Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-08-25
ARMOUR ON PROSPERITY.
Noted Packer Says the Rise in
Wheat is Legitin ate-CoOd Times
for the Farmer.

Chicago, Ill, Aug. 23.-"I believe the
rise III the wheat market is legitimate.
1t has not been brought about by any
set of men, but is due entirely to natu-
raj conditions. In my opinion this years
crop is worth 81 bushel, and the farm
er ought to get that price for it,
Phil d. Armour, who returned home
yesterday from a trip abroad, expressed
these views. The great packer and king
of the provision market sees better
prices ahead for everything Wheat in
it's upward path is to have the sym
pathy of all the articles the farmer
raises. Mr.. Armour has talked with the
leading business men of the world and
has learned that Europe is' anxious to
take all the supplies we can furnish,
and has the money to pay for them.
The Dingley tariff law, says Mr.. Ar
mOur, has already showed itself a great
blessing, and in all of his many years
experience as a merchant, he says he
has never seen a better prospect for
good prices for provisions and the open
ing up of the markets of the world to
American products.
Il am just back home,'' said Mr.. Ar
mour, have not been trading in the mar
ket, and therefore any opinion | might
express regarding the future of wheat
could just as well be expressed by any
one else. l wish you would say for me,
however, that | have never sad wheat
would go to $50 per bushel. l notice
l am quoted to that effect in some of
the Eastern papers. l do believe that
this years crop is worth 81 a buShel and
the farmer ought to get that price for it.
Il believe the rise in the wheat mar
ket is legitimate. 1t has not been brought
about by any set of men, but is due en-
tirely to natural conditions. The knowl-
edge that countries abroad want our
products, coupled with returning prosper
ty at home, is the cause for the advance
in prices. OF course, there is no telling
where wheat may go. 1t may rise to
81 80 when the people get tC buying ac
lively, but it is worth legitimately 81 a
bushel.
SIN my experience with provisions for
a period Of twenty or twenty-five years
| have never seen 4 better outlook. The
new tariff is going to do much for this
country. In Germany there has been
built up a wall against our products,
which we have not been able to get
through or over or under. But now the
Germans are adopting more concilia-
tory policy. You no longer hear any
of the buster you did about the duty on
sugar. While l was in England | was
shown an editorial from one of the Ger
man mouthpieces in Berlin which in
quired bluntly if it was not best for
that government TO become little bit
more cOnciliatory The Germans are get
ting ready to take our products in ex-
change for their beet sugar. And all over
Europe the people are anxious to take
our pro0ucts as fast as we can send them
What is better, they have the money to
pay for them, and there is nothing in
the conditions either at home or abroad
that warrants any other eXpecta ton than
that there will be good times from
now on.
sympathy with wheat is going to ex-
tend to provisions of all kinds Butter
and eggs are going to bring better prices
and everything the farmer raises or pro-
duces will be worth more. Even if crops
were much larger than they are this year
prices would still be higher with the for
eign demand and confidence in prosper
Gus times at home. Corn is like the
sands of the sea: there is SO much of it.
But you can't tell what will happen to
the crop before it is in. The uncertainty
will make speculation active IL that COM
modify. 1t is very seldom that there are
more than three good corn crops in sue
cessiOn. A large portion of the crop may
be frost-bitten, but even if it is not the
price of corn will conform to the general
upward tendency of everything. \ con-
siderable advance would be legitimate,
and may certainly be expected