Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-11-24
The Low Price of Wheat.

ING LOW IIlCo VI WhSob
It's q noticeable feature Of the grain
market that IL as well as the market for
secures shows decided decadence
since Nov. 8. There has been none OF
that rapid appreciation o. prices that
our Democratic friends told US would
follow Cleyeland's election, The fact
il that the causes Of prices goes deeper
than mere party successes. Tho Globe
Democrat calls attention to the real
secret of the low prices when T. says
The prevailing depression In the value
of wheat IL attributable primarily
Of course, to the fact that the aggregate
yield In all countries Is larger than
WAS anticipated durinp the growing
season. 1t Is not in the power Of Tie
American farmers to control the mar
ket to the extent that they once did
New areas Of production have been
opened IN recent years, and the compe-
tition has increased accordingly. OuI
crop IL only one of several similar
factors la the problem Of adjusting
prices and apportioning ehares OF
profit. When there Is shortags in
In other parts Of the world, as there
was last year, we gain advantage by II
and when the yield is generally good 81
IL il this year, We are obliged to accept
less for our surplus. There is nc
mystery about the matter. 1t is simply
question Of supply and demand and
the result Is determined by n natural
law that cannot be defeated or evaded
by artificial appliances of any sort,
The wheat Is worth only what some
body is willing to pay for II, and
nobody Is willing to pay as much when
IL IN plentiful rs when il is scarce. Ii
IL not possible, in other words, for The
producer to dictate the price except In
cases whore more il wanted than he
has To sell; and it Is useless for him t.
think Of gaining such a privilege by
strategy.
1t will be remembered that the lead
era of the Alliance advised the farmers
to hold their wheat last year, instead
Of selling 1t at the good price which
was then offered, ard many Of then
did no, only to fud that they must
now let 1t 60 at considerably lower
rate where they had hoped to get q
higher one. In TACT, the stock thus
kept over has the effect Il making the
present price smaller than II woniC
otherwise be on account alone of thii
years heavy crop. That Is to say, by
holding so much Of last years croI
they reduced the value Of the succeed
ing crop aud IN that way did them
selves douhle injury. The lesson Il
an important one, and II should b'
carefully needed, When the produce
can secure reasonable price for hi
wheat, he should sell it,. There ar'
dimes, to be sure, when money can b
made by holding crop, but the safest
plan is to send II to market as soon ~
a just and fair return can be realized
Delays ara dangerous, because The
future conditions are at least IA likel!
to be Disappointing as otherwise. Tn,
world is large, and the product doe
not often fail in degree sufficient I,
invest the reserved supply with excep
tional value. Our farmers are snbjec
to the same general Influences tina
affect those OF other countries, II,
prices Of their grain are fixed by cause
Of universal application, and they eau
not hope to escape this relation to al
the rest OF the producers of the sPm
staples,