The Hope pioneer., 1895-12-20


About the Beautiful Berry and its
Value in the Markets of the World.-
Some Account of the Bulls and
Bears in the Great Staple.
Last May everything indicated sea-
son of great prosperity for the entire
Northwest. In a large portion Of the
winter wheat region their leading
cereal was failure, in other portions
a partial failure, and in none Of the
states, raising winter wheat, was
there an average crop. For the first
time in the history of North Dakota
the visible supply Of wheat-posted
weekly upon every board of trade of
the country-showed a decrease until
nearly Oct. l, Notwithstanding the
enormous receipts at Minneapolis, Du-
luth and West Superior.
The most reliable authority in this
country upon crop yields, not excepting
the United States government report,
is the Cincinnati Price Current. This
great statistical authority estimated
the wheat crop of the country, winter
and spring, at less than 40O,OOO,OOO
bushels. The estimates made by the
department of agriculture practically
sustained the views of the Price Cur
rent. Notwithstanding the deductions
Of eminent authorities, wheat is to-
day selling at substantially last years
prices at this time, and that, too, with
3O,O00,0 600 bushels less in the visible
supply than there was year ago.
Naturally, we look for some cause for
this apparent lack of confidence in the
value of the leading cereal of the
world. There isn't a bear in the cOun-
try but that will admit that we have
barely enough wheat in this country
to supply our own wants, including
that required for seeding purposes,
until another harvest; and yet our
magnificent grain, the best in the
world, the choicest that the Lord ever
permitted to grow, is selling for little
more than 40 cents per buShel in store
houses on lines of various railroads.
There is something wrong some
where. Who or what is it? Possibly
we can raise wheat without loss at
prevailing prices, but what Of the
farmer in the Western states-in Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin,
Iowa-where stimulants are required
because of the worn condition Of the
upon product that is selling in
Chicago for 55 cents per bushel?
Is the Chicago board of trade respons-
ible for the present status Of affairs7
Are all boards of trade in this country
in a degree responsible for these Urn.
warranted values? Last year when
there were SO,OO0,O0O or 9O,OOO,0O0
bushels Of wheat in the visi-
BILE supply the Chicago board Of trade
bear used the fact as a club to beat
down prices; to-day, with little more
than half that quantity in sight, the
same old quadruped has the power to
knock the ''stuffen' out of prices at
his pleasure. The bull of to-day is q
craven; he has neither courage nor
money, and any Muncha ussen yarn,
no matter how gauzy, will drive him
from the field in a contest with his
more courageous adversary.
To-day in the winter wheat regions
the millers are buying from hand to
mouth; buying only as their immediate
requirements demand, relying upon
the bear element at terminal points to
depless prices to a still lower level.
The more you consider the matter the
more pertinent the inquiry, "What is
the cause of it all, and where is the
remedy?" The fellow who can, with
out injustice to himself or his cred
itors, hold his grain until next May,
will, in all proba bility, secure hand
some advance over to-day's quotations.
But the trouble is that the majority Of
our farmers, and the majGrity Of
farmers everywhere, have obligations
to meet that cannot be longer delayed.
We have had low prices since 1891!
The consequence is the wheat raiser,
as rule, has no surplus that will en-
able him to carry this seasons crop
into another year. The situation does
not carry with it roseate hue, but
we are so much better off than the fel-
low in the East, who annually pays
out 50 or $3 an acre for fertil-
izers, that we ought to congrat-
ulate ourselves. Judge William B Nc
Connell, who recently returned from
Indiana, said to me the other day that
our people engaged in agriculture were
the most fortunate grangers anywhere.
He said that in Indiana the farmer
was simply without resources, remark
ing at the same time, you don't know
how glad l am to get back here, and
Mrs. Mcconnell is coming soon, and
she also is enjoying, in anticipation,
her early return"
l wish that could suggest remedy
for existing evils; but my theory Of
diversified farming. so earnestly advo-
Gated year ago, has been exploded by
12@-cent potatoes, 15-cent barley and
shilling oats.
l had some fine fat hogs to sell the
other day, and I sent out among our
butchers for price, and while none Of
them-not a single one-were in the
market for the swine, vet they quoted
a price Of $3.50 to $4.5O for dressed
pork. The only thing that there seems
to be good profit in this year for the
granger is flax, and there is question
whether or not present prices can be
sustained if we increase the produc-
ton of that seed in the Northwest an
other year. We smashed the price
thi. season from S1.25 to Is cents; and
while believe now that it is on an
export basis, yet our rich valley lands
will produce seed of eneXampled ex-
cellence and yield unknown in any
other part Of the country. Again, the
question rA'urs. "What shall we do"
not to be saved spiritually, but to be
rescued financially from the vortex Of
existing low prices? 1 have been a
prophet; alas! I must say a false