The herald., 1897-08-26
FOOD CROP
FIGURING
By American and Foreign
Experts
A CONTINENTAL SHORTAGE
MAKING A NEAR APPROACH TO
FAMINE
Wheat Is Scarce, Rye Is Scarce, and
of Potatoes There Are Almost
None at All
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass, August 25.-
An extensive inquiry into European crop
conditions conducted by the Orange
Judd syndicate of agricultural papers.
including the American Agriculturalist
of New York, the Orange Judd Farmer
of Chicago, and the New England Home
stead Of Springfield Mass, indicates that
the food crop situation abroad is very
grave. Estimates of Europes Qnclud-
ing England) needs of wheat imports
range all the way from 900, COO 0C0 to AGO.,
900, 900 bushels. Europe's wheat crops
for 1895, 1894 and 1893 averaged about
10000 000 bushels. In the famine year
of 1891, it was only 1,200 000, 900. The i'm
preston is gaining ground that Europe's
wheat crop this year is even less than
in 1891. But this is not the worst Of It.
Europe usually produces as much rye
as she does wheat. 1t is the bread grain
of the masses. The rye crop of the prin
cipal European countries has averaged
above 1900, 100000 bushels annually for
1896, 1895, 1894 and 1893 This season the
rye crop of these countries cannot much
exceed 875,0000 900 bushels. Quite as bad
is the potato prospect Only about L.
S70,000,000 bushels of potatoes will be
harvested in these countries this year.
Without regard to the United. Kingdom
or other European countries there is a
shortage of some billion bushels of po-
tatoes.
European shortage compared with
average follows: Wheat, 300, ,O0O, 900 BUSH
els; rye, 425000, 900; potatoes, 1000, 00O,-
900.
ENGLISH OPINION
NEW YORK, August 25.-A dispatch
to the World from London says: II do
not anticipate any private shipmen is
of gold from England to the United
States this autumn" said Hugh Smith,
Governor of the Bank of England, to the
World representative. There may be
some from the continent, from France
chiefly; but as far as England is COLI
cerned I see no reason at present to be-
leve we shall be sending away any con-
siderable quantity of gold. -- -'
1--WE have very fair harvest here"
he continued, mot enough, of course, for
our wants, but more abundant than the
average. Besides that, 1t is probable
that the buying back of American Sc
curities by the United States will tend to
equalize matters, redressing whatever
balance there may be.
II can't see any tangible reason for be-
leving exceptional shipments are going.
Exchange remains very firm for one
thing and the American bankers have
seen on the matter do not consider any
thing likely to happen to cause such
shipments from England.
There has been recently a substantial
Improvement in the market for Amer
lean securities due almost entirely to
American buying"
/ Has not the English investor recov-
cred confidence in American securities?"
mo, 1 should say not. There has been
no change in that direction here. The
difficulties of the Baltimore & Ohio have
tended to check any inclination there
might have been. That was considered
among the soundest of American SEE
curities and the trouble in connection
with it has had it's effect"
Then I may take it that banking
opinion here is that American securities
here are still uncertain, unreliable in
vestments?"
"Yes, there is feeling that American
finance is still in an unsettled condi-
ton. There has been no such restoration
of confidence as would be calculated to
make any difference in the impression
that has prevailed for some time, and as
to your original question, my view on
the whole is that there is no ground at
present for expecting any substantial
movement of gold to America from Eng
land"
But will there not be large payments
coming due for wheat at it's enhanced
value?"
Yes, but mainly from the continent.
not from England, where the harvest
has been almost bountiful one and to a
large extent is saved already"
Francis Barring, manager of the Bar
ing firm, took similar view.
FRENCH IMPORT DUTIES
PARIS, Aug. 25.-M. Viger, the former
minister of agriculture. has written
letter to the Matin opposing any reduc-
ton of the wheat and flour duties, TAX
ing the ground that such steps would on
ly benefit those who speculate in those
products.
GRAIN AFLOAT
BALTIMORE, Md, August 25.-There
are now in port loading full or part car
goes of grain fourteen steamers, includ
ing the Knight Bachelor of 4092 tons.
A fleet of forty-eight ocean-going YES
sells is laden with full or part cargoes
now at sea bound from Baltimore to
European ports. 1t is the largest num-
ber of vessels ever bound from an Amer
lean port at the same time. Each YES
sci is carrying from $4,000 to $50, 900 BUSH
els of grain. The grain export record
for the month has already been broken,
as 80, ,000, 900 bushels of wheat, corn and
rye are now afloat for England, France,
Germany, Norway Belgium, Ireland,
Scotland and Holland. All but two of
the vessels sailed since August 1st.
New Trial Granted
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 25-John
Lundin, alias ThompsOn, convicted of