Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-07-18
Our Surplus Breadstuffs.


West created an unusual local demand
there for wheat to supply deficiencies which
interior millers realized, whilst the larger
milling establishments in the Spring-wheat
belt, and along the lakes had full supplies
of grain. The somewhat anomalous cir
cumstances pushed wheat up, whilst flour,
which was in large stocks at shipping |
points, failed to realize corresponding |
advance in quotations, though it was ex-I
ported in larger quantities proportionately
to the exports of wheat then going on or
during the preceding half season. ms
condition of things rendered the last hall
of the wheat-selling year one of hardship to
the interior millers generally, many OF
whom would have willingly shut down put
for the disturbance it would have caused
to their regular trade. The crops OF the
grain-exporting countries during 1887 were
generally good and contributed larger
quotas in supplying the United Kingdom
and other purchasing countries than usual,
consequently the advance adyerted to IN
wheat was, as stated, from unusual local
circumstances, and that too overcoming the
powerful foreign influences of well-supplled
markets, hitherto controlling the surplus
of the United States, which had their
garners we'll stocked by arrivals of supplies
from other countries than our own.
Speculation is now active, indeed very
much so. and that before we can form any
thing like a correct view of the tendency
the markets will assume after some definite
conclusion is reached of the real shortage
in the United States, and to be considered
in connection with a general deficiency in
average production of most of the exporting
countries except Russia.
Some reviewers estimate the present
wheat-crop of the Western Winter-wheat
States to be 100000 bushels less than
last year. Added to that, il is maintained.
that the acreage sown in the Spring-wheat
States is not quite as much as last year,
and then if other exporting countries are
short. as represented, it would follow that
a better demand for our crop is apparent
} The experience of our Valley producers
last wear is worth reviewing in connection
with the coming realzations of the crop
: selling year We are entering. For the first
} half of last year the average of our local
market was from rs to rs cents, and of the
last half from 80 to 90 cents per bushel.-
As stated previously, the advance was pro-
, duced by a Western local cause, and not
through the effect of foreign demand, for
on the coast there were larger stocks of
-four than usual, which more than supplied
| all the spirit that would occasionally be
} manifested in shipping breadstuffs from
} our shores, whilst at the same time these
excessive stocks of -four prevented cor
, responding demand for wheat tor export to
; that which existed in the interior, and we
remark that there will arise commercial
questions for the producer to study in con-
, nection with the crop still in his hands, and
! for which he has expended many days of
weary toll and watched over with anxious
solicitude, and perhaps not the least to en-
gage his Investigations will again be the
Western situation. In some respects it is
similar in others quite different from the
condition of things which existed there last
year. Then, the short oorn-crop caused a
rise ia wheat to supply an absolute local
demand of food for man and beast. This
year an unusual shortage of wheat may not
be equivalent to the demands of local sup
ply, and in maintaining the interior milling
industry, which, to curtail, would be detli.
mental to all interests where the merry
milers hold sway, as they do in so many
interior sections Of the West.
1t is said that only Northern Europe, Of
all the exporting countries, will have the
usual surplus for that purpose this year,
and thus we will have a changed condition,
as the breadstuff- buying countries are look
ing out for their supplies, to add to the
prospective view our producers should not
fail to study. Spectators will push GER
tain amount of wheat out of the country no
matter what the condition of things in the
larger, or existing within the lesser interior
milling districts. The latter interest is one
in shich the proprietor Of the medium and
small-sized farm has an absorbing interest
in maintaining. They exist as we'll upon
, their contributions to the trade demand
: without as within their immediate local.
ties, and it was quite usual to notice that
country millers from Indiana, Kentucky,
} Ohio, Missouri AID Illinois, were in the St.
Louis and Chicago grain-markets last
season buying wheat to keep up, not only
the increased demand for its product to
supply the deficiency of short corn-crop,
relations generally. Now, between the
foreign situation and the home deficiency in
production which exist in the West our
producers have some interesting features
, for study. The disposition to gamble in
wheat is hurtfui to all business interests,
and often unsettles prices, but there are
other views based upon facts which arc of
vital importance to the wheat-growers.-
T to be exported large quantities of wheat
, With large exports during the coming
season, will there be enough left to keep
our milels running especially in the interior
which are the first to suffer from limited
; supply of grain no matter from what cause
that may be cccasioncd. We had in the
West last year an illustration of the effect
of local need of corn which actually in
creased the price of wheat, because the
latter furnished a substitute through the
fundamentally of local mills. Milling
progress and development are essential to
the prosperity of the grain-grower, and not
one in all Our broad country, established in
its ability for good commercial work, should
be allowed to wane.
1t is the privilege, nay more, it is the
duty of every producer to inform himself
BY investigation as to time and ci1cumstan-
ces in selling his crops, and to stimulate
and encourage ali the ipstrumentalities
which will prepare the surplus of the farm,
as near as it is possible, for all their future
purposes in the locality where the soil, the