The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-12-30
WILL RAISE PRICES
FARMERS BELIEVE JAPAN AND
RUSSIA WAR WILL BENEFIT
WHEAT RAlSERS.
Demand for Grain and Flour in the
Orient Is Rapidly Increasing
Larger Movements.

Walla Walla valley farmers who
keep posted on current events are anx-
iously watching the war preparations
being made by Japan and Russia.
Should the war cloud break it is be-
lieved that the farmers of Washington
and Oregon would be able to get any
price for their grain. There is already
an increased demand for grain and
flour in Japan and it is said to be
having a decided effect on transit Pa
cific shipments.
The statement is borne out by the
fact that the grain receipts at Ia
coma on Sunday amounted to "A cars
If which So were wheat, seven oats
and four barley. Mondays receipts
we're 43 cars. % being wheat. The
Ledger in commenting on the increas-
ed receipts and the general situation
in the east bearing on the demand for
American food stuffs says:
There has been no change in price
during the past few weeks, but farmers
who held on to their holdings are now
,ongratulatng themselves, believing
| hat the war cloud in the Orient will
prove the wisdom of their reluctance
20 let go when wheat was selling in
| The eighties There is already an in
.reased demand for American food
| 5tuffs in Japan. and it is said to be
| having a decided effect on trans-Pa-
| .ific shipments.
Japan and Russia Buying.
Japan is investing heavily in Ameri-
an wheat. issuing -four rations to hel
| -roops in the field for the first time, i;
is said. in her history. Russia, too, is
buying heavily of foodstuffs, and the
| american market is supplying the de-
mand to a large extent. Pacific ports
are gaining considerable nOtOriety in
connection with the rush orders for
ratiOns to feed the armies that are
| making preparations to engage III
strife as the shipments will be made
from California and Puget sound ports
Washington and Oregon are supply
ing the bulk Of the -four and wheat
| only i limited quantity moving from
he interior states. The advantage il
| his to the purchasers lies in the rapid
| dispatch that can be made from ele-
| ,at0rs to ships, and in the low freight
'ates. An eastern traffic official, in al
! interview. stated that during the Dast
| month $1,000 tons of flour and Wheat
| have been shipped to China and Japan.
| He added that this is a very good vol
Ime but nothing strikingly significant.
Look for Larger Movement.
Whether or not the increased grain
! receipts recorded during the last two
| lays in Tacoma have any bearing OF
! he situation in the Far East remains
| % be seen. and future receipts will be
/ criterion by which to Judge The
! sarmerS have been holding out for bet
| Ter prices. and better prices have no.
| IS Yet appeared, according to the mar
| let reports. but it is probable tina
| some of the wheat has been purchased
| Il prices not made public.
Speaking of the movement of grain
during the past few days, a well known
local dealer stated that he believed
from now on there would be a large
movement from all grain producing
parts of the state. and added that as
the excitement in the Far East in
creaSeS, a corresponding excitement in
the wheat and flour market will result.
If war does break out. and at pres
ent it looks as if the two countries
mean business, it means that the
farmers of the United States. will be
able to get any price for their grain
said he. They have not efiough flour
and feed in the Orient to furnish food