Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-11
ALARM ABOUT WHEAT
Cold Weather May Make Crop
Very Short.
EXCITEMENT ON CHANGES
In New York and Chicago Dealing
Was Very Heavy.
MATERIAL ADVANCE IN PRICES
Bulls Make Strenuous Effort to Force
Price Up to Dollar in
\. Gotham.
EXCITEMENT ON CHANGES
MATERIAL ADVANCE IN PRICES

In wheat which followed the publication OF
yesterdays crop report by the government
was continued here today. Within fifteen
minutes after the opening of the board of
trade the prices of all wheat options were
cents higher than the close of yesterday.
Intense excitement prevailed and trading
was exceedingly heavy. When July wheat
had touched 9O5a extensive realizing sales
set in and the price was crowded back to
30. The strength of the market, however,
was not lessened, the urgent demand con-
tinued and prices again advanced until they
touched for July and September 91as and
s1A, respectively, both options being 2xaoB
above yesterdays close.
The Michigan Report.
The publication of the Michigan crop
report giving the condition in that state as
"A against So on April 1 aided largely in
causing the higher prices.
A renewal of the heavy realizing sales
set in about IL o'clock and prices declined
1 cent, July falling of to 9O1l and Septem-
Der to OH. The general market, however,
was still strong
Want Dollar Wheat.
NEW YORK, May 11.-Amid further ex-
element in the local pit this morning bulls
made an enthusiastic effort to get dollar
wheat. They lifted July to 9sSc, but en-
countered heavy selling for profits. Sensa-
tionally strong responses were made by
foreign markets, especially the continent.
owing to bad conditions in Russia and
Hungary. The days advance represents a
jump of sc to &c per bushel since the crop
report of yesterday.
Small Crop Likely.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, May 11.-Reports of crop
damage that have come from the south
east and southwest have been supplemented
today by unprecedentedly cold weather In
Minnesota, the Dakotas, and In the Cana
dian northwest. This has delayed seed
Ing, and prospects are for greatly reduced
acreage of spring wheat.
Winter killing in the central western
states and operations of what are popil-
larry known as the green bugs have de-
stroyed the greater part of the wheat crops
of Texas and Oklahoma. and part of Kan
sas, and there are millions of these bugs
now at work in the wheat fields of Kan
sas. Nebraska. Missouri and Illinois There
has been no visitation on the part Of these
bugs of any consequence since $780, when
they destroyed from 25 to 10 per cent of the
wheat crop, and only $4,000. 900 bushels
were raised in the United States that year.
Shortage Of 7s, O0o, 900 in IL States.
Eleven states that raised 81 per cent of
the crops show shortage of 70. 100, 600
bushels In the estimated yield this year, as
compared with last. OF this. shortage OF
100000 bushels is in Indiana and Ohio,
100000 bushels in Texas and 100000 in
Oklahoma. Texas has practically a crop
failure, the green bug having eaten up the
crop, and Oklahoma has only 80 per cent of
crop. as compared with last year.
A striking feature of the crop report Is
that Kansas, where the crop killers have
been at work for over two months, and
drought prevailed up to two weeks ago,
has prospect on returns up to May 1 of
SSsOOO.OO0 bushels, or 5000. 100 bushels more
than were harvested last year.
Excess in Missouri.
Missouri Is the only other state to show
an excess over last year. and has a promise
OF 100000 bushels more. Nebraska Is of
100000 bushels; Kentucky and Michigan
are of 100000 bushels each, and Illinois
has lost 5000 900 bushels.
There has been a loss Of 1854, 900 acres
or winter wheat, as compared with that
planted last December, equal to 1l2 DER
cent 1t is about double the loss made In
1905. and is the largest in recent years.
leaving 2S. 10000 acres for harvest or
1.46S,OOO acres less than was harvested in
1906. The largest loss was 20 per cent. in
Texas; 30 per cent in Oklahoma, Is Der
cent In California and 10 per cent in Indiana
and Ohio.
Kansas raised more wheat than any two
winter-wheat states put together 1t has
5.64s.0O0 acres left for harvest The condi-
ton Of winter wheat May / of 500 showed
q loss of points from April and 8 points
from May last year, nearly 10 from two
years ago. and Is 90 points below the MAY
average for the past ten years.
Alarm at Winnipeg.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
WINNIPEG, Man., May u-Frost con-
tinued last night. and there is genuine
alarm throughout the Canadian west over
the possible shortage of acreage. But bust:
ness In general does not appear to be affect
ed by the situation, in spite Of the serious
tone of discussion. Another feature of
alarm added yesterday was the severe
snow storm In the cattle country Maple
Creek reported three inches of snow and
freezing weather, destroying much young
stock.
Omaha Men to Investigate.
Special Dispatch TO The Star
OMAHA. Neb., May ia committee Of
seyenty-five members OF the Omaha grain
exchange left Omaha this morning on q
special train to make a personal investiga-
ton of the damage to, wheat through
southern Nebraska and Kansas. The party
left on the Rock Island at noon and will
pass through southern Nebraska before
night They will reach Wichita. Kan, early
Sunday morning and will go as far south
rs Caldwell. Kan. Side trips by smaller
bodies of the main party win be made
through southern Kansas. and q general
pooling Of the observations will be made
when the party reassembles Sunday morn
ing In Wichita. The special train will
reach Omaha returning Monday morning.
CHAMBER OF COMNERCE.