The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-08
MOVEMENT In GRAIN
HEAVY SHIPMENTS IN WHEAT
MARK THE OPENING OF FALL
BUSINESS.
NEARLY UP TO THOSE OF '95.
WILL NOT LAST AS LONG BECAUSE
THE CROP WAS MUCH
LIGHTER.
FARMERS SHOULD HOLD CROPS.
The Chicago Great Western Begins
Number Of lmprOvements-WiII
Spend Large Sums of Money.
FARMERS SHOULD HOLD CROPS.

The movement of the seasons wheat
crop has commenced with no great
rush, although the various lines which
tap the great Minnesota and Dakota
grain belt are feeling the increased de-
mand for cars. But, although the
movement of grain is nearly as great
as it was last year at this time, it will
not last as long, for the reason that
the yield was but sixty per cent of last
years crop, that is, taking the general
average all over the state and the
Dakotas This years crop is said by
some to be an average crop, and that
it will compare favorably with the
crops for the last ten years 1t can
not be compared with the crop of last
year, for the reason that the 1895 crop
was phenomenal.
President ]. J. Hill, of the Great
Northern, says the yield this year is
from 100000 to 100000 bushels
short. and perhaps greater. The rail-
roads keep close tab on the markets
and crop reports and show very &C
curately what the output is likely to
be. The movement Of the crops always
depends upon the price. The moment
wheat takes a jump, the railroads i'm
mediately feel the results in increased
shipments.
THE farmers are standing in their
own light, if they only but knew it"
said J. ]. Hill yesterday "They in
sist on selling and shipping their wheat
the moment it is ready for the market.
OF course some of them are compelled
to do it in order to get money with
which to live, but if they would be in
less haste to sell, they would make by
it in the long run.
Take the history of last years crop
for instance. When the navigation
season closed, wheat jumped up ten
cents in very short time which add
ed to the price of transportation
saved, made the jump actually 16h
cents. BY forcing the entire yield of
the Northwest upon the market with
in three or four months, prices are
kept down, and the market glutted
IF the farmers would not be so an
xious to sell and would dispose of their
wheat at intervals, they would profit
by it,
The great rush will not commence
until the latter end of the month, when
1T is expected that railroads will have
all they can do, unless the farmers
hold on to their crops until better
prices prevail. The railroads all re-
port fair movement at the present
time. The crop reports from Duluth
Minneapolis, Superior and other big
buying points, show that the receipts
are nearly up to those of last year,
for the corresponding period.
Up to date the Northern Pacific has
moved 2,57S cars of wheat, which is
only AZ cars behind the record of last
year for the corresponding period. This
is regarded as an excellent showing
The other lines show about the same
ratio of shipments and decrease The
assertion that the crop this year is but
sixty per cent of that of last year is
corroborated by the managers of all
the traffic departments. The quality
of much of the grain is also said to be
inferior to that of last year. The roads
do not expect to be handicapped by the
car famine of last year, owing to the
small product
From July 1, 1895, till July 1, 1896, the
Great Northern road hauled over it's
lines $4,000, 600 bushels of grain This
would be equivalent to 1850, 00O, 900
pounds Allowing $4,000 pounds to the
carload this would make 10000 cars
or 1880 trains of forty cars each. In
other words nearly twelve trains of
forty cars each loaded exclusively with
grain, passed over the Great Northern
every day during its last fiscal year.