The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-03-11
st. Paul, Mimi. March 1.
THE PRICE OF WHEAT.
Wheat Likely to Rise, Now that the Farmers
Have Been Forced to Sell at Sacrifice to
Paw Debts

Wheat Likely to Rise, Now that the Farmers
Have Been Forced to Sell at Sacrifice to
Pay Debts.
Editor Representatives:
This months edition Of the London Mil
Ter, that standard authority on wheat
statistics, is at hand. The edition reviews
the wheat situation in an editorial which
is as usual, very exhaustive and full Of
information. We give below extracts
from same, which our wheat growers who
have been fortunate enough to carry over
a portion of their last crop will undOubt-
eddy find of special interest. 1t will be no.
ticed that this country is placed as Eng
lands chief food-supplier. For the coming
six months the United States and Canada
are expected to furnish Great Britain with
one-half of her breadstuffs. and she ex-
poets to pay an advence over prevailing
prices of last spring and summer. 1t would
seem that the farmers of North Dakota
who hold wheat would be justified in car
rying it still longer. The statistical posi-
tion is considered very strong and it would
be fortunate if holders could share in the
better prices which are expected to rule
later. Farmers in North Dakota and Min
neSOta who still have a portion of their
wheat crop to SELL can advance their in
terests very largely by careful deliveries.
their reserve stocks should be wisely dis
tributed throughout the spring and sum-
mer months; avoid too free selling, heavy
receipts at Duluth and Minneapolis always
produce a weak market and a low level
of prices.
The London Miller says
The falling off in shipments is fact
that can't be gainsaid and really deserves
consideration, for during the last five
weeks, the exports to Europe from the
United States, Canada, Russia, The Dan
ube, India, Argentine and minor contrib
utors are represented by the following fig
ureS; week ending Dec %, $4,000 bushels;
week ending Jan. 4th, 6,960,000 bushels;
week ending Jan. 18th, 100000 bushels;
week ending Jan. 18th, 100000 bushels;
week ending Jan. 25th. 4,4SO,OOO bushels;
making an average of barely 100000
bushels to meet weekly requiremtns of for
eign wheat and flour of 7,OSOOOO bushels
say 3,S80.00O bushels for the United king
dom and 100000 bushels for the CONT
nent The consequent reduction in our
stocks gives SILENT but eloquent testimony
to the Importance of not allowing reserves
to be reduced to a level provOcate of real
uneasiness. Millers hitherto have had the
market pretty much on their side and
sudden awakening to the necessity of buy
ing sure to be attended by an argumenta-
ton of value. To be prepared for this con-
tingency the opportunity should not be al
lowed to pass Of buying while prices are
relatively moderate, and so avoid being
taken unawares should the market turn
adversely to the milling interests. The
stocks of imported wheat and flour in this
country babe shrunk 100000 bushels since
Christmas week-five weeks-and with
smaller shipments indicated above, pru-
dence suggests a reversion of the timd
and sometimes careless attitude of many
who should be making intelligent provis-
ion for their recognized wants instead of
waiting to follow the crowd who rush in
to buy when the market becomes excited.
In our last review it was mentioned that
in the current cereal years the United
Kingdom demands foreign help to the tune
of 200 OOO, 900 bushels. Between September
1st, 1895 and the present time (Feb. LIST,
1886 nearly 76. 900 bushels have come to
hand and it will be opportune to search
and see from whence the balance 124,00O,-
COO bushels is likely to be forthcoming.
There need be no fear Of scarcity, as pre-
sumably enough wheat is in sight to go
around, but the SUPPLIES must be purchased
at higher rates than were current last
year while shippers refuse to sell except at
further enhancement. Circumstances
may induce them to have other and less
ambitious views in the spring. but their
present attitude, especially in the case of
Russia. is stubborn resistance to lower