrta.
lion facilities which makes the lines independent.
Heretofore there has been heavy cutting to secure
business, but that all the lines have all they
do and more too there u.s. thus far. disposition
to stand firmly to the advanced rates. All these
adverse condition coming at once, the mileIs have
determined to stop manufacturing until wheat and
-four come near enough together to afford milling
profit They have on hand 100000 bushels of
wheat that cost an average of 81 40 per bushcl,
and the great bulk OF the wheat that has been
ground has Gust that figure or upward. Several
times this fall wheat has brought one or two cents
per bnshel more in Minneapolis than ia Chicago.
Up 10 the last Of October the low frelghts were
highly favorable to grinding, even on hgh-prced
wheat but il costs 80 cents per barrel more 10
transport flour u NeW-GOrk CITY, without q CORE
spending rise in llonr. The Eastern markets have
not yet responded, because all the mers have been
taking advantage of the low freights to mato
heavy consignments to those markets before tho
winter rates shJud go into effect. The mlers are
Of the opinion that the sudden Withdrawal OF
10000 TO $1,000 barrels OF hnur wcekly,-the
amount generally shipped from hnneap0lIs-wilI
soon be felt by the market; thcy also hope that
wheat will be depressed and that the great differ
ence between flour and wheat brought about by
speculation in the latter, will he narrowed down
aud the usual equality of values established. IL
will, If the plan succeeds, enable them To realize
Oh the high priced wheat and hOur on hand.
One thing is certain: although stocks of ilonr
are very large and markets duil. this condition
cannot continue long so far as Minnesota Hours arc
concerned. Excepting in the Red River and
Northern Pacific districts, this State has been
d-enched with heavy rains for two months. Tho
wheat thus far ground has come almost wholly II m
the regions referred to- and is What The mills have
depended upon to keep going Owing 20 the heavy
movement threefourths of the crop up there has
been marketed and the rest will he picked mp very
soon. In the remainder OF the State no threshing
Of any consequence has been done, and the long
continued rains have soaked and damaged tho
stacks To- such an extent that prime milling
wheat can come from those districts where thresh-
Ing has not commenced. 1t is estimated by good
iudges that there will not be enough wheat nj for
grinding to make one-halt of the -four that WAS
shipped from TINS city last season and that all tho
best flour that will be made has already gone lor-
ward. How long the mills viii remain idle
depends upon the mIllers individually; each ons
Will Use his discretion.