The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-03-03
The Potato Outlook.

rarily OVer-SuppLed with. Japan teas OF
the early receipts of last years crop are
becoming scarce and tirmer.
The Potato Outlook.
The following letter, received by prom
inent shipper from big produce house in
Kansas, is but one of the many that arrive
weekly in this city, all of the same tone:
"Your favor of the 18th received this
morning. Mr.. C. w. Cowen handed us
your letter Of the 18th to him requesting US
to answer it. We think we understand
the situation your people are in in regard
to potatoes, as about the same state of
affairs exists through the States Of Iowa,
Illinois, Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and
Michigan, and we are constantly in receipt
of quotations from these different States at
what seems to US ruinously low prices, and
yet we are able to handle but small por-
ton of same offered. We think, however,
if you could make prices low enough, that
we could move large quantity OF your
stock in this Territory this spring; but
owing to the Strengthened financial condi-
ton of southern and western K nsaS, ard
also to the fact that the eastern crop is
exceptionally good in size and quality this
season, YOU will be obliged to make Lrces
more nearly to those offered from the east
than heretofore. We can now buy choice
Iowa potatoes at 20 cents to % cents.
We inclOse you a quotation of February
18th, ranging from % cents to % cents from
one of the largest firms in Iowa, the only
one we have available just at present, but
since then there has been decline of .
cents to3 cents now the freight from there
to this point is 30 cents per hundred or
about 20 cents per bushel; sacks, say )
cents, which would make the cost delivered
here range from 45 cents to AZ cents sacked
per bushel. Now, points west of this to
the State line, there would be an increase
of freight of from l cent to cents per
buShel, owing to the distance: to the south
ern part of the State and Indian Territory
about the same increase. Your potatoes at
the price you mention, 60 cents f. o. b.,
would cost y cents per bushel to any sta
ton in Kansas, and 81 cents to any station
in the Indian Territory; or, take it all
through, an average difference in favor of
eastern stock of at least % cents per
bushel. Now, for reasons stated above,
the consumers will not pay this difference
for your goods, and we are satisfied that if
you wish to move your stock it will be alb
sOlutely necessary to reduce the delivered
cost at least u or 10 cents per bushel.
Possibly you can get the railroads to help
you out in the form of better rate; if not,
then in our opinion it will require heroic
measures in the way of reducing your
prices. We would suggest further that it
is a matter that will require prompt action,
as the first spell of pleasant weather will
see our country overrun with eastern
potatoes. Could we get out on the road
before this occurs we might be able to dis
pose of a quantity of Utah stock, but you
know when the country is once supplied
even if it be with inferior goods, there is
little chance of effecting sales.
We ale willing to make an arrangement
with the Utah produce exchange of this
kind: to pay our own travelling expenses
and push your potatoes in western and
southern Kansas, Indian Territory and
Texas for a commission of 10 cents per
hundred pounds, you giving US, to a rea-
SOnable extent, the power of making prices,
all goods to be shipped by the exchange
direct to the parties to whom sold: the eX-
change assuming all risks of accounts, We
however, agreeing to use due care in max
ing sales only to responsible parties
Should our proposition meet with your
favor, and you can make prices that in our
Judgment will permit your potatoes being
used in this market, we will be glad to hear
from you promptly, or if it does not meet
your views in all respects, will be pleased
to have you write us suggesting what
changes Won like. AS TO the matter of
NolLlIllooLOLi- llON q, VIC UdN iIdCCu IL Is
low as it is possible"
It is learned from what should be reliable
sources, that there is but little prospects Of
the railways coming to the assistance Of
our shippers, as it was once thought they
would do. At one time, there was every
reason to believe that the Union Pacific at
least would make an effort to relieve our
Overburdeped farmers. So far however,
there are no indications that any cOnces-
ciOnC will no made An Of tbai,.
refusal or neglect, the following from an
Idaho paper will not be without interest:
Mr.. j. Y. Parker, general agent of the
Union Pacific railroad, has been endeavor-
ing to find a market for all the Idaho pOta-
toes now on hand, and from report we be-
ieVe he has secured d market for all the
potatoes that Idaho can furnish. He de-
sires TO ascertain from every rancher in
this vicinity the number of pounds or
bushels ne can furnish for shipment, giving
the quality and variety, when he will
make arrangements with parties for buy
ing and handling them. If any rancher in
this section of the country tributary to
Eagle Rock, Camas, or Market Lake will
send statement to the Register giving this
information. we win see to it that the in
formation ca Il es M. Parker at once. He
desires this Information by Saturday,
March ,. For the benefit of those who de
sire to furnish this information, we have
prepared blank form at the bottom of the
last two columns of the opposite page of
this paper, which can be clipped and filled
in with pencil and mailed to US. Attend
to it at once. 1t is a matter that every
rancher is interested in. In addition to
this, it would be well for many of those
who are convenient to town to put up fair
sample of some of their potatoes in small
cloth sack and bring them to the depot to
Agent Barker, who will forward them to
Mr.. Parker, who will have them placed
where they will do the most good.n