The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-09-01
WHEAT AND MEAT

corner by Letter in 1898 wheat reach
ed the dollar mark recently in Mime
apOlis. and the advance was not due
to any corner or speculative infiu-
ence. but was brought about by
natural conditions. Minnesota is the
greatest milling center in the world,
using more than one hundred million
bushels annually, more than three
times the amount used by any other
state in the union. Under such con-
ditions Minnesota naturally fixes the
price of wheat for the entire country
(this valley eXcepteD. and when her
buyers voluntarily raise the price it
is because of the conditions of supply
and demand, and a continuance of
good prices may be expected. In the
present instance conditions seem to
favor a still higher price for wheat
as we'll as for all other farm products
and while eXtraneOuS influences may
in some instances and in certain To-
calities keep prices down, on the
whole the farmers of the country will
find a favorable market.
The manner in which prices can be
controlled by influences other than
supply and demand is shown by the
manner in which the meat trust has
controlled the price of meats. both
dressed and on the hoof, during the
past year. A year ago. before the
trust had the market well in hand
prices went soaring under the inf1u-
ence of the natural demand and
Montana cattle shippers received
over 81 per hundred for cattle on the
hoof in Chicago. At the present
time they are receiving but about 60
per cent of last years prices. and
this in spite of the fact that the de-
mand for meats has steadily increas-
sold by the trust are even higher
than they were a year ago. The de-
cline in prices paid to producers can
not be attributed to a fall in prices
abroad as the export meats bring
prices fully equal to those of year
ago When the trust first began to
squeeze the public by raising prices
of dressed meats y great public out
cry was made and President Roose-
welt made a bluff at getting after the
meat trust, but nothing ever came of
it except talk and the trust is stu
Going business at the old stand. The
consumer still pays the high prices
of last wear while the millions de-
Quoted from the prices paid to the
lrowers go into the Golfers of the
trust.
To control the price Of the wheat
ami flour of the country Is muc'
larger problem. but it will no doub
he accomplished. before long just a:
thoroughly as it is accomplished II
FiatheaG county at the present time
A movement has recently been start
cd among the farmers themselves TO
the purpose of controlling the prlc
oi wheat. and while the project !
feasible it will no. doubt fail as Tx
effort, have failed either for want
unity among the farmers or Tor wan
of capital. The present project col
templates the formation of a corpor;
like TWO hundred million dollar
Farmers are to be the stockholdei
and ,he price Of wheat is to be col
trollaa by holding it in elevators co
structed for the purpose. The schen
is entirely possible, but will requl1
master mind to carry 1T out al
the end is more apt to be accomplis
ed by the capitalists of the count
in their own interests than by u
united action of the farmers,
which event the farmers as well
the consumers will dance to the M
sic of the crust. In the meantir
the price of wheat should be GOO
with short crop in most forel
countries and only fair crop in
United States, the supply will hard
equal the demand and prices shou
be sustained throughout the year.
49,