Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-11-18
GRAIN TRADE AND CROPS.
The Cincinnati Price-Current Of last
Thursday SAWS

| The Cincinnati Price Current of las
Thursday says
The situation has been greatly i'm
proved the past week by copiOus rains
over a wide area of the country. Some
portions west of the Mississippi rive
have had less than needful, but in a
large part of the drought regions east
ward from that section there has beer
| Important relief. and as yet tempera-
ture conditions have also been favor
able Under these influences the re-
cent correspondence reflects quite q
change in tone concerning the wheat
crop.
Inc rains have served to revive the
wheat crop that was retarded In
growth, and to start that which had
not terminated. Beyond this it Is in
evidence that in many instances seed
ing operations have been resumed. and
the talk of shortened area is being
modified to a noticeable extent. The
most that can be said at this time in
an adverse way is that a portion of the
seeded wheat died after terminating.
and that the future of weather condi-
tions may damage what remains.
At this time it is not in order to count
on reduced area of the winter wheat
crop, taking the whole situation into
consideration. Nor is 1T necessary to
take a doleful view Of the chances OF
the season on the plant. 1t is always
the safe thing to hold up to view the
possibilities-not what may happen.
under exceptional drawbacks such as
have in times past been experienced,
and which no one can foresee. ma
ture is very kind" oftener than other.
wise, and the wheat plant is cold
weather creature.
The Observation-Disclosures of the aver.
age yield of corn for the entire country
is "a z bushels per acre. This is a very
decided advance aver what the returns
of condition on October 1 implied,
which pointed to approximately %
bushels-the increase being nearly
per cent. This gives the more occasion
for remark from the fact that the pre-
dominating evidence since the first of
October. concerning the disclosures of
harvesting operations, has been in the
direction of lower estimates of yield.
Taking the government figures as
now presented the indications as to the
total yield of corn is close to /, SOC, 00O, 900
bushels--a quantity which seems ex-
cessive. in the light of what is regard
ed as acceptable information. It is,
however, more difficult to demonstrate
the probable size of a crop of corn than
of wheat, by subsequent evidence-and
the official statement can be challenged
only on the assumption that other cal
culations are the more correct.
In another article we have given a
review of some questions and features
connected with the corn supply and
\ 1kc Il L, & ut
that official calculations point to about
1 300, O00,O 900 bushels. we find no occa
sion for changing the position that
1, 750, O0O, 900 fairly we'll represents the
situation. If the crop is 1 900, 000, 900 it
will approach closely the years prob
able distribution, SO that the surplus q
year from now should be expected to
be but little short of the large surplus
now on hand of old grain.
The wheat market has displayed
changeable features of strength and
Misunderstanding under considerable
firmness in the speculative ranks, but
lower than a week ago.
The corn market at the close shows
some advance for the week, but quite
likely the government figures will give
it excuse for temporary weakness and
some reaction downward-probably
within moderate limits.
December wheat at Chicago closed
1sc below the highest point of the
week, 2sc above the lowest point, and
1ac lower than week ago.
Corn at Chicago for December clos
ed &c below the highest point of the
week. 1c above the lowest point and
4c higher than q week ago
Wheat receipts at primary markets
were 1882, 900 bushels for the week
against 7,131.000 the. preceding week
and 5, 751 900 last year.
Corn receipts were 3,3f3. 900 bushels,
against 100000 the preceding week.
and 8, 1856. 900 last year.