The evening times., 1900-07-13
AMERICAN WHEAT ABROAD.
An Expanding Market In Japan and
Suaiu


Spain.
Two interesting reports from United
States Consuls in regard to markets for
American wheat and -four abroad have
been received at the State Department.
Vice Consul John Mclean writes from
Yokohama:
The importation OF wheat -four from
the United States is Increasing. and the
greater portion OF such importation comes
from California. Oregon, aud Washington.
There are four grades imported, and the
the largest quantities consumed are of the
two lower grades. The consumption is
not confined TO the large cities. the use Of
flour becoming common throughout the
country.
THE importers Of -four are principally
foreign concerns. although one or two ma
tive houses have imported some from time
to time during the past two years I'm
Dorters confine themselves entirely to GER
tain brands which have made a reputation
in this market
Complaints and reflections occur in this
business as ia others SO far as l know.
importers rsAst their drafts. The business
is usually ocne under bankers letter OF
credit.
good condition: il a small amount OF dam
age occurs. ii is as a rule paid By the
ships agents IL the vessel has had IN
usually rough and bad weather. a protest
is made and the claim is paid by the in
surance conhpanies issuing the policies on
the goods.
There are three or four Americana built
-four n-iils now in operation in Japan. the
largest having a capacity or $50 barrels
day.
There are a great many small rative
mills Of hand and water power throughout
the country. The production OF the latter
is OF a coarse character and does not com
pete TO any extent with imported stocks.
II is used principally by the farmers in TIE
immediate neighborhood-
American wheat is being imported
largely. one hrm alone having imported
sOo0 tons in the last six mouths. Indian
wheat is entered 10 a certain extent.
II canrot gay definitely if -four made IL
Japan from American wheat Is cheaper
than that imported but know that COZ
siderable quantity OF It is sold
Merchants here are OF the opinion that
the -four business with Japan Is oyeTcona p
Many of the importers are holding Yey
heavy stocks. and the margin OF p ont
amounts to only small commission. But
the demand is increasing rapidly through
out the Orient the best points o. c1E-
sumption at present being Russian posses
sions in northern China and eastern She
ria"
H l. Washington. Consul at ya,encia.
writes:
In the past year prior 70 M occupancy
of this. post. attention was several times
invited to the opening of this district f-r
American wheat. This DOES not seer u
have been taken advantage Of 10 any eN-
tent. The market is practically In tie
hands OF Marseilles middlemen. who usu-
ally dispose Of their occasional exports OF
American wheat TO Valencia. 10 a local
combination Of several brokers.
1T is apparent that IL this method can
be pursued with profit. direct dealing
would be more beneficial to our exporters
and il is believed that a sufficient demand
exists to repay closer investigatlOn-
4 COPY below a letter expressing he
views Of R L. Cunningham. 9 Valencia
merchant. on the subject:
Cd" I beg TO call your attention 10 the
possibility Of direct business in American
wheat in this market. and I will be pleased
If you could further my endeavors 10 Sc
cure same. Some 3. 600 tons Of foreign
wheat have entered this port during the
past ten months. in spite Of the compare
lively large crop cultivated here. The
wheat grown IN this district requires the
admiXture OF foreign grain 10 make good
-four The import trade is done almost sx-
clusiyely through Marseilles firms. and the
bulk OF the wheat proceeds from the Black
Sea ports. though cargoes from India. Aus
traiia New Zealand. Canada. and Argen-
tine have found ready sale Sundry parcels
from The United States have been re-
ceived. and one lot is shortly due 70 ar
rive; but I have no doubt that il your
export firms were in direct communication
with an agent on the spot and were pre-
pared TO run in close competition with the
Marseilles firms thas rule the trade, there
would be little difficulty in obtaining large
orders from tins TO time. The principal
receivers are grain merchants and milleTs.
mostly men OF good standing. accustomed
to receive two OF three months credit
after delivery, though many OF these will
agree 20 cash payments with corresponding
discount
81 1t is needless 10 say that = direct ser
vice OF steamers between the United States
and Valencia would contribute largely to
the success Of the business. and al the
same time would open up trade in many
branches.
" Speaking as a shipper Of raisins.
oranges, oils, etc. I am certain that
considerable amout Of return cargo would
be also available-more especially in
wines
&" I would be pleased to enter into cor
respondence with firms that are interested
in the above and REQUIRE further data "