The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-12-21
Flour

The 1916 figures include the first 1C
months OF the year. The value of feed
and bran, which is, OF course, in the
wheat when sold to the miller is
eliminated from the -four prices. The
feed n bran in a bushel of wheat is
worth about 80 cents.
Can't be Explained.
There can be no reason why the
cost Of handling wheat from the pro-
Queer to the consumer should show
such wide discrepancies as exist in the
yearly items shown by the wholesale
and retail figures. ] shall not, with the
data on hand, undertake to fix this cost,
but for temporary use / would suggeS
that the lowest wholesale and retail
expense for any ear be applied as it is
not probable that the miller. whole
saler or h retailer handled wheat or
flour any year without reasonable
profit.
THE smallest variation between the
farm and wholesale price per bushel as
shown in the foregoing statistics is Is
cents. The lowest variation between
the wholesale and retail price pei
bushel is shown to be &c cents, making
a total minimum variation of "A cents
per bushel. On this basis, when wheat
is selling for 81 per bushel, so pounds
of f1our should be bought at retail for
Sl.il. by sfuulllS ~ cents 10 the I9fni
price Of a buShel OF wheat we should
get approximately the price at Which 50
pounds Of -four should sell at retail
based on the above price.
Bread Varies Little.
at will be observed that the price OF
bread during the past five years has
been stable and during this time de
tailed statistics show that the price OF
wheat has varied Ga cents and -four &C
cents per bushel. These fluctuations
were all absorbed by the agencies be-
tween the wheat and the bread. The
size OF the loaf in some instances has
Naried but in many states and cities u
uniform one pound loaf is required by
law. The price OF a loaf was raised one
cent by the master bakers in October
Flour from one buShel of wheat will
make approximately 81 loaves OF bread
and the increase OF one cent per loaf
therefore was an increase to the con-
ume OF e. cents per buShel on wheat
There is no economic reason why
the price of bread should not flurtuate
with the price OF wheat, and there can
he no economic reason why the cost of
he manufacturing n selling should
not be stable but the reverse is the case.
Who Got Profit?
The wheat farmers have not pros
pered this year. The farmers will sell
the 1916 crop for $3.50. coo, 900 less than
the 1915 crop, and at least 500, 000, 000
less thar the 1914 crop. This years
wheat crop has visited adversely upon
both tho producer and consumer, but
has brought prosperity to the spccula-
tor. The average cost OF moving Il bush
cl of wheat from y producer to the
consumer during the past five years
has been IS cents, while the farmer re-
ceived an average Of 90 cents for pro
ducing it.
What we have said of wheat applies,
with grcdtrS or lesser variation 10 cot,
ton. corn, livestock, and all products OF
the farm, ranch, orchard and mine.
"\Nhile the income Of most consumers
is stable. nature is an inVeteratc
gambler ana forces the producer to bet
millions upon every crop for no maj
can DEPEND upOn ~CultiVating the soil
ror a livelihood without taking =
chance. No greater service can he rend,
cred the producer than To assist in re-
moving the speculative feature in farm
ing. Our storage facilities should be
employed in reducing rather h a in
creasing speculation. The s~mokehouse,
and cellar have been moved
from the farm. and we have in their
place ammoth packing houses. ele-