Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-03-18
GRAIN TRADE AND CROPS.
The Cincinnati Price Current of last
Thursday says

The Cincinnati Price Current of last
Thursday says
In the central regions. especially in
the Ohio valley districts, there have
been severe storms the past week, with
rainfall In some localities perhaps with
out precedent. Here at Cincinnati the
precipitation during Thursday night
was almost inches. Such IL deluge.
falling upon water soaked land, with
full streams, brought distressful expert
eEces upon large number of persons
and of interests. 1t has occasioned
such arrangement of railway tracks.
by washouts and losses of bridges, as
has never been previously known in
the railroad history of the West.
+ This excessive moisture, and the ef-
fects of the hard beating rains, have
occasioned some interest in the ques-
ton of influence on the wheat fields,
but there does not appear as yet any
positive informa ion calculated to dis
turb the view that the prejudicial in
fuence on the wheat crop from these
causes have probably not been of much
extent.
The rains have not only interfered
with transportation facilities tempo
TdEllv DuU 1ldtO I0jdTucu buc AALClAO
movement of marketable produce.
The late advices concerning the
wheat fields in the winter wheat belt
are practically the same as previously
received from other correspondents.
The complaints of damaged condition
of the crop are confined to the same
sections previously reporting such in
jury.
The government report makes the
stock of wheat on March in farmers
hands. $4,000, 900 bushels, Or 100000
less than year ago. If this quantity
| is as much under the mark as the re
turns last year must been, in the light
of the evidences OF subsequent distrb-
ution. there will be no lack of suffici-
ency to meet all home requirements
and probable foreign demand prior to
new grain being available.
The report of corn held by farmers
| is 1, 1854, 900, 600 bushels, against 1,072,-
0O0. 900 year ago. On this basis, rec
ogniziDg the official estimate of the
1896 crop, and the years exports. 1885,
900 900 bushels. the domestic absorb
ton of this grain must have been fully
,O5O, 900. 900 bushels for the year, less
whatever increase there may be in
stocks in the interior outside of the
holdings of farmers, which is not equal
to accounting for the excess of this
quantity over the understood probable
consumption. Therefore the chances
are that the supply is even greater
than estimated.
The wheat market continues to
vibrate around rs cents for May de-
livery at Chicago. closing fractionally
lower than week ago. At the close
low temperature prevails in the North
west. from which may be expected
some freeziugs in the central regions.
and the possi bilities are that the crop
may have something of unfavorable
ness to contend with in the near future.
The corn market closes slightly bet
ter than week ago. Itappears doubt
full if there can be much to bring about
higher prices until the trade may have
occasion to recognize a lessened acre
age and uncertain condition of the
start of the new crop. In such event
prices should be- expected to be
strengthened. even though there may
be a large surplus.
May wheat at Chicago closed 2sc be
low the highest point of the week. NJ
above the lowest point, and &c lower
than week ago.
Corn at Chicago for May closed IL
! below the highest point of the week
&c above the lowest point of the week
and &c higher than week ago.
| Wheat receipts at primary markets
were 1 720, 600 bushels for the week
|against 1858, 600 the preceding week
and .206, 900 last year.
Corn receipts were 3 979 900 bushels
against 100000 the preceding week
and 3. 121 900 last year.