The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-26
COAL AND WHEAT AFFECTED.
HIGH PRICES LIKELY TO REIGN
UNLESS A CHANGE COMES.


Washington Farmers VIII Benent.
Coal and wheat, two Of the most I'm
portant articles of foreign and domestic
soon be ut war prices unless the queen re-
gent of Spain moves Tor the peace Of the
two belligerent nations. Wheat has already
gone up at an astounding rate and yester-
day mornings early praS dispatches
quoted the San Francisco market as gen.
orally excited. Saturday December wheat
closed at $i.7o. yesterday morning 1t OPEN
ed at $780,, jump over Sunday OF 10
cents per bushel. something almost phen-
omenal. even In wheat speculation on the
Pacific coast. Taking conditions into con-
s,deration. coal and wheat are closely
linked in the present emergency of war.
and the effect will not be other than tc
send prices skywards. The intimate asso-
ciation Of the two ID In relation to the de-
mand for vessels to transport them 10 ths
market, which just now is San Francisco.
the rendezvous of war vessels demanding
fuel. ana the clearing house for wheat ex-
ports to foreign countries.
Besides the war local conditions on the
coast are largely responsible for the soar
Ing market, The wheat crop OF California
being short on account OF drouth, var
lousy estimated at from 2D.00o000 TO g.
0Oo,0O0 bushels. while the visible supply
Will probably not exceed Is. 100000 BUSH
els California has shipped its wheat 10
England. Without crop of It's own or
wheat in Its elevators, II Is looking to ths
several million bushels stored in the state
OF Washington 10 supply the trade. A scar
city OF wheat-earrying vessels adds 10 the
embarrassment OF the state of California
and holding back on the part OF Washing
ton spectators and farmers has created
a shortage that Is something of a hard
ship to the Merchants Exchange In san
Francisco.
Washington's Wh~nt.
There are probably not 10 exceed 900
bushels of wheat In Washington. accord
Ing TO a statement made yesterday by
+. Garden, Of J. Q. Adams * Co.. the
large part of which is in the Palouse
country. The Oregon Railroad & Naviga-
ton Company sends the wheat along its
line TO Portland: the Northern Pacific TO
Tacoma and the Great Northern TO Seat
tie. There is heavy demand in Washing
ton now for export 10 the Orient and an
equally heavy demand on the part OF mill
ers who will pay a larger price for wheat
than the exporters, the latter quoting only
" cents while mills Will pay rs cents for
blue stem. Club wheat at mills IS 80 cents
aud all prices are for delivery.
All the steamer space thar can be en-
gagged ~ taken for wheat, but carriers
are now taxed on the Pacific coast in the
coal trade for the war vesse.s The
l.. a.
also ascrihable TO the effect of the drouth
and the little that there is In the state OF
Washington = now the cynosure of spec
ulative eyes at the San Francisco Mer-
chants Exchange. Prices on barley and
oats have advanced s. per ton and barley
Is now quoted al 81 over the SIS offered
month ago. and oats at So
IN speaking OF yesterdays market Mr..
cardin predicted that the opening figures
this morning would be higher. He stated
that s. might be reached. There is every
prospect for an enormous crop In Wash
ingtou this year, farmers having appre-
c!ated the boon that the crop OF 1891
brought 20 the state in the way OF prices.
great deal OF additional acreage Il being
put into wheat. with everything in sight
10 the advantage of The farmers. The add
ing a - cents to the normal prices is d.
rectiy traceahle TO war. With every pros
pest OF the greatest wheat crops in Wash
taston the farmer has much TO be hopeful
fer.
The Coal outlook.
a rise In prices for coal is more than a
possibility and should coal be declared a
contrahand Of war. subject to seizure in
neutral bottoms. the situation could not
fan 10 be an interesting one. San Fran
cisco has purchased it's coal In England,
Scotland. Wales and Australia and ifs
American coal has bean sent largely from
Puget sound with Il rroaieun frcf,, Goes
Bay. The Welsh miners struck on April
and threatened strike among the Aus
traiian coal miners complexities the situa-
ton. There can hardly fail TO be a coal
famine In San Francisco
Mr.. q. J. Smith general manager OF
the Pacific Coast COMPANY. has re-
ceived reliable advises from San Fran
cisco that there will be a shortage. The
war has led marine underwriters to attach
war risks TO all carwoes 10 and from CALI
foTnla. There Is a scarcity of coal In Chi
fleSe and Japanese waters ard this eondi-
ton has raised freight rates in some ca SEES
q shilhugs. This Will have the effect Of
aiverting Australian caryoes 20 China and
Japan instead OK bringing them 20 san
Francisco. and IN This the association OF
coal and wheat is again brought out. Eng
bsh bottoms with general cargoes have
satisd fer ihe far East. From China ard
Sat@H th*% HAFe gone hgat or IN ia asst
70 Australia. Al Australia they have
taken coal cargo*s for San Francisco and
after 9s~ehsTgfng at the last named part
Trey a3Vo "eartArea for the United King
dora in eaeat. The diversion of coal car
FYiug from Australia to San Fransisco 10
me Better paving voyages OF Australia 70
thinA and Japan viii create a scarcity
q Australian coal in California and 4 con-
Seqeent increase in The demand for other
vost 10 supply the deficiency.
MT Smith stated that the present output
az coai from Ehe Newcastle and Franklin
mines - the Pacific Coast Company is
abo9t Sstss tons per month. which output
might Ne increased by anticipating the
fatare a httle aud making al investment
Tor development. Spectators have ar
pfoacne>8 Mr., SB!sB. asking for options on
eassi. whteh lie has refused The promises
@ asTssr demand are quite as vaigahle
10 the Pacific Coast Company as 10 any
ore ard 10 hold upon presen. prices - q