Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-07-30
TIE GIGANTIC WHEAT TRUST
Farmers Urged to Hold on to
Their Crops.
TO CORNER 5OO,OOO,OOO BUSHELS
In Hope of Forcing up the
Prices.
The Alliance Is In Earnest, But Has
Undertaken a Big Job--UnIess the
Trust Can be Organized There viii be
Big Tumble in Prices.

ST. PAUL, ,MINN. July 23.-A gigantic
scheme to corner the entire wheat
crop of the whole country has been de-
vised by the leaders of the Farmers
Alliance of the United States. If the
plan succeeds the most stupendous trust
of the age will be formed, and the price
of wheat will be forced up TO an un-
paralleled figure.
The scheme involves 500,000,000
bushels of wheat and is simply to hold
back the greater part of this until
hunger compels the consumers of the
world to pay the enormous price de-
manded. Circulars have already been
issued by the alliance to 100000 farmers
since the beginning of the month, and
100000 more will be sent out this
week. Before the month is out over
100000 of these circulars will have
been sown broadcast over the land.
AN ADVANCE IN PRICE PREDICTED.
The Alliance leaders have before this
denied that they were trying to form
wheat trust, but their circular is pow
erful refutation of their denials. At the
same time these Alliance prophets have
been predicting a rise in the price Of
wheat, and been advising influential
farmers in all sections of the country to
hold back their crops until fall or early
winter, in order to secure the benefit of
this predicted advance.
After proving that the wheat crop in
the United States is going to be enor-
nous this year, the willy Alliance lead
ers have pointed out the fact in their
circular that the crop in Europe has
been great failure. II is expected that
farmers will listen TO the siren song that
the wheat sharps are singing, and make
few and small shipments until late in
the season.
EXTRACTS FROM THE cIRcULARa -
The circular, which was issued by the
Alliances press bureau and is an official
document, reads in part as follows:
TN 1884 at harvest time the condition
of winter wheat was reported as 95 and
of spring wheat as 90. This year the
condition of winter wheat is 0G6 and
that of spring wheat 92.6, or about 81 per
cent less than the final report of 1884.
"As the harvest of 1884, the ure,.st
we ever had, was 512,000,OoO bushels
the last government report would inai-
cate a crop of 494, 100000 bushels, say
500,000,000 in round numbers.
"The home consumption has increased
with the population, and is ceriainly
over 350,0OG,000 bushels, probably 3f0,-
100000, which leaves us l40,U00,G0N ior
export.
"During the last 10 years wccxported
121,000,000 -arly in arerare, of which
Europe re ed l01U0D, 900, and the
West Indies and South AEla.ir.. -
100000.
"rhis year we may have 13090,0U0
more to spare, which, however, will 70
to South America on account Of the lc-
ciprocity treaties, and Europe will re-
ceive the average quantity nf about
10Y 900 bushels and no more, rs we
have no reserves to draw upon.
THE CROP MUST RE coRNERED."
"This would make both ends meet
there If Europe had good average crop,
but Europe has not good average crop;
in fact it has the worst crop failure of
the century.
"fhat the crop disaster is not local or
moderate or exaggerated can be clearly
seen by the action of the different gov
ernments.
"Russia appointed commission to in
vestigate the crop damages, which re-
ported wheat II per cent below the
average, and rye much worse.
"There will he very few, indeed, un-
willing to hold of % sec wha, will be-
come Of this move, az in view of the
situation prices could never he lower;
but even ii one-half or more of the
farmers should be persuaded by the
arguments of railroad and elevator men
to rush their wheat into the market, the
result would be the same, for ii "A cen
siderable number of those who are in
the habit Of marketing early hold baats
little while, the farmers deliveries
would fall short of the requirements,
and the effect would be the same as il
no wheat had been brought in at all.
"There is, however, little danger that
any considerable number Of farmers
could be induced to market their product
in hot haste at present prices, as reso-
lutions adopted by the state alliances long
ago show that they know their enemies
"The American farmer is intelligent
enough TO know that whoever markets
his products late in year like this re-
ceives the best prices, and their is really
no danger that many will show enough
sympathy with the speculator to cont
to his rescue"
RESULT OF THE TRUST.
The figures touching upon the crops
of this country and Europe are based
upon official estimates derived from the
agricultural department. The present
price of wheat is so low that j, seems
highly probable the farmers will keep
back their wheat for a bigger figure.
This wheat trust will thus not only
affect the farmers themselves, but will
push up the price of -four the world
over, and make itself felt from San
Francisco to St. Petersburg.
Buried at BelIaire.
Monday weeks Bellaire, o., Tribune