Evening star., 1896-10-26
AT FAMINE PRICES
Wheat and Flour Selling at Unusual
Rates In India.
APPEAL FOR GOVERNMENT PURCHASES
Varying Opinions Regarding the
Outlook.
THE MARKET OPENED HIGHER

Copyrighted, 1896, by the Associated Press.)
LONDON, October 26.-The wheat mar
ket and the prospects of famine in India
still attract much attention here and else
where, although some of the most inf1u-
entail newspapers do not share In the feel
ing of alarm, which prevails in some quar-
ters.
The Bombay Gazette of September 10
said:
THE prospects are as bad as possible,
both for grain and cotton. A leading ex-
porter has informed his clients in England
that the crop of cotton will not exceed 80
to GO per cent on an average.
I'm southern India the outlook is more
hopeful The supply of fodder is ample
and if the worst comes there is no fear CT
a recurrence of the horrors of 1876, OWN.
to the improved railway communications
Native astrologers, basins their theories
on the traditional observations of the heav-
ems, state that if it rains within five days
a famine will be ayerted, but that later
rains will not avail
The Englishman of Calcutta of September
Q, pointing out that scarcity is not the
same as famine, says:
Famine Prices for Wheat.
while number of deaths have occurred
In Bundelkhand. it cannot be stated that
famine is actually prevailing, as the
stocks are not yet exhausted. the diff
Guilty being to compel dealers to sell. But
a pathetic convey of starving children
which the bishop of Nagpur has brought
from Jubbulpur proves that the resources
of that district are Perilously near exhaus-
tiCn. For a month past wheat and flour
have been selling in the bazaars and how
rahS of Calcutta at 3 ennas per seer, and
rice at 81 to SIS rupees per maund. rates
not dreamed of since the last famine"
The Lucknow Hindustani said:
The question now is whether the famine
will last only four months or year. The
autumn crop is sure of almost entire fail
ure- No amount of rain can save it. And
the fate Of tie spring harvest depends upon
rainfall by October ~
The Calcutta Engiishman also published a
letter referring TO the wheat shipped from
California, during which the writer said
The import should not be left to private
enterprise which, stimulated by purely COM
E,ercial motives, cannot be expected to be
influenced by philanthropy, and, therefore,
Is not likely to provide the needy with
cheap wheat. Even if the importers are
satisfied with moderate profit, it Is proba-
BILE that the wheat will be purchased by
few wealthy natives. who will not scruple
to keep the price at famine rates.
Government Purchase Urged.
The writer of the letter referred to then
proposed that the government should under
take to provide wheat by buying In the
cheapest market, after consulting London,
Odessa. America and Australia, and then
distribute it 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:
1T is not speculative. On the contrary a
speculative bear raid is on foot. The Eng
lsh crop, which certainly does not exceed
1,2JOOOO quarters, is stated to be 9OOOOOO
there NJ 1er S:p0S hat
huence is directed to accomplish a reac-
uon."
Continuing, the Mark Lane Express urges
English farmers not to rush their wheat to
market, but send between now and Christ
mas the same quantities as sent during No
Vember and December, 1895 stating that
the American and Russian farmers are
strong holders, owing to both crops being
smaller than in 1885