Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-11-08
SCARCITY OF TONNAGE
is BECOMING ACUTE
Grent britain liz Making Effort tn
Place More Vessels Ira Conn
mission.
Especial to The Times-D ispatch.l

Especial to The Times Dispatch
CHICAGO, November 7.-The scarcity
| or ocean tonnage is becoming quite
! acute. Great Britain is making an ef-
! Tor, to place more vessels on the ocean,
but there is Il question in the mind OF
the average grain man as to whether
thai government VIII be successful
or not. II is 4 forcSone conclusion
that unless the tension at the scaboa d
is relieved 1T once in the way of Il
. large increase in the number of avail
able vessels on the ocean, 80 that grain
| already bought and awaiting shipment
: may be cleared. the terminals will be
ticu up completely. The principal
cause or the present scarcity of ocean
vessels is that the rcquisitioning of
ships of bclligercnt nations for war
purposes has been on larger scale.
freight rates are at enormous figure
from Australia. Argentina and India.
AS freight charges are paid by the i'm
porting countries 1t matters little to
me producer OF grain, as buyers con-
uhue to pay the prices asked by car
riers without Il murInur. These con-
lions snow there Is a great urgency
iof brcadstuffs, and that those who
are making their purchases for foreign
governments are doing business ON
open orders" in the matter of wheat
prices. as well AS in the matter OF
! freight rates.
ics abroad made the claim on Satur-
iaS last that Great Britain had over
oouSht on breadstugs, but this was
u,screuited not only here, but also in
liverpool where 1T was said that these
claims were being made i'm or1cr IN
force holders OF grain and unnr ~
North America TO let go OF their hold
ingS. '''''
Inc wheat market continues to trayc,
under conditions that are more alb
normal than ever known before. MANY
or the larger concerns throughout Tho
! United States who felt sure th,t tb.r,.
would be a heavy accumulation or
wheat in all positions ere this or5
put out short lines in the expcct,tion
or being able to deliver the wheat SOLD
are now securing the country for the
cash article. and wherever II is NOS
sible to make deliveries the wheat viii
be brought in and sent around on
contracts.
There is n big open Interest in De-
! cembcr wheat at Chicago. and the
shorts are showing great uneasincss
because OF the fact that stocks hero
are small ana would not go far in
helping the shorts out Of their prcscn,
prcdicament
Weather conditions have been fayora :
bic for the maturing of the corn crop.
Yet prices have advanced some, and
thcrc has been some slight increase
In the movement. and an j,nproycd a..
inand from foreigners. The stubborn
ness displayed by wheat was probably
one OF the greatest helps In corn The
prospects FOR large crop OF corn in
bushels does not insure II In quality.
ana adviccs received from many sec
lions OF the belt are OF light weight
ana chany corn. and il is said there
vii! be great deal OF IT unmcrchunt
able
oats have displayed a stronger mn
dercurrent as the advance in values
mas been only fractional The strength
III wheat and corn has helped no 1T
tie but this was partially offsc, b,-
the Increased movement from the
country.
According to a special report issued
oy w. l.. Grcgson on The hogs product
market, future commitments are not
as large as usual at this season, and
any sudden change In the spo, SUNNY.
ana demand would he likely to bring
Il raaicai change in that direction.
STOCKS OF side meats are now down 10
n normal basis. but it is expected that
there VIII he big carry-ovcr OF lard
and that tho winter accommodations of
products Will start earlier than usual