The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-06-23
THE WASHINGTON WHEAT YIELD
WILL BE FULLY THAT LARGE
THIS SEASON
Northern Pacific Taking Steps t
Handle the Expected Bumper
Crop This Fall.

during the past few days in the pre-
diction of a Tacoma grain man hav-
ing a string of warehouses throughout
the interior, that if present conditions
shall maintain up to the time of har-
vest that Washington will secure a
crop of 4O,OOO,0O0 or possibly 45,000,-
900 bushels of wheat, says the West
Coast Trade This estimate is based
upon reports from the interior regard
ing the position of the growing grain
and an acreage of nearly 100000
acres.
| A canvass of the grain trade shows
wide divergence of opinion on the
subject. 1t is generally admitted that
the present showing is an almost per-
feet one, but it is also to be taken into
consideration that there are still sew
eral weeks Of vital Importance from
a crop making standpoint to intervene
before any definite results can be fore
told. and that present guesses as to
weld possess the largest possible ele-
ment of speculation. The general SEN
timent of the trade, however, is one
of decided optimism. the most con-
| servative figures obtainable are in
/ dicative of a crop in this state rang
ing from 100000 to 32,500,00O BUSH
els, allowing that the area under crop
is 100000 acres, though the state
grain commission, from data obtained
from assessors and from semi official
estimates from other sources makes
the total between that figure and l.
100000 acres. The government reports
for last year placed the acreage Of
Washington wheat at 100000 acres in
it's June report, revising the figures
later to 1,437,733 acres, though its es-
innate of the yield, at 32,14OOOO BUSH
els, was approximately 100000
vious crop harvested in the state was
| In 1901, when there were marketed at
the three inspection points Of Taco
ma, Seattle and Spokane, 100000,
with an estimated aggregate Of 3d.
100000 bushels.
With the practical certainty OF a
bumper crop in sight, the large bulk
Of which is expected to seek a market
in Europe, the fact that not single
1nrf
marks a rather peculiar situation.
Heretofore the exporters have been
long on engaged tonnage, and short on
wheat to fill their engagements, with
the result that a good deal of money
has been lost by them through the
manipulation of values, while this year
the wheat promises to take the long
end of the deal.
What will be the outcome from the
standpoint of transportation and stor-
age facilities Is the subject Of some
speculation. The Northern Pacific is
taking steps to handle the crop to the
best possible advantage. A large
number of passing tracks have been
put in on the Idaho division, until they
are now not more than four miles
apart at any point. The block system
has been extended through from FL
lensburg to Spokane, completing the
connecting link between Spokane and
Tacoma. A large force of men is also
at work at Pasco improving the con-
ditions for transferring wheat from the
Washington & Columbia River to the
main line.
Considerable additions are also be-
ing made to rolling stock, including
the filing of orders for many new en-
gines, but it is not certain that, with
the increased colume of general bus
mess being developed, either railway
or warehouse facilities will be wholly
adequate to meet the demands of the
situation.