Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1891-08-28
FARMERS VS. SPECTATORS.

] From the State.
There is no doubt that they would
ruin themselves by persisting in that
! policy during this year, as the condi.
tons arc entirely reversed, cut if oul
crop rushes into the market right after
harvest there is the danger that most
of it will have been sacrificed before
the speculation on low prices is broken.
1t would be, of course, an enormous
loss to the farming interest, if 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 ri
diculously low prices, and it is not like
lv that another such chance for the
farmer will present itself again in life
time.
There is, however, another RENE dy
simple, effective, and entirely within
your power.
The stocks of wheat and -four are
hardly large enough to supply the wants
of this country until the new crop comes
in.
The temporary safety of the specu.
lator depends on an early crop and 4
rush into the market.
1t for some reason, wet weather fol
instance, the rash Of new wheat should
not come as early as anticipated, the
market for this crop would start in with
double the prices which you have OBJ
tanned during the last few years.
But if wet weather should not pre-
vent an early harvest is it necessary tina,
you should allow the Spectator to rot
you of half the value of your crop?
Could you not act as if rain had real
ly prevented an early harvest, and could
you not for once avoid undue haste in
supplying the Spectator with the means
of keeping down your prices?
Resolve for instance that in view Of
the condition of the world crops nit,
imum price of ST. 5 for wheat in New
York is moderate and conservative. and
that members of your organization
pledge themselves not to market their
wheat at lower prices unless they are
under contract, and that they will use
their best efforts with friends and neigh
bors outside of the organization also to
act on your resolusions.
Resolve also that the State Alliances
form committee, which shall keep it
self posted about the state of the world 5
markets and from time to time notify
the farmers Of changes taking place and
advise them upon the minimum prices
that they may reasonably insist upon.
We will give you our reason for ar
irving at this figure. The prices of
wheat are really to be measured by the
English market, for that country is the
largest buyer, namely, to the extent Of
IA millions yearly average. The prize
es for the last seven years were entire
ly abnormal, as 1884 created an un-
wieldy surplus which was kept up and
increased by several extra good crops.
This surplus being entirely used up,
it is perfectly natural that wheat should
return to the usual prices.
The average price of wheat in Eng
land during the twenty years preceding
was sl.45 per bushel.
Several years it rose over 81. 90 per
bushel.
In this year of crop failure, far worse
than any that occurred during these
years, it cannot be extravagant to ex-
pect at least the average price of that
period.
A price of S135 at New York CORES
ponds with sl.45 in England as the ex-
pense of transferring buslel of wheat
to Liverpool or London is not more
than ten cents.
New York, Baltimore, Boston and
Philadelphia should have about the
same price. Chicago about ten cents
lower, say s1.25. Minneapolis, Duluth
and st. Louis s1.23. Toledo, Detroit
and Cincinnati SIPS.
These prices would all be about in
proportion to price Of 81. Is in Liver
pool.
To get at the corresponding value of
q bushel Of wheat at your nearest rail-
road station, you deduct from the price
Of wheat at the city to which your wheat
generally goes, the cost of transporta-
ton between your station and that city,
and three cents more for commission
and handling
For example, if your wheat usually
goes to St. Louis, and you find that it
costs eight cents freight to get it there,
deduct eleven cents for freight, commits
sion, ETC., from the price of sl.23. as
given above, which leaves you 81. IL at
the station.
In regard 70 this communication, We