The Topeka state journal., 1901-12-26
SHORT OF WHEAT.
Topeka MilIers Say That the
Supply Is Curtailed.
The Condition Is Attributed to
Various Causes.
FARMERS USE SUPPLY.
Great Deal Is Being Fed to
Hogs.
Cold Weather May Have Stop
ped the Supply.

Topeka millers have been considera-
bly, worried for the past two weeks by
the shortage in the wheat supply, and
there have been fears that the inability
to get wheat would cause a shutdown
The price of wheat has advanced with
great rapidity on the local markets dur
ing the past two months Since Decern-
Der 1, the price has advanced between
10 and IL cents a bushel. MillerS are
now paying 79 cents for No. wheat in
Topeka, and the Topeka market is or
cents lower than Kansas City.
That this condition should prevail in
the face of the enormous wheat crop is
amazing. Topeka millers, however, be-
lieve that the conditions which have
caused the shortage are mainly local,
and will be overcome shortly. At least
they profess to believe that, though
they continue to buy all the wheat they
can get at the prevailing high prices.
The shortage is attributed to a COM
bination of causes. One is the fact
that Kansas wheat is being fed in vast
quantities to live stock in place OF corn.
Another is that the cold weather pre-
vented farmers from bringing wheat to
market. Another is that the Christmas
holidays have interfered with the de-
liveries of wheat Another is that the
farmers are trying to bull the mar
ket by holding back their wheat.
One Topeka miller stated a few days
ago that unless wheat should begin to
move more rapidly, his MILL which is
one OF the largest in the city, would be
obliged to close down at the end of the
month";. Today this miller stated that
he believed he would be able to keep
running, as the market was easing up
a little, and that he had succeeded in
buying 1900 bushels of grain this morn
ing.
J. L. Shellabarger, of the Shawnee
mills, said today: II think that the
shortage is due mainly to the fact that
so much wheat is being fed to stock:
If man is feeding a hundred head of
steers wheat, it takes a, large guam
tity which would otherwise come into
the mills The price is going up rapid
ly. AS far as we are concerned, We
carry q larger stock of wheat than
most mills OF similar capacity, and We
expect to have no trouble.
George w. Hackney, of the Topeka
Milling company says: The receipts
of wheat have been light for a week or
two, but we are nos in any danger of
having to close as we have q large
stock. l think that most of the mills
in Topeka have from $1,000 to 100000
weeks supply. The wheat journals es-
innate that farmers will feed 50,000000
bushels of wheat to live stock, but do
not think it will be as much as that
Thomas Page, of the Mid-Continent
mills says: 1.-The shortage of wheat is
due to several causes. Farmers do not
haul much wheat during such cold
weather as we have been getting.
Farmers are also feeding to stock to
some extent, and are also holding back
for higher prices. The supply may be
temporarily shortened, but it is certain
to break over in some place, and keep
the mills supplied. We have plenty of
wheat"
Arnin Fassler, of the Inter-Ocean
mills says: There has Been consider
able shortage,and prices have advanced
to some extent. I think that the short
age is due mainly to the holidays and
the cold weather. There is plenty of
wheat. We do not anticipate that we
will have to close down"
J. B. Billiard, of the Central mills.
says: II do not use much wheat at my
mills, and consequently am not trOu-
bled by the shortage which l under
stand exists at some of the other mills
have heard that some small mills
even west of Topeka which handle
large quantities of wheat, have been
obliged to close down because of the
shOrtag ge"