The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-21

II wheat crop poorer than usual In
prospect for the farmers OF the West?
THE II the question that Is bothering Pa
eifc coas; farmers more than any other
II Is little early TO forecast with much
defniteness the probable ultimate condition.
but the indications are not ~ ENCOURAGING
as those interested In wheat culture would
like to have them. In any event, II there
should be falling on In the yield az COM
pared with the heavy crops Of the last two
years. there In every likelihood that prices
will be better. which would partly or en-
tireiy recompense for q shortage in produc-
ton.
The government report on the condition
OF winter wheat. which was issued May
10. is considered by some authorities to
have been gotten up by the bears Of Chica-
go. as II IL said to have plainly showed
that status In It's report on the conditions
In California That states average produc-
ton Is about 4N0a0 coo bushels and has .
most important bearing on conditions In
the West, as that 10 about equal to the
crops OF Washington and Oregon combined.
What California does in the way OF wheat
raising means many cents either way to
the farmers OF the two Northern states.
Uncle Sam says the condition there Is IS
per cent. or practically as good Is II posi-
bly, could be: but this statement k ridtcuis
do not claim more than 20 per cent. while
the conservative authorities think 20 per
cent. Is about the present average. The
rains that were general over that state
and caused rejoicing among California
farmers have lost their effect. and now the
people are confronted with the probability
OF another droush. One OF the best au-
thor.ties In that state has said that with
everything favorable the crop could not be
more than 1909 900 tons, which Is nearly
100000 bushels less than a normal crop
and that II any OF the set backs. which liz
the case now. occurred. this estimate would
have to be cut In two.
The season in Washington !e further
backward this spring than It has been
In several years the wheat In the Biz
Bend country being barely above ground
Nest OF the winter wheat was frozen out
and had to be resown this spring, there
fore practically destroying that crop and
making spring wheat the bulk Of the acre
age. Reports from the Walla WaiIa and
the Palouse districts show the same con-
ditions there. and Oregon Is OF course In
the same category Growing IL at stand
still.
While the outlook ie no. for much higher
prices in the near future there Is every
Indication that the market will remain
firm. and II may even advance considerably
The indications are strong in this light In
Chicago. During only last week an ad
vance OF 4 cents was recorded. owing pri-
marty 10 the ravages OF the Hessdan fly
and other pests through the central states,
and as thie damage cannot be remeded
with the passing OF time there Is some
prospect that the price will remain at
least as high AZ present quotations.
With the possible lessening OF yield on
the Pacific coast owing to natural condi-
tons, there Ii the added cause for ad
vanced prices In the fact that comparative
" large acreages OF barley have been sown
this season because OF the high prices prev
aient during the las. two years This will
have a material effect on the price OF
wheat, whether there Is q heavy crop or
not.
Wheat te moving rapidly. and 1t will
probably not be long until there L. none
left to go TO market. There was more sold
In the Big Bend country during the last
week that for the preceding sixty days
as the farmers are unloading freely. not
being conaden. that there will be enough
advance before the next crop 10 Justify
their holding longer. This wheat was sold
on the basis OF IS cents for No. blues,em
and Is cents fo- No club at the ware
houses a drop Of only cents from the tenn
porary imitation OF February. when from l.
GO 600 to aooo n1 bushels was sold Quota
lions here are IS cents for club and 80 cents
for bluestem. with a firm outlook. Most
az the dealers are disposed to look for a
steady market and possibly an advance.
The report OF the Northern Pacific. which
u given for this section as follows. ia cor
siaered to I've more encouraging than the
conditions Justify:
Idaho, Washington and Oregon-West OF
Pasco on the main line grain is looking
well. cas-, of pasco fair and In the vicins
ity Of Ritxvtsle IL Is looking fine Cheney
reports grain not doing we'll winter
wheat has a yellow cas-. ana spring wheat
not advancing much on account OF the
cooi weather. Rain Is needed Reports
frarn the Spokane and Palouse branch
state that gror Is looking well. indications
good ana weather favorable except that
seeding operations. which IN cases
were nor completed. have been delayed hy
the rains. Seeding Is completed IN the
territory OF the Central Washington
branch. and the grain looks fine Warmer
weather IL stsl wante! IN all districts