The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-11


wheat market for the present crop
year. 1t is believed, however, that of
the 1900, 600 or Is, 600 bushels he is
credited with possessing, more than
possibly 100000 bushels are stored in
Minneapolis. In view Of these figures,
question Of supreme interest is to
what extent has the last crop been
marketed? Careful inquiry yesterday
among the best informed elected the
expression of judgment that certainly
not more than Is per cent of the stock
to come forward remains in the hands
of farmers.
Between Aug. 1, 1897, and Feb. 1, 1898,
there were received:
Bushels.
At Minneapolis Observation-Disclosures. 80, ,294 $40
AT Duluth ........ .............. .33, 259, ,5O4
The figures representing the general
ly accepted estimate of the crop as
approximately correct are 140 600, 900
bushels. These figures 1t must be
borne in mind, We're the maximum.
With the receipts thus far standing at
S9,554, S44 bushels, there would appear to
be balance Of say 54,500,0 600 bushels.
1t is estimated that $4,000, 900 bushels
will have been consumed by county
mills, and that 100000 900 bushels will
be required for spring seeding, making
total of 45,000,000 bushels. On this
basis of figuring there has been dis
posed of, say, 130, 100000 of the total
yield, leaving, approximately but TO-
000,00G bushels to come forward.
From Jan. / to Aug. 1, 1897, Mime
apolis alone received 25,S59,2O0 bushels.
And 1t is found on examination of sta
tistics that during the month Of jan
uary, 1898, there We're received at Min
Eeapolis alone about 100000 bushels
more than in the same month last year.
Il
are made from Duluth; SO that with
a smaller crop the receipts at these
points are considerably in excess of
those of last year at the same date.
1t is no secret in the grain and mill
ing circles of Minneapolis that one of
the great systems of elevators of the
Northwest is comparatively bare of
wheat And what is true of this single
great system is approximately true of
al ether almost equaling the other in
capacity and area covered by their
warehouses.
Certain figures were shown to The
G. o e reporter yesterday, and are
here given. with approval, and as a
fair indication of the true status of af-
fairs. There have been received in the
warehouses of this system to date, dur
ing the present crop year, 6,SO2,O0
bushels: same date last year, 4,448,000;
excess, 1898 over 1897, 1854 900.
There remain in these elevators at
the present time, 1,310.100 bushels, and
there have been withdrawn from the
same establishments, 4492, 900 bushels,
or 44,000 bushels more than had been
received down to the same date last
year.
At this same date last year, this same
system had in store $685. 900 bushels, or
1883, 900 bushels more than at the pres
ent time, or over twice the bulk.
The apparent hurrying of the crop
to market is. explainable by the eleva-
tor men in view Of the fact that the
weather has been mild, the roads good
and the prices high. It is also stated
in their behalf that a good many farm
ers practiced good deal Of common
sense. A good price being offered for
cash wheat, they sold a portion and
then undertook little scalping game
of their own by buying, say, a May
option. Though this has the effect of
making some Of the elevators bare just
now, the incident gives promise of con-
siderable activity during the months
intervening between the present and
the close of the crop year. Said one
prominent elevator man yesterday:
81 look for a larger business during
the spring on the crop raised last year
than in any year for a long while; that
is, having reference to a similarity in
the volume of the CROP
This clearly shows that elevator men
themselves are not looking for lower
prices.
Now in this connection it may he
said that the capacity of the Mime
apolis mills is about 1,125,0O0 bushels
and that there are now approximately
100000 bushels in store in that city.
Any one can make his own calculations
as to the time required to exhaust
these stores.
1t is no secret that wheat Is being
drawn from Kansas for milling at this
point Speaking yesterday of Mr. Lett
ers holdings, an elevator man said:
"I know that in December he bought
sCme wheat here and made arrange
ments for carrying it. It looks now as
Continued on Second Pare