The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-14
MAY CLOSE THE MILLS
SHORT SHUT DOWNS PROBABLY
WILL FOLLOW CORN SHORTAGE.
Talks with Owners of This Class of
Observation-Disclosures Gossip of
Drougbts Effect.

The prospective large shortage in the
corn crop bids fair to interfere with the
operations OF some OF the mills that use
this cereal in making their products. The
corn-grinding Industries of indianapolis
nave been fortunate, however. in placing
orders for their raw material a long way
ahead. so that they will not be likely to
feel the effects OF the deficit in the corn
crop as soon as other establishments on
the outside.
whenever a crop is short. said Richard
Thomas, of the Cercaline Manufacturing
Company. whether il be corn or what not,
and the price gets too high. the deficit is
supplied from other sources. If the price OK
corn gets parallel with the price of wheat.
wheat will be fed as readily as corn. Then,
too. the price of corn being so elevated puts
up the prices OF other products. But all
things combined will. In my opinion. tend
to keep the price of corn down. because the
demand for its products will not be any
where near what IL would have been If the
crop had been large. High prices always
turn the consumer TO other things. We have
a very large crop OF wheat this year,
probably 10.OO0.G0 bushels. and. of course.
thar is far more than enough To supply the
home demand and the surplus Will either be
shipped abroad or fed at home In the place
OF corn"
IN response 10 "A question as Ii WnttncF
mills that grind corn will be affected by
the shortage OF the crop. Mr.. Thomas said:
Il presume n number of the smaller mhis
will be affected more han we will. because
they do not go abroad. that is outside of
their immediate neighborhOod. for their
raw material. We go into the West for our
corn. OF course. we may not be able TO
grind as much as We would IL we had an
abundant crop. but | think we will manage
TO keep right on running. We have orders
a long way ahead and possibly there may
be DELAYS in executing those orders that
Will compel us to Shut down for a few days
at "A time. but l do not anticipate any seri-
Gus trouble.
II think the present price of corn is pure
ly speculative" declared III. w. Piel. Of
the National starch MANUFACTURING Com
pany. and that the price Will eventually
settle down TO within , or 3 cents of 80 cents
per bushel- The shortage of the crop will
affect the production or outside mills very
largely, and the consumption will be cur
tailed one-third To One-half. Shutdown
mills probably will become necessary, but
the duration of these ~stoppages cannot, OF
course. be stated definitely at this time. L
do not look for serious difficulty In this
locality. however"
State Senator j.. NJ. Barlow. of Plain
field. Ind. was in the city yesterday. and,
in common with other agriculturists. had
much TO say about the great drought and
its effect in lessening the production Of
cereals and vegetables. My 100 acres Of
corn" he said, may make fair fodder. but,
oddly enough. no crop at all this year is a
fine crop Tor "A neighbor of mine It's this
way: Instead OF feeding his corn crops
for several years past my neighbOr has
been storing them away in his granary I'M
til now he has three crops TO sell. The
price Is % cents to-day, but he Is holding
his corn for 20 cents"
a local retailer OF canned goods on a
large scale observed yesterday that. i'm his
opinion. the price OF canned goods next
winter Will not be much. If any. higher
81 can say this" he added. because 1
have made my contracts.
TIL farmer who does not raise potatoes
nearly every year In Indiana has himself
10 blame remarked a well-known resident
OF this city who has a small farm i'm the
suburbs and mixes farming with his pro-
feSsiOn. We have raised as fine potatoes
this year as We could wish. and have had
a very fair yield. We put the ground IA
good condition very early in the season.
made the soil rich enough TO feed the crop.
and planted whole, fair-sized potatoes. Be
fore the drought became destructive the
potatoes were well matured."