The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-03
Secretary Smiley of Grain Deal
ers Makes Estimate.
Just a Little Under 20 Million
Bushels He Says.
5 INVESTIGATION.
Personally Inspected the Fields
in Many Counties.
Much Will Be Sold at Machines
For 81 Per Bushel.

E. J. Smiley, secretary of the Kan
sas Grain Dealers association. today
issued the following circular in which
he estimated the Kansas wheat crop
at 100000 bushels.
81 have just returned from three
weeks trip having made a personal
investigation of the growing wheat in
Mcpherson, Harvey, Sedgwick, Pratt,
Kiowa, Reno. Stafford. Edwards,
Pawnee, Barton. Rush. Ellis, Russell
Ellsworth and Rice counties. having
a total acreage in 1907 Of 2,491'602
acres According to assessors reports
the acreage sown in 1908 in the ABOVE
counties is 2,226,6S1 showing q de-
crease of 234921 acres. In Pratt
Barton. Rush and Ellis counties 40
600 acres was entirely destroyed py
hail Taking the same ratio OF 0e-
crease in acreage in the eastern L"C-
thirds of the state there was not 10
exceed 100000 acres seeded TO
wheat in the fall of 1908. A con-
sentative estimate OF the ainoune
abandoned and that which VIII not
be harvested is 100000 acres for the
state leaving 100000 acres win
Weld of IL bushels per acre showing
a crop of 69.600,O00 bushe!s OF W1EdI
for the state. The condition IN NC
Ellsworth counties is better than
same date one year ago, while star
ford Edwards PaWnee, Barton, RusH'
Ellis and Russell counties are IaI De
low last years condition at TINS l IIlle.
Much of the wheat in the western
mart of Barton Rush. south ELS
worth Russell and Ellis counties IS
now heading or in the bloom- 1HIS
wheat is thin on the ground ana NeIy
late and it will take perfect weather
conditions from this time until the
wheat ripens to make crop IN
STAFFORD. Edwards. Pawnee. Barton.
Ellsworth and Russell counI1eS the
wheat is damaged from some I'M
known cause. On the heavy or black
land the head turns grey a1ter the
berry is formed and an investigation
reveals the fact that the dbrus roots
were dead and the straw declared pc
tween the crown and the first joint, |
causing the straw to fall BEFORE tne
berry is ripe. We have complaints
from other counties of this cause Out
no one is able to assign the reason
ssST.ha WESTERN third of the state |
shows a slightly increased acreage
but owing to the high winds and carry
drouth much of the wheat was GAM
aged beyond repair, abandoned anu
osborne. Roobs, south Smith and west
Mitchell indicate severe damage ana
the yield will be below that OF 1878. |
Taking into consideration the de-
creased acreage sown last fall and the
acreage abandoned we consider o.
100000 acres a conservative estimate
of the amount of wheat standing and
consider II bushels per acre con-
servative estimate of the yield. This
is so very much better than was con-
templated a short time ago or than was |
thought possible one month ago that
everyone should be delighted with the
outcome.
''There is a wide difference of opinion
as to whether farmers will market their
" heat for 81 per bushel at threshtng
time Some communities report that
the farmers are building gTanar1es ana
will hold their wheat expecting nigh
prices before another crop is produced |
While in other sections it is the opinion
Of the grain dealer and farmer that
the movement will be free should the
market at threshing time justify the
PAYMENT of 81 to the farmer.
s'The sched Ule Of freight rates as pro- |
\ ioed by the legislature in the maximum
freight law became effective July /. |
: his means reduction of about 21a |
cents per hundred from the western |
part of the state, but no reduction in |
rates east of the sixth principal mert- |
dian.
''The I. c. c. in a late ruling held that |
shippers may specify size of car. When
the CARRIER cannot furnish a car of ca
pacity ordered by the shipper, and for |
It's own convenience furnishes a car Of
greater capacity than the one ordered