Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-05
WHEAT IS SENT ABROAD
STATISTICS SHOW FURTHER DE-
CLINE IN EXPECTATION.
Statement by Government ohacials
Indicate. Home Increase Of
CONSUMPTION Of Breadstuffs.

The continued decline in the exporta-
ton Of breadstuffs lends interest to a
statement Just prepared by the bureau
Of statistics of the Department Of Com
merce and Labor. which shows steady
increase in the share of the wheat crop
of the United States consumed at home
and thus a decline in the quantity sent
abroad.
The expectations OF wheat during the
nine months ending with September. 1909.
amounted to only 27,76S, 901 bushels,
against 6S,17s,925 bushels in the same
months of 1908, and of -four. S,2S5
barrels. against 9.42S,3 47 in the same
months of last year, suggesting that the
calendar year 1900 will show a smaller
expectation of wheat than any year in
the last decade, with the exception of 1904
and 1906
The statement as prepared by the
bureau of statistics shows the production
Of wheat, the imports the exports, and
thus the consumption. for each single
year since 1880. and also the annual
average for five-year periods.
The expectations of wheat Uncludlng
flour in terms of wheaO averaged $50
million bushels per annum during the nVe
years ending June 81. 1884: 159 millions
per annum in the five years ending with
June, 1894; III millions per annum In the
five years ending with 1899. 1872 millions in
the five years ending with 1904, and but
lib millions per annum in the five years
ending June 30. 1909, the exports for the
| single year 1909 being ia million bushels.
No Decline in Production.
This reduction in exports of wheat
seems to be due to increased consumption
at home rather than to any decline in
production. The annual production in
the five calendar years preceding the close
OF the fiscal year 1884 averaged 451, Co.,
600 bushels: in the five years ending with
1880. 44OOOO,OOO; in the five years ending
with 1894, 4S3.OOOOO0 in the five years
ending with 1899, $4,000. 900; in the five
years ending with 1904. 625. 600, 600, and in
the five years ending with 1909. $4,000, :
900 bushels. Thus the average annual
production during the last five years has
exceeded that of any earlier five-year
period. yet the average expectation in the
five years ending with 1909 was but 49,
100000 bushels per annum, against 49,
100000 in the Immediately preceding five
years a decrease of 40 per cent in ex-
pOrtatiOns in the last five-year period, al
though production in the last five years
was greater than in any earlier period.
Nor can it be said that the decrease in
exports of wheat is due to low prices Of
fered in other parts of the world, since
the price at which the expectations OF the
year occurred ranged from 9S cents per
bushel in June. 1903, to $1.23 per bushel
in June, 1909; while the fact that the
home market consumed an unusually
large part Of the product indicates that
the prices paid at home compared favor
ably with those offered abroad.
This falling off in the exports Of wheat
in the face Of an increased production in
dicates. OF course. an increased home
consumption. The bureaus figures OF
consumption in the United States show
the average annual consumption for the
five years ending with 1884 as 3O2.OOO,OOO
bushels; for the five-year period ending
with 1889, 800 O0O, 600; for that ending
with 1894, 324.OOO,OOO: for the five years
ending with 1899. 341. 900 600; for the live
years ending with 1904. 100000, and
for the five years ending with 1909. 543,-
Nn ON hnshels