Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-07-11
GREAT DEMAND FOR CORN.
Wants Of DistiIIers and Foreign Ma
tions Create Unusual Market.

| Chicago, July demonstrating tho
enormous amount Of corn that is an
nually raised in the United States an
the comparatively insignificant amount
| that is exported or used for human
food, It is remarkable that there car
now be an actual shortage of corn il
the Chicago market. If, for example
| but per cent Of the total crop grown
| last season could be moved toward the
market at the present. time it would
congest all~the railroads cenrering in
Chicago, flood the market and doubt
less break prices soc over night.
| The fact that there can be a shortage
Of corn in the market when the selling
Of but a few extra bushels by every
farmer in the corn states would bring
about fundamental change in market
conditions is commercial phenom-
enon
Altho the exports for the last crop
year, which ended June 80. will total
greater than in any similar period tthe
figures for June are not yet available),
the exports alone do not account for the
present scarcity. There has been per-
sistent demand for cash corn for many
weeks past that is accounted for by
members Of the grain trade as coming
from the distillers.
Distilers Buy Heavily.
This extra demand is OF course due
to desire on the part Of the distillers
to manufacture as much whisky as pos
sible before the time limit on their
operations has expired. Because Of the
small movement from the farm TO the
terminal markets it only required the
few extra millions OF bushels taken by
the distillers to bring about the present
con dition in the market.
There has been great deal OF dis
cussion Of late regarding the amount
Of corn and other grain used in the
manufacture Of liquor in the United
States, and the amounts have varied
greatly. Yet It was reported from
ures were given a. official. that the
annual consumption Of corn by distill-
ers Is 100000 bushels, and by the
brewers l3,500.O00. Compared with the
size Of the crop. this total is insignifi
can't but it is an important percentage
Of the amount Of corn that moves to the
terminal markets-and the terminal
markets make the price.
The exports Of corn from the United
States are. under ordinary conditions,
from 100000 to 100000 bushels
For the crop year that ended on the
last day Of June 1917, the total will be
approximately $4,000, 900
81 900 Bushels Exported.
For the eleven months ending May
81, the total exported was 1000 900
bushels. compared with 33,40o.o00 in
the same period last season. The great
est export total in any crop year up
to 1917 was in the period from July ].
1910. to June 80. 1911. when the total
was 63.Ts0 000 This was largely be-
cause Of the immense crop harvested
in the fall of 1910.
Up to 1910 the corn crop Of the Unit
ed States was approximately $500, O00,-
900 annually, occasionally going little
over this total, and In adverse seasons
falling below; but in the grain trade it
was recognized that a good crop for
the country was that amount.
In 1910 it almost reached 5000, 0O0, 900
bushels, total now regarded as what
the country should reach under average
weather conditions. That amount has
been exceeded only once, however
namely, in 1912, when, according to the
official figures Of the crop reporting
board Of the department of agriculture,
the total was 2124 600 900. In 1918 IL
fell down to 2,446, 000, 900; the next year
was a little greater than this. and il
1915 was within 100000 bushels Of
round 3,o0o,O00,0o0 crop In 1916, owing
to adverse weather conditions, the crop
again fell down to 2,500.000,O00.
Fair Yield Expected.
In the present year the corn acreage
is the greatest ever planted. but wealth
er conditions have not so far been
favorable enough to expect more than
a fair average yield per acre: but even
this will doubtless give over a 3,O00,-
100000 bushel crop.