The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-10-08
CORN STILL RISING
PRICES IL CENTS IN ADVANCE
OF AYEAR AGO.

PRICES I2 CENTS IN ADVANCE
OF A YEAR AGO.
Notwithstanding Advancing Prices, the
European Demand Continues Strong
Secretary Wilson Reports Good
Things of the West.
E. F. PARSONS, Special Correspondent
Washington, D. C.-The general out
look for corn is full of promise. The
price now stands about 10 cents in ad-
vance of last year. The foreign demand
had jumped the price up since July lst
about cents bushel. Thus, on a
crop conservatively estimated at l,sOo,-
900, 900 bushels the increased value
will amount to from $3.50, 00O,0 to
$165, 900, 900. This mere increase
amounts to half as much as the value
of the whole wheat crop of last year.
1t makes the smaller corn crop of
1897 worth more in the. markets than
the vast crop of last year. The most
encouraging feature of the corn market
is the fact that notwithstanding the
upward run in prices, the European de-
mand still continues steady and the ex-
ports enormous. 1t is estimated that
more than 2OO,OOO,000 bushels of
American corn will be sold to the for
eign countries this year. In addition
to the large crop of the present year, as
compared with the yield of 1894 and
prior years, the granneries of the west
are still burdened with millions of
bushels Of last years crop. It is diff
cult to estimate the additional wealth
extent to which Europe is using corn is
a surprise to those who have looked
upon corn as a staple but somewhat
Improbable crop. The great, crop and
low prices of 1895 forced corn abroad
and developed an European market, and
the result is that the demand continues
even with the increased price, and it is
certain that Europe will continue
to absorb far more of this American
product than was the case prior to
1896. In the excitement incident to
the great advance in wheat the import
ance Of corn has doubtless. by most
people, been overlooked, but it seems
entirely probable that the growing of
corn will be, during the next two or
three years, attended with considerably
more profit than of late years. The
European demand will tend to keep the
market steady and the revival of trade
and industry throughout the country
will increase the demand for beef,
pork and other animal products depend
ent upon corn.
Secretary Wilson on Farm Prosperity.
Secretary Wilson, the head of the
agricultural department, has recently
returned from an extensive tour through
the far west. The secretary does not
believe in leaving everything to report,
and SO he visited for himself to see with
his own eyes the conditions in various
western states, Montana, North Dakota,
Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and
Iowa. The secretary corroborates the
reports received from the west.
''All through the west" said he,
''the farmers are in good spirits. They
can look ahead out of the darkness
which has surrounded them the past
years. Money is wonderful leaven for
hard times and depressed spirits, and
as the farmers are getting largely in
creased prices for their wheat, corn,
meats, etc., even now, the effect is ap-
parent. Not only this, but the price
of corn will rise still higher. An in
creased demand for corn will necessar-
lily occur, by reason of the insufficiency
of the wheat supply for breadstuffs.
The crops of both wheat and corn will
not, however, be as large through the
west as many think. A large portion
of the corn crop is liable to get caught
by frost. Still the people of the North
west have enormous quantities of corn
left over from last year and this will
share the advance in prices. The gen.
eral result of the whole condition is
prosperity for the country. The farmer
is at the bottom of it all. The mer-
chant, the laborer and the manufac-
turer are directly dependent upon him
for market, and if you give him an
increased volume of money. you give it
as we'll to them. The farmer, when he
has money, spends it freely. He has
been sscrimping himself badly of late
and now he has lots of things to buy
with his surplus cash. The merchants
in the large cities are beginning to feel
the effects. Every little country and
crossroads store is stocking up to meet
the present and prospective demand.
81 saw some few people with doleful
countenances," continued the secretary.
"They were the pessimists and they
realize that they are playing in bard
luck, with all nature against them. I
heard good deal, too, about 'McKin-
ley luck'i and that sort of thing, but
the truth is that most of the people are
happy and thankful that the majority
voted for Major Mckinley, realizing
the fact that while the direct rise in
wheat is of course not due to republican
administration, yet that the general
confidence and prosperity all over cthe
country is due to nothing less than the
return to power of the principles of
protection and sound money. l was
much pleased with the interest which
has been manifested in sugar beets.
Over %, 900 American farmers are now
experimenting with sugar beets in
81 states.'
The calamity shriekers are not taking
their vacation among the farmers this
year. The farm weather is altogether
too chilly for them.
''After great smash like that of
1898 or that of 1873 there is nothing to
do but wait and let the business world
settle itself, carefully keeping mean