Great Falls weekly tribune., 1896-04-17
THE NENT WHEAT CROP.
The Acreage shows an Increase of Over
100 Per Cent-Some Interest
jnr FjrureS.

wv el stho-JoIhO AhleIeot-
ing Figures.
Manager Atkinson was engaged yes
terday at his Office in the Royal Milling
co,npany's plant with leadpepcil and
scratchblock when a TRIBUNE reporter
paid him visit. He had been engaged
in figuring up the sales of seed wheat
this spring and comparing them with
the sales of last year with view to see
ing how much wheat might be expected
at the mill from the local ranchers and
what progress is being made in the work
Of extending the production of wheat in
Cascade county. The result of Mr., At
kinson's calculations was evidently
quite satisfactory, Rs may be seen from
the following statements. Last year the
company sold about 900 bushels of seed
wheat and received at the mill about 40, =
900 bushels of grain in the fall 1t Was
not favorable season and quite a num-
Der OF those who had purchased seed and
sowed it with the intention Of raising
wheat for the mill were compelled by
the scarcity Of hay and feed to cut a
portion of their wheat for feed before it
was ripe, This year, up to date, about
1000 bushels Of seed wheat have been
sold by the Royal Milling company.
They estimate that by the end of the
season total of about 10000 bushels
will have been sold. Taking the figures
Of last year as basis, it is fair to pre-
sumo that at least 100000 bushels of
grain, raised in this vicinity, will be
brought to the mill this fall for sale.
One noticeable feature about the sales
of seed wheat is that they are made
largely to the ranchers who purchased
seed wheat two years ago, or those who
are new customers, thus indicating that
those who purchased seed wheat last
season have saved seed for themselves
| this season. The demand for seed wheat
comes largely from the section of the
country between this city and the Belt
mountains kibbey stands at the head
of the list, followed by Monarch and
Belt. There is not SO large a demand
from Highwood as heretofore, probably
because that section, which raises some
of the finest wheat brought to the
mill, is now pretty we'll supplied with
seed. Quite quantity has gone
to Choteau and Burton, where the
colonists have discovered that there ie
good money in raising wheat for this
market. Assistant Manager Paschal has
just returned from Chinook, where he
took. orders for quite large amount of
seed wheat, and the ranchers ia that
vicinity will try for the first time crop
OF hard wheat. A favorable rate has
been secured on the Montana Central, SO
that the Chinook ranchers can ship their
wheat to Great Falls, and after paying
freight, net about cents bushel more
than is received by their Dakota neigh
bors.
Reduced to exact figures. the acreage
Of wheat up to March last year, as
aBcertained from the applications filed
with the Royal Milling company, amount
ed to 93G acres. This year at the same
date, the total acreage, ascertained in the
same manner, amounts to 2,Ol9 acres
This shows an increase of more than 1OC
per cent on last years record, and the
actual increase is probably considerably
larger. The increase in local wheat pro-
duction, judged by receipts at the mill
has been steady and encouraging
The first years receipts 1888 were
5000 bushels. In 1894 they were 10000
bushels. There is every indication that,
with a fair year this year, the figure
will jump to 100000 bushels. The price
paid at the mill has averaged during the
three years about GO cents per bushel
1t is also a fact that the average price
paid at the mill has been higher than the
market price of wheat at Minneapolis
One great advantage which the wheat
raiser enjoys over all others is that he is
absolutely sure of spot cash market
for all that he raises of good hard wheat