, 1890-12-04
THE GREAT BLOCKADE
The Situation Imparttally
Set Forth.
COMPETITIVE POINTS ALL RIGHT
There Is No Blockade In the
Walla Walla Valley--The
True Situation.

vestigation of tho wheat blockade in
Eastern Washington reveals several
facts not generally known, though not
exactly startling. After examining the
grain receipts n; every station OF that
region and computing the number OF
bushels piled upon tho platforms and
the ground, comparing the prices at the
various markets, as well as the amount
of shipments, and Intervening farmers,
merchants, grain dealers and railway
officials, IL Is q natural conclusion that
something is wrong, and evidently the
trouble results from inadequate trans
portation facilities Whether this lack
of rolling stock isa conspiracy between
railroads and elevators to corner tho
grain market can be nothing more than
a subject of speculation. Circumstan-
tial evidence is the only proof, and it
requires q good deal Of travelling to
reach all tho circumstances.
The wheat blockade is con fined chiefly
to the Paouse valley. but non-competl-
tive points south of Snake river are in
cluded. At every station in the Paiousa
country the elevators and wareh ouses
are completely filed stacks Of wheat
are piled upon platforms. and Mt many
places upon the ground also. About
one-third OF the seasons yield 10 still in
the helds. and every road Is streaked
with caravans of teams hauling grain to
market or ut least where q market
should be expected. Local dealers have
exhausted their finances, and the ele-
yators have ceased buying. There arc
few exceptions. but not enough to fur
nish any kind Of relief Merchants
can not collect more than 30 per cent.
their 1pDts. IheV thnnla.lya
with mortgages on grain, but that does
not give them the cash 20 IIqulduta
their own obligations. Naturally, thu
farmers are in a rage. The majority OF
business and professional men have
similar feelings, and every possible
means OF improving the situation Is dis.
cussed from every standpoint. All con-
clude that more cars is the only thing in
the universe that will do them any good.
Farmers declare that the railroads IN AXE
no effort to provide cars Railroad
officials reply that they can not move all
the grain of the entire country in ono
day, or one week, or one month, and
leave their property idle the rest Of thu
year. They must have time. But that
ex xplan alton Is met again with the ques-
ton, Why do you discrlm mate In favor
of the Walla Walla valleyp
OF course officers of the railroads ais
claim that there Is discrimin alton any.
w
fact remains tfat shipments from Walla
Walla, Waitsburg, Dayton and Hunts
junction have been prompt and cars
were supplied readily at every order.
The elevators ut those places. however,
were not the only buyers before they
closed. Local merchants pu released and
sent their grain away without much
waiting. Wheat during the entire season,
as result, has sold at 55 TO 63 cents.
In the towns mentioned rival transporta-
tion companies compete for patronage
and the elevators have been unable to
crush out competitor in the grain trade.
Walla Walla has about 5OO,0 bushels
stored in warehouses, and moro than
that amount has been taken from there
to Portland. Waitsburg Is not com
planning. Two-thirds OF her crop is
moved, while probably 900, 900 bushels
of wheat, oats and barley remain
well wei care eared for for Dayton makes
are good. A million bushels have been
shipped and half as much more Is going
OFF fast enough to suit dealers and
farmers. But at Pomeroy the atmos-
phere itself is polluted with stagnation
from the blockade. There Is only one
road to that town. An elevator, eight
massive warehouses, four platforms and
half an acre of ground are filed with
not less than |, 100000 bushels. More Is
coming each day, but nobody wants to
buy. Merchants claim to have clamored
for cars all season without receiving
any. They simply drew out of the
market. Railway officials, however,
maintain that they have treated Pom
eroy with the same fairness shown to
either Dayton, Waitsburg or Walla
Walln.
Riparia Is on Snake river at the cross
ing OF the Union Pacitici but no wheat
blockade exists there aud wheat is worth
SO cents, it's lowest since harvest began.
Reaching the Palouse, everything il
practically Pomeroy repeated. Colfax,
Pullman. Palouse City, Diamond,
Whelan, Cotton, Uniontown, Genesee,
Garfield, Pennington, Belmont, silver
Creek, Elberton, Summit Tskoa, Rosa
liza, Oaksdale, st. John, Endicott, Thorn
ton, Plaza Latah, Saltice, Fairfield and
Rockford have all their elevators, ware
houses, platforms, woodsheds, and at
Farmington temporary sheds, strained
to their utmost capacities. AT all those
towns, too, wheat commands paltry
40, Al, AZ and 43 cents. The Union
Pacific and the Northern Pacific both
traverse tho valley, but not to interfere
with one anothers territory. Wheat
buyers are carrying as much as they can
until they ship. The market is entirely
shut out. The railways, though, are
positive that they are AS courteous to
the Palouss country MS to Wa!la Waila
gone and Is selling at SO cents. But the
bunch grass Inhabitants ofthe blockaded
regions nre absolutely unable to get one
tenth of what they ask.
These are the facts Of the whole
situation in Eastern Washington. The
railways may not be blamable, but the
farmers ire Is up.