Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-09-08
FACTS FOR FARMERS.
Upon Which They May Decide
Whether It Will Pay to Hold
Their Wheat Awhile.
REPORTS OF CoNsULs IN EUROPE

Regarding the Shortage in the Cereal Crop
Over Thsre-A Deficit of 10000, 900
Bushels To Be AI.de Up Mostly from the
United States-Secrctary Wilson Says We
Haven't an Embarrassment du Riches in
Wheat Ourselves.
commercial agent Of the United States at
BObaix, France, sends to the state de.
partment a report On the short wheat
crop in France. He says the crop in
France, and in fact in all Europe, has
fallen much below the average, and
that it is estimated that the United
States and Canada will be called upon to
export from 10000, GOO to 3O.0OO, 900
bushels more than they exported to Eu-
rope last year. France will require
about $4,000, 0C0 bushels to meet the de-
ficiency in that country. Consul Heeuan
at Odessa has made quite an extensive
report to the state department concern
ing the failure of the crops in Russia In
many districts it has been the wettesi
season ever known, and grain has been
Destroyed by both rain and hail. Much
of binding. The wheat received at
Odessa is Of a very inferior quality. The
report predicts that little wheat will be
exported from Russia during the season
of 1878, as there is little available for
that purpose, the CID stock being prac-
tically exhausted, and the new crop lit
tie more than sufficient for the home de-
nand. The failure of the wheat crop in
-rv,D
garia, Consu! Hesnan continues, has
brought buyers from those countries in
tc Russia and wheat which would Or
dinarily leave Odessa by steamers, is
destined to go by rail fror. the interior
into the countries named.
Remarks of Secretary Wilson.
All OF which locks well for the farm
evs of the United States, and they seem
to be enjoying the prospect. Secretary
Wilson was at his desk in the aSricul-
tural department yesterday for the first
tine for a month. having just returned
from his tour of the trans Missis, opi
states. He went as far west as Montana
and Utah. giving especial attention to
the agricultural interests OF the states
visited, with particular reference to ir-
rigation. horse raising and sugar beet
cially good spirits wherever 1 went" he
said. There is no doubt that confidence
is restored and that the country is justi-
fled in its anticipation of better times.
The people are all busy in the west. In
deed, l do not believe there is an idle
man west of the Mississippi who wants
work.
Predicts Higher Wheat Yet
Wilson predicted a still farther ad-
vance in the price Of wheat. due to the
fact that there is not only short crop
abroad but. according to his observation,
that the crop will rot be so extensive
in this country as has generally been
anticipated. With the Improvement OF
the times" he said, the average Ameri-
can is going to have all the -four his
family can consume. even though he
may have to pay a little more for it.
believe that even without the shortage
in the foreign creps the conditions in this
country would force wheat to 81 a BUSH
Ell. But the improved condition of the
farmer is due not alone to the enhanced
price CT wheat; there has been a cor
responding Improvement in all farm