The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-12-27
On What Is to Be the Ultimate
Outcome This Season of the
Potato Situation
DEALERS ARE INCLINED
TO LET FARMERS ALONE
Milwaukee Railroad Official Hands
Out Some Excellent Advice to
the Ranchers of the kittitas
Valley

Just now the potato market has the
dealers and the producers in this part
of the country guessing. For some
reason or other the potatoes do rot
appear to go into consumption as fast
as careful observers think they ought
to. The price paid producers is $19
and $40 ton but the demand is
scant 1t is reported that Seattle,
Tacoma and Vancouver b. C. deal
ers are seeking to unload fearing
what is to come. On the other hand
all outside reports seem to Indicate
that the supply is very scant in the
United States at large, and that the
demand will be strong before the
next crop comes on.
Are Buying Abroad
Federal government reports fndi-
cate that the west coast Is buying
heavily in Great Britain, especially
in Scotland. In the Netherlands and
in other European countries which
have a surplus or which are willing
to let go at American prices New
York reports that the Maine crop
has about all gone on the market and
says that dealers in the east are con-
fidently expecting high prices before
long. While freight rates are such
that it will not pay the western
grower to ship to the east it Is certain
that with a shortage east the middle
western crop will move eastward
rather than westward the coming
year. Eastern potatoes have come
into this market in considerable
quantities in seasons past and their
competition has held down the local
market. Just what will eventuate
year is at present guess and the
best guesser will be the winner. There
seems to be a remarkable desire right
now to permit the farmer to do the
specializing.
Hay Has Dropped Away
Hay has dropped to pieces so far
as the market is concerned and no
revival in prices will do much good
as yet to many of the producers as
they have let go and the crop is be-
ever much that is yet held ty pro-
ever much that vet held byi pro-
ducers but with such a winter as has
prevailed and with no development
work in progress the prospect looks
anything but bright.
Retail dealers all report that they
season and have made large sales, all
things considered. Meat market men
are we'll pleased with the way they
came through the holiday season and
the grocers stand right with them.
Traffic manager r. M. Calkins of
the Milwaukee railroad, speaking to
the people at Ellensburg a day or two
ago had something to say which
should interest ranchers in all this
part of Washington. Among other
things he said:
Too Much Speculation
an several districts I could men,
ton said Mr.. Calkins, there are
few settlers because the spectators
succeeded in putting land values too
high You have a great country here
but there are other good irrigated
districts and I want to emphasize the
fact that the growth of these dis
tricts are held back by too much
speculation.
people don't go apple crazy like
the people of some districts The
diversified farming country is the
greatest country and you have the
best kind of a start here Let me
point out few of the things we need
here on the coast For instance the
railroads haul pork from as far east
as Iowa and Minnesota. No better
hogs can be raised than in this sec
ton, and for quick money 1t is one
of the best things for the farmer to
grow.
Some Things Needed
You need more chickens and more
COWS. This is a fine dairy country
and the farmers here could make
more money by cultivating this in
dustry. Vegeta bles are shipped in from
California to the Puget Sound mar
kets. That is an opening for local
ranchers. Raising beef cattle would
make al much money for the farmer
here as in Iowa and Nebraska. In
fact, 1t would make more because the
market price is higher on beef here
than in the middle west.
More Producers Are Wanted
ITO really develop this western
country we must develop more pro.
ducers. You might think railroad Of
ficials would rather get the long hau
but this is not the case. We realize
that the difference in price on articles
in the east and out here are too greai
and we know this must be equalizet
to really develop the country and tn,
best way to equalize it is to produc,
the things out here that are needed
out here. Whenever the countr.
grows up it will more than offset TIL,
loss due to the losing of some of tn
long haul business"
General Report
The general market is as follows:
Kalispell hard wheat -four, sack s1.s
Dutch mill Sl'z
Yakima Best -four, per sack ..sl.3
Prosser flour, per sack .$1.3
Washington hard wheat -four ..$l.3'
Kennewick Best, patent flour s1.S
Alfalfa, per ton, wholesale $3.50 a $50
Wheat hay, per ton ...$s.5
Timothy hay, per ton sl5@Sls.o
Potatoes, per ton $1,000 TO $zo.o
Onions per ton .sl5@ $1,
Fruits, Vegetables, Groceries, Retail
Creamery butter, pound ........ 400