The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-07-17
OUR FARMERS IN LUCK +!
a Cry Comes From Europe for
American Hay.
Those Who Hung on to Last Years
Crop Feathering Their Nests.


Nav York, July f5.--The World says:
The farmers throughout the country
have been tumbling over each other
turing tho last few months 10 ret the
hay which they have held over from
last season into tiiis Ind ether cities for
export to Europe Tho occasi0n4 when
american farmers have been calietupon
% supply foreign countries with hay
have bcen so rare that this year will
prove phenomenal one IN the lives Of
the grangers
The first news that Europe was short
OF hay and that tho United States we're
depended upon to relieve her distress
reached here enrly in May. II did not
spread rapidly and the demand was not
supplied American consuls abroad
then began 10 inquire Of tho agricul-
tural department II the hay crop was
short here or IL there was lack Of do
sire TO ship hay abroad. Foreign lega-
lions In this country also began to re-
ceive inquiries concerning the forage
crops.
When the news at last began to
spread that Europe wanted hay Il
spread with lightning rapidity. It.
was situation for which thousands OF
willy farmers had been waiting many
years II hnd been their custom 10
send q limited quantity of hay to mar
ket In the summer and early fall, and
store the rest In the hope that II would
be worth $50 il ton. mn increase Of from
ta or ~ over usual rates. On several
occasions this has happened Even In
their Widest dreams they never hoped
70 get $50 d ton. and when the news
THAT Europe was waiting for their SUR
Plus stock reached them their anxiety
to supply the demand can be imagined.
Hundreds 81 tons ~ hay from Iowa.
Nebraska. Wisconsin, and nearby states
have been pouring iutQ this and other
scaboard cities Tramp steamers have
been leading mt some Of the brooklyn
wharves for several weeks and many
'shiploatls hive been landed abroad.
Still the cry comes that more iswnnted.
The fact that the first demand was not
made known until several Weeiss after
the LACK Of forage throughout Europe
grew pressing created considerable
distress there especially III Fl4tuec. III
both England and France the price WINS
often as high as k60n ton. II haA-ieen
reported that the lack III forage in
France has neccssitated the slaughter
~ a largo number f,f cattle IL prevenf
themNfrom suffering from lack 81 food.
A representative Of the big commits
sion houses ~ Williams IL Riclxerson
snya that, Judging by the way the
American farmers are striving 10 sun
ply the foreign demand for hay, Eu-
rope would soon have all thntshe needs.
IAN the hay In the markets he said,
lis last years crop Mono Of 1this years
hny has come in yet Tho Inn
mensc quantities coming here show
how the farmers have been hanging
On to IL. We are getting
queries from farming districts III
much we can sell hay for. and II we
can not get more for II Market men
who have never hitherto paid much at
tention 10 hay are buying II In this
city'fr eli to $40 ton and sending
II abroad. We have been getting $50 d
ton for it abroad. and the persons to
whom II Is consigned pay the freight,
which is about $40 a ton. This makes
II cost them $40, and by the time the
consumers get II the price must reach
the neighborhood Of ESQ, phenome-
nal price.
The cause ofithe scarcity Of the for
sign crop Of fodder Is said to have been
the dry weather last year. Tho same
condition Of affairs exists this year Al
II they doubted this the farmers are
busy unloading all their old hay, and
thousands Of tons are pouring into
every port where IL can Be shipped
Still, In this country no scarcity Of
forage Is threatened. because the yield
this year promises to BIO big enough to
supply every demand made upon Il.