The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1891-08-14


crop, but Europe has not a good aver
age crop, in fact it has the worst crop
failure Of the century.
Last winter was phenomenal all over
Europe in its severity and duration.
Snow and ice covered even Italy and
Spain and were actually carried far
into Africa Vessels on the Medi-
terranean came into port thiclriy cov-
cred with ice and this abnormal wealth
eF worked incalculabie damage to the
winter wheat in all the countries OF
that continent The spring has been
late and very unfavorable and even in
> une snow and frost destroyed most of
what was left in half of Germany and
a great part of Austria
That the crop disaster is not local or
moderate or exaggerated, can be clear
~ seen by the actions of the different
governments.
Russia appointed commission to in
vestigate the crop damages, which re-
ported wheat II per cent below aver
nge and rye much worse.
It is the custom of that government
to quiet the alarm of the people, and
| the damage therefore is surely not less
/ than reported, but probably much
more.
The following Associated Press dis
| patches would indicate that the official
report does not tell the whole truth;
''ST. PETERsBURe, July 1.-THE suf-
| fering of the people IN the VOlga cOun-
| try through famine is increasing
! steadily"
''ST. PErERsBURe, July 1.-THE crop
reports exclude all hope that there viii
! be a surplus of cereals for export The
! importations of foreign breadstuffs is
unavoidable"
Austria is the only country which
until recently had crop prospects not
| much below an average, but an Asso-
| ciated Press dispatch of June IS states
| that even that government is now
| alarmed about the food question on &C
| count of the destructive frosts in the
| second week of June.
In Italy and Spain measures are under
| debate tending to protect the people
| against famine.
! In Germany the advisability of call
| ing together their congress on account
] OF failure of the crops has been dis
| cussed in a long meeting of the cabinet,
| in which votes were divided. The
whole press now unanimously demands
this measure and the council Of Berlin
| has petitioned for it, and on account of
| the last disastrous June frosts this ex-
traOrdinary step is considered unavoid-
! able.
In France grain duties have been re-
! duced and taxes remitted to farmers on
account of crop failure.
! In Belgium the most sanguine esti-
mate is no more than one-third of a
| crop, and the English crop is very late
| and therefore uncertain.
All this does not mean small dam
| age, which, in fact. no one would notice
until after harvest, but an alarming
| failure, giving rise to the most serious
| apprehensions.
| Europe never raises as much wheat
| as it needs, and with fair crops during
| the last three years it has used up its
reserves and all that America and India
| could supply.
Now it cannot draw uponits reserves,
| and consequently this year it would be
| short even if its crops We're a fair aver
! age and ours as good as we have reason
/ to believe.
| Our exporting capacity has greatly
| decreased by the increase in population,
and we would mot be able to spare for
| Europe from four good crop years what
| it viii be short this year alone.
| Unds- such circumstances st IS certain
| that the true Ualis 81 So2eat is greater than
| eUer before, and it IS astonishing that spsclL-
! Iators should dare TO bet on Io'0 prices.
This, however, explains itself for the
| following reasons:
During the four years, from 1884 to
| 1887, the speculation on low prices was
! successful on account OF the worlds
crops being in excess Of the demand,
| and during the last three years this
! same speculation has been carried on
| by cheek aud did not result in disaster
| only because there were resources to
/ draw upon.
This success for seven years has
/ made the spectators think that they
have discovered the philosophers stone
and that betting on low prices can al
ways be made to earn them money.
There is no doubt that they would
| ruin themselves by persisting IN that
| policy during this year, as the condi-
]
crop rushes into the market right after
| harvest there is the danger that most
] of it viii have been sacrificed before
the speculation on low prices is broken.
It would be. Of course, an enormous
loss to the farming interest, IL only the
remnants of the crop should bring the
| prices which are due to every bushel
| Of it
The way Of legislation is too slow to
save this crop from being wasted at
ridiculOusly low prices, and il is not
likely that another such chance for the
farmer viii present itself again IN
lifetime
There is, however, another remedy,
simple, effective and entirely within
! your control
The stocks of wheat and -four are
hardly large enough to supply the
wants OF this country until the new
crop comes in.
zihs temporary SAFETY Of sas spssu5asor
deDsaGs oR Gn early crop and rash into
/ tas nlGrtof,
II 1cr some reason. wet weather for
1 instance. the r-ush OF new wheat should
not come as early as anticipated, the
market for this crop would start in
with SIcshle the prices which you have
obtained during fsla last few years
But Il wet yveatzsaE should not pre-
vent an early harvest is it necessary
that you should allow the specuiator TO
rob 57cr1 Of half the v5-Tgsa of v-,sr1- r.oup