The evening times., 1911-06-01

Mr.. Kingman. Mr.. Chairman and
senator's:
l have sat here during the last two
days and heard questions that were
asked some of the gentlemen who
appeared before you, and l hoped l
would not be asked many questions.
I just want to cover one phase of
this question. The Mtnnes0ta dete=
gation covered very extensively-Mr.
Wilkinson in parIicular-the condi-
tions that surround the northwest,
and l want to show, if can, to what
extent they apply to some of the 9TH
er states in the union. North Dako-
ia, Minnesota and South Dakota are
not the only wheat-producing states
in the union. 1t is fact that We
have had, and are having, a premium
on our wheat over Canadian wheat of
approximately 10 cents a bushel 1t
has been lower than that in the last
six or seven years, and has been
higher, but our wheat has averaged
in the last six or seven years about
10 cents over the Canadian price.
The misconception-
Senator Kern. You mean in the
states adjoining Canada?
Mr.. Kingman. Yes, sir; would
take the markets of Minneapolis and
Duluth and compare them with Port
Arthur and Fort William. The gen.
eral impression is when we speak
of the Winnipeg price there is to be
added the freight from Winnipeg to
Port Arthur. That is not true While
Winnipeg is the market point where
the wheat Is sold, the price obtained
is for the wheat delivered at Fort
William or Port Arthur. Winnipeg
quotations are for wheat delivered at
Port Arthur or Fort William where
they are placed upon equal condi-
tions with Duluth; elevator facilities
and conditions are upon the same
basis. One of the other gentlemen
will speak more elaborately upon
this subject. He will also go into
the barley question more elaborately
than will. l think our standpoint
on barley was very ably presented
by the malster from Buffalo who
was talking in opposition to it yes
terday. If were lawyer l would
be perfectly willing to have our case
rest on the evidence which he pre-
SeQCeQ mere yesterday.
You would ask us why this differ
ence Of 10 to IL cents between our
American markets and the Canadian.
If our price Is established by what
our surplus, together with that of
other countries, based upon the
worlds supply and demand brings
in Liverpool.
While supply and demand as a
rule, we would admit, very largely
influence the price of any product,
we must admit that in our case it is
more largely modified by local con-
ditions. For the sake of argument
we will admit, If you please, that 1t
is local conditions that give US this
premium on our wheat. l wish to
show some of the, conditions which l
think enter into the giving to us of
10 or 12 cents bushel premium,
and l wish to show also, if can,
that the premium which the north
western farmer enjoys is extended to
the farmers of the winter-wheat
states. l doubt If few Of you realize
that Pennsylvania raises 30,000.O00
bushels of wheat Texas has increas-
ed her production, until last year
she raised 1S,OO0,O0O bushels Of
wheat.
Senator Bailey. And the best in
the world.
Mr. Kingman. North Carolina in
creased her production in the last
ten years from 100000 to 100000.
Senator Bailey. Looking at the
matter aside from the glory of Texas,
and for the glory of the whole coun-
try, will say that the barrel of
-four that took the first premium at
the last Paris exposition was milled
at Denton county, Texas out of wheat
grown in that county.
Mr.. Kingman. Manufactured from
Turkey Red, was it not?
Senator Bailey. 1 am not sure
about that.
No Reduction in Bread
Mr.. Kingman. There are two or
three conditions that enter into this
premium that comes to us in the
northwest. We will admit, for the
sake of argument, that it is local,
that it is home condition, but are
we not entitled to it? Some one
suggested here yesterday that if we
are to get this 10-cent premium 1t
must come out of the consumer. If
it came out of the consumer on the
basis of the present per capita con-
sumption it would be loss to him
Of so cents a year. However, with
our present method of distribution
we doubt very much If this saving
would ever reach the consumer. l
would say in this connection that
when our wheat sold in North Da-
kota for 80 cents bushel the price
of the loaf of bread was 5 cents, and
it was still five cents when out wheat
sold for dollar fifteen. 1t is true
that some of the housewives make
their own bread. and in this case
they might gain scme difference in
the lower cost of flour.
The competition of Buffalo and the
southwest for portion of our high
grade northern wheat to mix with
their winter varieties gives the
northwestern farmer a great advant-
age in the way of competition for
his product. Minneapolis is also a
competitor with the southwest for a
portion of their winter wheat to mix
with the higher grade northern
wheat in order that the Minneapolis
miller may lower the cost Of his bar
rel OF flour Thus giving enual nd