The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-10-21
UNCLE SANS GRAIN.
The Crops OF Europe Will BE 20 10 % Per Cent
Less This Year Than Last Year..

According to the majority of exporters of
wheat corn and -four on the Produce Exchange
America has done and will do large business
with foreign countries during the cereal wear
which began, as figured by Mr. W. H. Trafton,
the AcstOr statistican on the subject on Sept
J. Statistician Gilmore H. Walker says the
cereal year ought TO aud docs begin earlier but
the purpose OF this story is not TO tell how OF
why two such veterans disagree, but TO tell why
the step Of exporters down town is more brisk
why their c0untenances are brighter and why
their general appearance is more snappy and
chirpy, and somewhat as il was IN the days in
1619-6O, when the foreigners took from us
nearly l52,000.000 bushels of wheat and u.s.
100000 bushels of corn. In lSs3-S4 America
sent abroad only half that amount, and in
1851 IS the situation was not much better
But from the very moment that this cereal
year was ushered in, on Sept. L, an increased
export movement began.
The exports from Sept. j to Oct s were
Flour, $685. Ids barrels; wheat, il 066 1870 bush
els; corn, 2,64s.Sl7 bushels. For the CORE
spending period last year the exports were
Flour, 620,763 barrels; wheat 3,6s2 COS bush
els; corn, 4,5s5.077 bushels IL will be seen
that the exports Of wheat and flour are largely
an excess OF what they were this time last year
and the conservative merchants ON the Produce
Exchange believe that the Improvement export
trade will continue. They aver that il cannot
well DC olDcfWlse when The statistical situation
OF all the wheat-Rrowing countries of the world
is considered. They say that Europe thus
Far shows that her crops will average less
than last years by 20 10 25 per cent. aud
Mir. Edwin Il. Livermore figures that England,
France, Germany, Austria aud Italy will need
from America somewhere in the neghborhood
OF sOOO0,OOO bushels of wheat Mr. Trafton
puts the deficiency at 75,000,0OO bushels. but
adds. " As the situation becomes more fully
developed and better understood no doubt nv
figures may require some little revision. But
one thing Is patent, European wants from
abroad are TO be very considerably greater this
year than last, and in any event there is an
immense deficiency in this years production as
compared with the requirements, and il will
have TO be made good by drawing upon the re-
serves of old grain. There may be enough
wheat 10 go around. but there is every prospect
that stocks everywhere will be very nearly ex.
hausted before another harvest comes Off and
whether this can be done and prices at the same
time lac held down 10 their present low level
would seem 20 be exceedingly questionable"
Then Mr.. Harlan A. Pierce, another eminent
authority, scores a point for Uncle Sam by re-
calling the fact that the shipments of -four tO
England are daily growing larger as the Eng.
Ilshmen are slow 10 adopt the new roller prO.
cess of making -four now ia full operation In
the big -four mills al Minneapolis Another
bright feature is the recently advanced rates
demanded by the steamship companies 20 carry
the grain abroad. At one time during the Sum.
mer months grain was shipped 10 Liverpool al
Two aud two aud q half cents a bushcl. Tho
rate Is now eight centsa bushel, and is evidence
oi the increased demand for tonnage The
steamship people are also happy TO be inter.
viewed on business subjects.