Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1896-10-27
GAuNT FAMINE STALKS IN INDIA.
Fate of the Spring Harvest Depended
on Rain which Failed.


LONDON, Oct. 26.-The wheat market and
the prospects OF a fall in India still at
tracts much attention here and elsewhere
although come OF the most innential news
papers do not share In the feeling OF alarm
which prevails in some quarters.
The Bombay Gazette of September 10 said
The leading exporter has informed his
clients in England that the crop of cotton
will not exceed 90 or GO per cent on an
average. In southern India the outlook is
more hopeful. The supply OF fodder is
ample and II the worst comes there Is nc
fear OF a recurrence OF the horrors OF
1876 owing to the improved railway com
munications.
Native astrologers, baslng their theories
on the traditional observations of the
heavens, state that IL 1t rains within five
days a famine will be averted, but that
later rains will not avail
while number OF deaths have occurred
In Bunkdelkhand, 1t cannot be stated that
famine is actually prevailing, as the
stocks are not yet exhausted, the difficulty
being to compel dealers to sell. But a
pathetic convoy of starving children which
the bishop OF Nagpur has brought from
Jubbulpur proves that the resources of that
district are perilously near exhaustion. For
month past wheat and flour have been
selling in 1.-THE bazaars and howrah OF Cal
cutta at ennas per ser and rice at y &c
since tho last famine"
The Lucknow HIndustani said: 1.-THE
question now Is whether the famine will last
only four months or a year. The autumn
crop is sure of almost entire failure. No
amount OF rain can cave Il, and the fate of
the spring harvest depends upon rainfall
by October T."
The Calcutta Englishman also published
a letter referring to the wheat shipped from
California, in which the writer said THE
imports should not be left to private enter
prlses. which, stimulated by purely COM
merclal motives. can not be expected to be
influenced by philanthropsts, and therefore
there is not likely to provide the needy
with cheap wheat. Even IL the importers
are satisfied with a moderate profit II is
probable that the wheat will be purchased
by a few wealthy natives who will not
scruple to keep the price at famine rates"
The writer Of the letter then proposed that
the government should undertake to provide
wheat by buying In the cheapest market,
after consulting London Odessa, America
and Australia, and then distribute 1t through
European agents to the needy provinces.
The Mark Lane Express today says that
the rise in the price OF wheat is warranted
by the situation. adding: at Is not
speculative. On the contrary a speculative
tear raid is on foot. The English crop,
which certainly does not exceed 1880 900
quarters. Is stated to be 5000 600 and there
directed to accomplish a reaction
Continuing, the Mark Lane Express urges
English farmers not to rush to the wheat
market. but to send, between now and
Christmas, the same quantities as sent dur
ing November and December 1895, stating
that the American and Russian farmers are
strong holders, owing to both crops being
smaller than In 1895.
RISE NOT SPECULATIVE.
The Mark Lane Express also-says: AR
Rertine is prevented by beavy fall in the
gold premium from selling at 1895 prices
even II she wished to do so
and India and Australia do not
possess the corn to sell. The only
two farmers having more wheat than in 1896
are the Englishman and the Frenchman
Tho latter can place all his wheat in France
at fair price, and the Englishman cannot
feed his countrymen for six months; but II
he presses the wheat market when foreign
wheat is scarce, 1t will keep prices down
California wheat will be arriving freely in
February and Argentine wheat in March
and April"
Tho Mark Lane Express further expresses
the belief that the advance in the price OF
wheat Is due entirely to the shortage In
America and Russia, and adds: THE adj
vance from the lowest point in August to
the best point during the past week in Eng
lish wheat Is IS, Argentine, SIS to SIS Cd
while Californian is perhaps the strongest
in point of holding for with a million quar-
tiers in passage. 1t fetches 36s, an advance
OF los"
In conclusion, the Mark Lane Express
SAYS THE situation generally is healthy,
A rise was bound to come, only we have
obtained in October what we could scarcely
have anticipated before May.
"Flour is from 5s to is dearer. American is
very firmly held and is not shipped in large
quantities, despite the important advance. =
At the Baltic today wheat opened quiet
nj IN
market was steady, but inactive. No sales
were reported.
Tho business in wheat in Mark Lane was
very quiet and 1t was quoted generally at Is
lower on the weather.
At the Baltic business in wheat closed
duh at generally Cd below Saturdays prices.
Two cargoes of California wheat were sold
for the limited Kingdom