Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-09-06
CONCERNING WHEAT AND PRICES

The question as to what basis the price of Pacific
Coast wheat should be fixed causing considerable dis
cussion Temporarily the price at Portland has been
fixed at $220.
Until year or two ago. and up to the time when the
scarcity of bottoms caused the withdrawal OF most ship
ping from the coast the price of wheat in Portland was
fixed by the price in Liverpool 1t worth here on the
coast what it worth in Liverpool less the freight 1t
will be again when conditions become normal. The
Pacific coast wheat not and should not be measured IN
price by that at Chicago At present. in order to send
wheat to Europe must send 1t across the continent
which gives the eastern price less the freight OF about
SO cents bushe 1t prices should not be regulated
by something that is merely temporary makeshtt On
the ways at Portland and at other coast points are many
ships which will be completed and must find cargoes
before leaving for the Atlantic Those ships should be
loaded with Oregon wheat and sent direct to Europe
That is they should be loaded with flour for the cargo
should be condensed much as possible, and the BY
products should be kept at home With these ships to be
loaded it would the price of wheat here should be
the price in New York less the difference between the
freight from Chicago to that point and the freight from
Pacific coast points, say to Aspinwal The Liverpool
prices should prevail generally but that price IS now
fixed by our government it being the price in Chicago
plus the freight However, with the price as 1t is there
is good money in wheat growing and more than that
there is clean patriotism in it, too California is looking
for acres of land that will grow wheat that has not
heretofore done order to increase her wheat yield
per cent Here in Oregon the same thing should be done
and every available should be planted to Wheat SO
that all other things oregon can come TO Ie front
first in the magnitude of her increased acreage OF gram
Following the advice Of the experts of the Oregon Ag
cultural College this grain far possible should pei
planted this fall its chances of big yield greatly
increased by that plan Oregon has chance to make the
balance of the country turn their eyes this way surprised
at results when the old state sets herself task.
The latest official report of railroad earnings is just
out and covers the month Of June 1t shows that not only
gross business but net returns break all previous
and gives the lie the statements of the magnates Who
sought only few weeks ago to secure higher trelght
rates Some of those newspapers which were induced to
support the railroad contention that higher freight rates
were needed in order to avert bankruptcy among them
the morning Statesman Of this city, should read these
tables of railroad earnings with especial interest These
newspapers evidently sought to fool the public into sus
tanning the railroad contention for rgher freghts IN
order to discharge certain obligations to the corporations
President Louis w. Hill of the Great Northern rail
road has wired the managers of the Pendeton Round
that he will bring whole train load OF visitors to see the
great show He wanted reservations for his party but
rather late as most of the space has already been Sold
When Pendleton gives show the fellow who wants
front seat will have to be at the box office early every
time.
Have you noticedit? Suddenly out of the nowhere IN
to "he thisness of the now new one so FAR as
we every day common folks concerned. A few days
ago some artist discovered he could make ships appear TO
disappear so to speak by "camouflage Yesterday the