New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-29
CANADIAN WHEAT
COMMANDEERED
TO FEED ALLIES
Bulk of 100000 Bushels
Now in Elevators Will
Go to Italy.
PRICE TO BE PAID
NOT YET FIXED
Seized Product Stored from Fort
William to Atlantic Coast
200,000,000 Bushels Left.

Ottawa, Ont. Nov. 2s.-The Canadian
government has commandeered all high
grade wheat In elevators from Fort
William, on Lake Superior, to the At
lantic Coast
The action was taken under the spe-
cial war act by the Canadian Grain
Commission. The wheat seized was of
No. hard and Nos. /, and North
ern. 1t was the property Of grain ship
pers and millers. That taken Is all
which on Saturday night was In public
elevators at Fort William. Port Arthur,
Midland, Tifln, Port MeNichol. Colling-
wood, Goderich, Kingston, Port Col
borne, Prescott, Quebec. st. John, Mont
real and Halifax.
A revised estimate places the amount
at about twenty million bushels. A con-
siderable amount is the property Of
American grain dealers.
The grain was taken Saturday night
so that grain exchanges should be af-
fected as little as possible. II is Of
fcially stated that the price will be
fairly adjusted and the grain owners
promptly paid by the Canadian govern
ment.
ALLIES to Get Surplus.
This years Canadian wheat crop. &C.
cording to the last official estimate,
was 338,000,o00 bushels. Later unoffi-
cial figures placed the crop at about
350,000,000 bushels. For export the
surplus is expected to exceed 100000
900 bushels. 1t is expected that most
Of this will be taken In the future for
the use of Great Britain. France and
Italy.
The domestic supply OF Russia Is
more than sufficient to meet the needs
of that country. Had the Dardanelles
been forced the surplus OF Russian
wheat would have made the present ac-
ton unnecessary. While the wheat Just
taken was commandeered to fill an or
der from the British government for a
large quantity Of the grain, 1t Is under
stood that most Of It will be shipped to
Italy.
The Canadian government will look
after the transportation Of the grain to
the Atlantic seaboard, and from there
its shipment across the Atlantic will
be undertaken by the British govern
mont in the same way that shipments
Of oats and hay have been handled for
the last year.
World Supply Abundant.
The official statement issued by the
government says:
"The phenomenal crop Of wheat in
the Canadian West has brought upon
the government the duty of assisting
to the furthest extent possible in its
marketing. The supply Of wheat the
world over is known to have been
abundant, and the importance of TAX
ing advantage of every opportunity to
provide for the disposing Of our grain
is on that account the greater.
"For many months the government
has been in touch with the British au-
thorities with a view to procuring or
ders from the United Kingdom and the
allied governments in order that the ut
most share of the consuming demand
in those countries may be turned
toward our Canadian surplus. As a
consequence Of this, the British gov
ernment has requested the Canadian
government TO provide within a short
time very large supply of Nos. l,
and Northern wheat
"The problem of meeting these re
qurements, and OF doing so at such
prices as would induce the repetition
of orders in Canada, then confronted
the government. The effect of govern
ment purchases in the open market
such as were made by different coun-
tries a year ago, is well known 10 the
public. The market rises hbnorn.ally,
adding TO the profits OF grain dealers
and spectators who have purchased
the grain which the governments re-
quire. The advance in price OF large
amounts OF grain in store becomes the
loss of the purchasing government, and
a.