New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-01
ESTINATES IN CHICAGO
Wheat Crop Has Been Damaged
Corn Doing Remarkably WeH
GRY TELEGRAPH 70 rHE TRIBUNE. J


Chicago, July 31.-Great interest is felt by
bankers, traders and the public in the outcome
Of the wheat harvest. the only lame spot in the
producing list. How much the winter wheat
States Of the Southwest were crippled by the In
cessant rains Of the last week of June and the
first half of July is now more clearly known
Harvests stood half in the shock and half uncut
IN the field for two rainy weeks. The experts
figured 50o0OOo0 bushels loss in volume of har
vests IN Kansas. Missouri and Nebraska. They
now concede they were wrong. that 3o,oo0,000
bushels shortage in volume and heavy shrink
age in quality more nearly express the situa-
tion. This week has brought a fresh danger.
Spring wheat over the Northwest is threatened
with serious damage from rust. From few
points in South Dakota, beginning ten days ago,
the rust complaints have spread to Iowa. parts
Of North Dakota and Southern Minnesota; each
day has widened the territory complaining Of
rust. Attempts have been made 20 declare that
it is only red rust, and not the killing black
dust 1t is a blight at best. How much II viii
take from the wheat total for the year man
knows.
H V. Jones. recognized as the best Northwest
authority made the declaration. when South
west harvests were worst. that the total wheat
yield of the year would be cut 10 5S0oO0.G0C
bushels Some sensational estimates with some
basis for the belief as low as 5J0,O0OV6l
President James J. Hill of the Great Northern
Railroad says the country will raise 1o0O00GoO
bushels less than last year.
These estimates were made before anything
more serious than foods and late crops were
complained Of IN the Red River country. Allow
ing for any material lowering of the spring
wheat yield from rust. from hot August winds
which wither it while in the milk. from early
frosts which seem sure 10 work injury in Norta
Dakota where the crop is three weeks late and
viii not be cut until September. the years total
must he considered COnservativcly under Co.,
100000 bushels. St Louis and Kansas city ad-
vices daily are filled with complaints of large
proportion OF new wheat receipts of light
weight ard low grade
From a traders point Of view 1t looks this
way: This country needs for home uses all told
easily JO0OO0OO0 bushels. II looks like from
750OOOOO TO 10OOO0O00 bushels at the outside
for export Europe. by concession Of the very
best Judges. needs from 4OOOOO0D 10 60OoO.OOO
bushels more from this side than expected
from the 1903 crop. theoretically, we can spare
half of what the importing countries are count
ing on from our ports. II is this more than
all other circumstances which has added 10
cents To contract prices to September and De-
cember whea; the last thirty days.
The great corn crop. covering when planted
nearly 1O0OO0OOO acres has moved so vigor-
complaint is heard Thirty days ago every
thority said the crop was backward. two weeks
late. etc. To-day forcing weather turns the
great acreage into August in fire shape. except.
perhaps. in Missouri and a few adjoining sec
tions.
The greatest corn yield recorded was In 1902
at a little over 2.50O.O00 900 bushels. Last year
the Weld was next 10 the bumper year, AT
$3.50 OpaG0O0 bushels. The outlook is as follows:
Possible yields with most perfect conditions.
thirty bushels an acre: average total, 3,OOo,-
600 600 bushels. Probable yield with fair weather
ard no accidents great as ever produced,
2JO0OO0OO0 bushels. Allowing for possible hot
wind Damage in August and early frost injury
in September the reasonable expectation is
2.400OO0O00 bushels Of corn Timely rains in
the last thirty days over states where com
plants came Of short straw and too short head
ing of the plant have greatly improved the oats
estimates. II looks like a yield Of
SOOO1O0O0 bushels and the chances i'm favor of
fine quality.
The barley and rye harvests are in full blast,
ard the Yields are in no way remarkable.
Viewing farm producing conditions as whole
II is many a year since sucn uniformly abuh-
dant crops were so well assured at this season.