Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-11-27
Dry Rot In Michigan and Wisconsin
Is a Factor.
FARMERS NOT ANXIOUS 10 SELL
Dealers Say That Many Will Have 70
Be Shipped into ottumwa-Prices
Said to Be Mounting at Rapid
Rate Information.

The concensus of opinion among
those mostly interested is that the far
mer who has held his potatoes this
year for late delivery is certain to
have his dreams realized. Reports
from all over the country are to the
effect that there is radical shortage
of "Murphies" and the price appears
bound to make rapid leap to higher
figures.
Potatoes are being quoted at from
As to SO cents for small lots and the
dealers are not anxious to sell very
many at that. Many small wagon
loads have been sold on the street to
small consumers at as high as E5
cents. This price is away above the
average, especially in a year that nas
been characterized by bountiful har-
vests in all agricultural products. But
several contingencies have arisen to
make the potato crop light and lovers
of the tuber are obliged to face the
bare fact that potatoes are not plenti-
full.
OttumWa Center.
Ottumwa is nearly the center of a
great potato country; the rich, sandy
soil along the Des Moines river valley
usually produces such an abundant
yield that there is hardly any trouble
| in procuring winters supply of
spuds at from 20 to 80 cents per bush
ell, but this year the soil did not yield
as abundantly as formerly. Another
reason that is advanced by potato men
| is that there was smaller acreage
in this vicinity than usual. For the
past few years the results obtained
from the raising of potatoes has been
SO small that this year many farmers
who had made specially of potato
raising did not plant them, preferring
to turn their attention to corn OF oats,
the matter of prices.
Supply Here is Short.
Commission men have had an eye
out for Wisconsin, Michigan and Min.
nesota, realizing that the supply hero
4 would not be sufficient for the de
mand. Hundreds of farmers along
the Des Moines river valley between
here and Des Moines are holding their
potatoes in the hope that the price
will greatly advance. Very few small
farmers who do not make a speciality
OF potatoes, have any amount of them
to sell this year and private customers
have found out the men who have sold
potatoes in years gone by, stand and
say: Sorry but did not raise an,
this year.
! While the commission men are no
willing to admit they fear famine
they agree that the price is liable IL
go skyward-not simply to the con
sumner but to the wholesaler as well
Dry Rot in North.
Inquiry in Wisconsin and Michigan
potato centers brings the information
that one-third of the crop has beer
cut off by dry rot. Minnesota and Da
kota crops suffered from the levas
tation of the grub worm. The peopl,
of Iowa never have lived without pc
tatoes, and little extra price in thes,
good times isn't likely to scare many
Small Town in Market.
One peculiar feature of the potat,
market is the fact that orders for DC
, tatoes are received from small town
which have ordinarily furnished
supply for the local market. This ir
dicates either small crop in III
r country or disposition on the par
of the farmers to store the produc
: and wait.