The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-05-07
And a Continuance Of the Eu-
ropean War Will Keep the
Price of Same High.

WASHINGTON, May CT SEEMS
fairly well assured, according 70 a
special committee OF the chamber OF
commerce OF the United States, Of
which A. W. Douglas, 81 st. Louis,
is chairman, that the winter wheat
production this year will be appre-
Gladly. less than that Of 1914 and
1916, approximately one-third less
diction, 1t will be below the ten
year average of the decade 1906
191e. approximately ne-thlrd less
than the harvest of 1915, or rough
ly speaking, around .450,000,000
bushels. The committee declaled
there was approximately at the time
Of its survey, April : Of this year.
20 per cent less acreage standing in
wheat than at the same time last
year. The question OF Shat the p.ice
of wheat will be during the next six
months is one which viii; have q pro
found effect on the business OF the
country.
Continued War Will Keep Price Up.
The committees forecast, at least
FOR the spring and summer, ia for
comparatively high prices in wheat,
since at the time CO observation
there did not seem to be any l!klt-
hood Of the crop approach ms tho
yield Of last year. Tpis estimate Is
based on a continuation of European
hostilities. Should peace come, how
ever, and the Dardanel,es be opened,
releasing what is generally thought
TO be the accumulated surplus OF
wheat in Russia, there wolld I'M
doubleday be decline in price: What
this decline would be, the commit
tee says, can only be matte OF
conjecture, but any decline, partleu-
larly during the harvesting. season
or afterwards, when the wheat. IL
placed on the market, 1t is pointed
out. is bound to have an unfayorable
effect on the farmer and in all l.hli'
hood induce him to curtail free pur'
chasing on his part.
Wars Ending Effect on Market.
Another factor in the situation Is
the large surplus carried overthrow
last year. AS rule; the national
chamber committee says, the. farmer
who is IN q position to hold his wheat
win only. sell II when 1t reaches Q
rrice In accordance with HE ideas
It Is the expressed belief that
great majority, of the formers at THU
time have the ability TO carry theii
grain for quite time II they 90 Wish
Should 1t appear, however. with ti'e
coming of peace, that the high prices
of wheat Is ended for tue time being
II is more than likely that large
holdings will be thrown upon the
market with the effect Of further low
ering the price, in 4
General Condition lower
The national chamber authorities
declare the condition is lower thar
| for a number Of years, This Ia at
ltributed to winter killing, the raw
ages of the Hessian fly in certain sec
tions, and the drought which pre-
vailed in others, In the latter sec
lions, however, there have been gen
eral and abundant ratns since thu
first OF April which have material!
improved conditions, The condition
is generally good throughout thu
West and Northwest, all the Rock,
mountain states, and on the Plcih,
coast. though still III general no
quite SO good as in 1916. AS d whole
Il is somewhat better in the soutl
central states than last year. II 1
also better in Pennsylvania, Mary
land. Virginia, West Virginia, tn
Carolinas. and Georgia
| Where Decreased Acreage is Marked