The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-11-20
OF THE r
The Russian Supply Not So Short
as Reported.
Heavy Exports Coming Forward-The Sup,
ply and Exporting Power of Other Coun-
tries Estimated-A Good Market
Still Remains at Fair Prices.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-THE agrIcul.
tural department has issued its
monthly review of the foreign crop
situation. Much attention is devoted
to the grain crop of Russia, especially
wheat, on account of its magnitude as
a factor in the European supply. The
review says hat ali accounts agree re-
speeding the wheat crop as being de-
fcient. but Is to the amount, much
difference of opinion exists. dis
patches painting the crop situation in
various provinces in very black colors
and the statements of our consul at
Odessa that this years crop has proved
a failure. The review calls attention
to the act hal since harvest Russia
has exported grain very freely"
The exports of wheat from August 1
to 80, says the review, amounted to
4.152, $40 quarters, against $50. 10
quarters and 1855, $50 quarters during
the corresponding period in 1896 and
and 1895, respectively. These very
large exports have led commercial pa
pers to withhold their credence from
the more pessimistic of the reports
which have been published. That the
crop was deficient vas admitted, but
that the failure was SO serious as such
reports implied, few of the grain deal
ers of western Europe believe.
Recently, however, some change of
attitude is becoming apparent. Stocks
in the ports are not increasing in the
manner usual for this time of the year
and the opinion is freely expressed
that, after this month, Russia can be
relied on for only very moderate ship
mentS.
1T is generally understood that REs-
STA had large stocks of wheat left owe
from the crops of the preceding year,
and this fact, coupled with the good
prices which nave prevailed, may ac-
count for the large exports which have
taken place even though the crop fail
ure in large parts of Russia has been
extremely serious"
The review says the estimates of the
Russian crop are so uncertain that their
reproduction would be Of doubtful
utility. The preliminary official fig
ures for France show Il reduction of 70
POI SShN - oAAtA IL pei SChI-
below the average for 10 years. As
for five years France and Russia pro-
.duced 2R per cent. of the worlds crop,
the reTiew says, a heavy shortage IN
both countries would, therefore. be
sufficient in itself to produce Il very
sensible effect on the worlds supply,
independent of the short crops in Aus
t~ria-llungary, the Dauubian and Bal
kan countries and elsewhere, and the
shortness of the last crop in India,
Australia and Argentina.
In Germany, rye, which is the prin-
cipal bread grain in that country, has
been officially estimated at four per
cent. less than last years crop. The va
riOus estimates for Austria-Hungary are
more or less conflicting, but there is
no doubt IS to there being a heavy
deficit in the wheat crop.
The wheat crop of the United King
dom is estimated at 5J.6G6, O0J bushels.
The preliminary estimate of the Ital-
ian wheat crop makes it 81. I31, 600
bushels against III, 722, 100 bushels last
year. The Roumaaian wheat crop is
estimated at 81, l34, 30 bushels. The
bulgarian wheat crop is estimated at
40 per cent; rye at 30 to ID per cent,
and barley at p per cent. less than
Last year. The wheat crop of Turkey
has been estimated at 5J.SJJ, UO0 i'm
perial bushels.
As regards crops nov growing in the
southern hemisphere, the news con-
tinues to be favorable on the whole.
In Argentina, drought, which for a
time in some provinces threatened St.
rious injury, seems to have been gem
orally broken and danger of any Sc
rious loss from such a source seems
now, in the advanced state of the crop,
10 have passed.
The Indian wheat crop has been
sown under favorable conditions, and
the same in general is true of the win
ter grain crops of Europe, and both in
India and in Europe the weather
seems, in the main, to have been very
ia pnrn hla 70 tha rr,x-t, ,e a., r,,