The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-11-05
FIRST ESTIMATES OF THE YIELD
ARE FOUND TO BE FAR
TOO HIGH.
The States Production of Wheat Is
Nearly Twenty Per Cent Lower
Than First Figures.

Inc SCdftllIS lIllOTLldllOh SoihS
from the Sound that there will be lit
tie Washington wheat for export this
wear. First estimates Of the yield 1t
has been found were too nigh and ii is
figured that the mills Of the state will
require all the grain grown in the
state to keep their mills running until
the new crop comes in.
The 1903 yield is now placed at 49,
OOO,O 900 to 100000 or nearly twenty
percent lower than the first figures
given out by the state grain commits
sion.
1t is thought likely that the export
ers, who have already shipped few
cargoes, will send some wheat abroad
and California and Japan will take
more; a circumstance that will prob
ably result in taking the grain that is
required to keep the millers running
AS a result they are apt to be closed
before the next seasons crop is har-
vested.
Japan is in the market for Ameri-
can wheat this year stronger than
ever before 1t is estimated by the
exporters in close touch with the Jap
anese situation that 10000 tons of
wheat have been contracted already,
for delivery in the island kingdom.
About 25 per cent Of this amount has
been shipped and the remainder is in
sight for the exporters handling the
trade.
Millers insist that they are in good
circumstances They have been bid
ding up wheat until the exporters
have little or no chance to get the
grain away from them. Tide water
quotations run 80 cents for blue stem
and IS cents for club. This means
the farmers will realize about 70 cents
for bluestem at interior points, and
such quotations fully Offset the loss
that is suffered in this state by a
short crop.
First Figures Erroneous.
All the figures on the wheat crop
that have been given out earlier in the
season are declared at fault by ex-
porters and buyers who are following
up harvest reports closely.
1t is held that all the washington
wheat is now in the warehouses,
condition that has arisen from two to
six months earlier than usual. More
than this, buyers insist that the larger
portion of the crop has passed out OF
the farmers hands and that the sea-
son is practically over so far as buyers
are concerned.
The wheat shipments from the
Sound this fall are ridiculously small.
Tacoma has sent out two cargoes
since last July and Seattle has ship
ped one In addition a steamer cargo
was sent to the Orient and all the
transpacific liners have taken out
some wheat. The better wheat sea-
SONS have shown expectations from
the Sound by this time of the year
running up to twenty cargoes. This
Washington crop for the present year.
Wheat charters are now at the low
est point ever known ON the Sound.
Quotations have been made recent
ly at Is shillings for the United King
dom, and it is reported in grain cir
cues that a ship was taken a few days
ago at this price. 1t is only the low
price of charters that gives the expor-
tiers the slightest hope of being fac
tors in the wheat market.
Probably None Caught.
1t is doubtful whether any Of the
exporters have been caught by the
wheat situation. They were pinched
slightly a year ago in the sudden drop
Of the charter rates, and it is insisted
that none Of them chartered in adj
vance for this seasons loading. AS a
result the exporters have picked up
ships when needed and have awaited
themselves Of the prevailing low
prices for shipments.
California Is taking up all the wheat
that can be sent away from this state
by the buyers. The crop on the lower
coast shows up as short as 1t does In
this state and the mills Of California
are dependent upon a country that
can do little more than take care OF
its own mills.
Reports from the wheat belt show
that the Oregon Railway & Naviga-