Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1907-11-01

Of an admittedly unfavorab1e season
should not be allowed to sink out Of
sight at time when returns from agri-
cultural activity in the west are being
anxiously awaited. These figures do not
take account Of the lower grades, of
which there were 1871 cars. More than one
third of these contained milling wheat,
which would remunerate the farmer at
the rate Of 93c per bushel on the basis
Of to-day's closing figures. The balance
consisted Of low grade stuff which would
show great spreads" in prices.
THE approximate value Of the two
days receipts Of wheat, however, would
be more than 100000 calculating the ca
pacity Of car at 1000 bushels and elm
mating the cost Of freight and handling.
AS many Of the modern cars contain
more than 1000 bushels and as the freight
rate to Fort William is less than 15c
per cwt. on most of the wheat which -
now coming forward, the estimate Of
100000 Is low. The circulation of $780,
600 per day among the farmers will not
continue for the whole year. Of course.
but that figure is likely to be exceeded
before the present rush Of wheat to the
market abates. The conversion of the
crop into money may be said to be pro-
ceeding in a most satisfactory way and
there is no doubt that millions Of dollars
will have gone into the pockets of the
farmers by the time navigation on the
lakes closes. Even then only small
proportion Of the wheat will have come
out Experience has shown that the rail.
ways do not carry very much of the
wheat to the Lake Superior ports before
the freeze-up comes, and the proper
ton will probably be smaller than usual
this year on account of the lateness Of
the thrashing season.
ION the whole the prospect is most
cheerful one. the likelihood being that
the satisfactory returns for the past few
days will be greatly exceeded in the COM
ing six or seven weeks. The fact that
wheat of any kind is bound to bring re-
munerative price this season is the COM
forting feature of the situation and there
is no occasion for concern over the pos
sibility OF the general quality Of the
grain being below that of previous years.
The high standard Of the wheat raised
in the west in 19O5-1906 was undoubtedly
great advertisement for the country
and it would have been well II that ex-
cellent record could have been continued,
but 1t Is not reasonable to expect that 80
per cent. Of the wheat will be of contract
grade every year as it was in the years
mentioned. If Is per cent. or even 50
per cent Of this seasons yield be up
to the contract standard there will be
room for congratulation. The west will
reap large return Of its Investment OF
money, time and labor this year 40 II did
in any preceding season. and by 20 do.
Ing it will have done its whole duty to
those who have placed faith In its fertil-
ity and resourcefulness. The breathing
spell II it comes will enable the transpor-
tation companies and other elements in
the trade Of the country to catch up with
some Of their obligations and the Inn
provements effected by that means win
more than offset any Inconvenience which
will result from relatively smaller
production. The general commercial OUT
look Is bright enough and only depressing
factors are due to the position of few
communities widely separated in which
there is small return from tho crop.