The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-08
RECORD YEAR
FOR The MILLS
They Ground a Total Of 1899 ,S05
Barrels Of Flour in Year
Just Closed.
More Than 100000 Bushels Of
Wheat Were Consumed-Rec-
ord of 1901 Smashed.
Falling Off in Export Trade Due to
Cheap Wheat for English
Millers. @.'

With ,sA production Of 2lS,s2s,s o5 barrels
of -four the year just closed, Mime
apolis passed every previous record, the
output running 407 ,905 barrels in excess Of
that Of 1901, which had held the record.
The Northwestern Miller gives the figures
in an article in the current issue reviewing
conditions in Minneapolis and the north
west .-.,,s --.M.4 ,g$c.s.za 5ea...5. /. y "a
To make this enormous quantity Of
flour, the Minneapolis mills consumed
wheat at an average rate Of about 10000
bushels day and for the year consumed
a total Of 70, 100000 bushels. r.
The showing as to flour production Is
the more remarkable for the reason that
conditions in the export trade were not
favorable and the sales of Minneapolis
mills for direct export were the smallest
for seven years. In 1895 with a produce
ton one-third less than in 1902, the mills |
sold more -four abroad. Yet with this |
handicap Of unfavorable foreign condi- |
tions, the total output here reached
figures greater than predicted by the most
sanguine. .'-.~"--ss .--sr.-
"A year ago this date says the Miller.
northwestern mills were more favorably
| situated than now, principally In that
| millfeed was commanding high prices
bran and middlings were selling at IS per
| ton more than at present. 1t was about
| Dec. 10 that feed attained maximum value
$50 for bran--from which date there
! was a gradual depreciation, and with the
change came unsatisfactory conditions.
Feb. / really marked the end of a highly
| prosperous season. From that date
| through the summer, millers complained
and comparatively high cost of cash
wheat. Often the declaration was heard
| that Minneapolis wheat prices were the
highest In the world. Mtllers commonly
Estated that in their experience no worse
condition had ever existed. The curtail
| off hn fro6 mn dnYyh
tributed very much to the bringing about
of the depression in trade. ..s1z - g..
t I, Better Conditions Later.
About Aug. conditions assumed a
4 better aspect, and month later, when
new wheat began to move, there was an
active demand for -four at remunerative
prices. Supplies of old wheat ran very
low, and competition for it kept the price
OF cash wheat abnormally high. Thus
I wheat for September delivery sold, about
the middle of August, at 10 cents per.
: bushel less than did old NO. L northern,
I and a. wide difference was maintained
until old wheat was exhausted. 18th new
!, what Hour available at Is @2os cents PER
barrel less than old, prices proved at
tractive to buyers who had previously
been holding off, and the mills in Septem-
Der received more orders than they could
conveniently fill. h..
, "lhis year an attempt was made to ad.
!, Evance all-rall rates Sc per brl, making a
total increase in rates over those In force
, during the fall of &C. per brl. This came
+ very Unexpectedly to the 1nillers, and
since some Of them had sold flour ahead
on an understanding with western freight
officials that there was to be no advance
in all-raiI rates, it has proved a serious
handicap. The advance from the north
west was to go into effect Dec. g. but
through the fundamentally of tho Min
: neapolis- Chicago roads the date was post
poned, tofJan. L. =. = = = - = :
) '.The direct foreign flour shipments Of
, Minneapolis mills for. the year: were the
3 smallest since 1896: In quantity they
+. we're $4,000 brls less than in 1901 and
1850, 900 less than in 1900. when the ex
i ports were the largest ever made Thus
, where in 1900 domestic market had to
be found for 1880, 900: brls- of flour by
II MINNEAPOLIS mills. In 1902 the quantity
d sold at home was increased to IL, 90o
k brls. ',$1'~ ; ,-'
nj '.The decreasing foreign business Is no
II doubt in the main traceable to the rela'
To-, lively low cost at which English nillers
!. are getting their wheat. Part OF this
II wheat comes from America and It IS OF
a the hard spring variety grown IN the
/ northwest and western Canada. Sucf
wheat can be exported at "a relatively low
: price. Beside, railroad and ocean car
j riers discriminate: against flour IN 1aVol
) of wheat to a serious EXTENT.
49,
Ell time unfavorable, the outlook for the nev
IS wear is not wholly without encourage
er ment All evidence goes to Indicate Una
le eastern buyers. who have been >constan
v believers in lower prices. possess com
le paratively light stocks Of flour, and II I'M
le is the case, it should furnish the basis TO
r. a. healthy demand for flour. Stocks Q
D. both wheat and flour in the United King
dom are unusually small, and with chea
wheat from America about eliminate
from these markets, 1nil1ers lean to tn
%. view that foreign business in flour mus
r improve at a no distant day The Balti
countries also are buying an increasin
quantity of spring wheat flour. In Swede
a failure of crops arguments the demand
South Africa, which is now taking som
;. flour, promises to be a large consumer.
as Wheat Supply Problem, s.:.
Son the other hand the question Of 81
:: curing, an ample supply of wheat in tt
ry next eight months, is one that give
IT, northwestern millers some !concer
of Though some wheat is being drawn fro
es, Canada. the quantity is hardly lars
US enough to exercise any bearing on tt
of situation
IRE IL .Minnea polls millers would gladly ava
W themselves Of an opportunity to grind IL
les Canadian wheat. but the heavy impo
he duty imposed by the United States go,
re- eminent. stands In the way. Though
,es drawback Is allowed If the products Of IL
imported wheat are exported d, the fact TIL
is the same identical products are requir,
ses9.t be exported invests the operation wi
ro- so many complex features that most mi
on ers are unwilling to try the experimer
lon The disposition Of the ofEal abroad is o.
for of the most difficult features attendil
err the grinding Of Canadian wheat"
lat -- e - = --------
ere z. u: g. A. BURNED OUT.
!o-3 Cleveland. Ohio. jan. Sire early this mt
ro- nlng .partany uestEoseo the central Dulid1ng