Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-13
would not be of as great benefit as

| would not be of as great benefit a.
many have imagined
Herbert Barber, of Barber &. Co, whe
operate fleet of chartered steamships
engaged in the Japanese and Chinese
trade, declared that there might be &
furry at first, but it would soon be
over.
THE effect is much the same as tina,
of giving whiskey to a man. There
is considerable eXhilaration at first
but the reaction more than offsets it
There is a plenty of tonnage to fill any
demand caused by the seeking OF
tonnage to fill any demand caused by
the seeking of transports by either ma.
ton
William Lunham, of Lunham &
Moore. export freight brokers in the
Produce Exchange, said, yesterday
that the situation was q peculiar one
as the United States had no wheat to
sell, and this was the commodity that
nigh be needed if Russia, wheat
exporting country, curtailed her pro-
duction.
Russia is not buying any of her
war material in the United States, and
our exports to that country have been
largely agricultural machinery, to-
gether with steel and iron building ma
terial. Naturally we would lose this
trade.
Some breadstuffs are going to
Japan, and the war will have a tenden-
cy to push down the price Of cotton,
so that. to. will be moved, helping the
freight situation.
SHOULD other European countries
become involved. then, of course, the
United States would benefit. There
would be demand for food stuffs and
manufactured material, but that is yet
remote
E. Pfarrius of the Produce Ex-
change. grain specialist for 80 years,
said, yesterday. that the country is in
peculiar situation as regards food
stuffs, with nothing to sell.
THE poor wheat crop for two years.
with an increase of home consumption,
almost removes this country from making
offers in the foreign markets to supply
hreadstuffs. Argentina with an export
surplus. this year. of s103, 900. 900 bushels,
| India and also Russia are ready to more
than fill the gap, although it may be that
Russia will at once stop exporting.
Provisions are now going abroad at
low rates of freight in the holds of steam
ships which have hitherto been filled with
grain. There may be an increase along
these lines for army supplies. but rela-
lively it can not reach a large figure.
Australia, too, is sending wheat to the
continent and there is an absence Of the
other grains, oats. barley and rye which
have before made great additions to our
export trade. The corn crop was not so
very large. and that as yet is not an ar
tfcie of food in Europe. being sent for
ward mainly for cattle feed.
But the balance of trade more than
remains with us, because of more valu-
able exports sent out in place of the grain
war. unless Europe is involved, can hard
~ increase these.
THE Pacific slope will naturally receive
stimulus being nearest to the source
of foodstuffs for the armies of both ma
tons. Yet the requirements of these ar
miles,, as 1 understand it, are not like
those of our own or even the English or
German forces. The Japanese are vet rice
consumers and the Russians have their
own grain fields to draw FROM
Not until the country is blessed with a
superabundance of grain. which must be
greater than ever, because of our grea ter
demands at home, will we be III q position
to sell and take advantage of disturb
ances across the water.
"A flare up in the Balkans would serj-
ously affect the wheat market, but we
would have to sit idly by and send for
ward but small lots compared to the over
plus in Argentina. which also has corn
to sell, as well as wheat