The Republican journal., 1917-03-29
A Letter from Missouri.

winter; scarcely one per cent of what
used to good advantage had it fallen up
on us with proper and gratifying regular
ity. We would not have desired it to
fall upon US in such profusion as three
feet at one time, nor that it should have
descended upon US accompanied with a
cold biting northeast wind, piling it into
huge drifts to impede travel and block
our railroad traffic. Such coming would
rot have been congenial to our tastes;
nor in harmony with our usual winter
surroundings. We are not prepared for
such condition of things. Overshoes,
leggins, fur coats, sleighs, robes and
other requisites are altogether too scarce
in the ''sunny south" to make northern
blizzard enjoyable in our midst. What
we needed, however, was frequent and
gentle fall of the beautiful, of about
a depth of six inches descending upon US
every week and during the next day or
two melting in the presence Of the sun
and saturating the earth, refreshing the
crops, filling the cisterns, wells and
ponds. This is what we needed, and
needed badly. Last fall and the present
winter have been dry. We have scarce
ly seen any mud. Travel has been pleas
ant. We had few days biting cold
weather when the thermometer ran down
few degrees below zero, but for the
most part we have been favored with
mild weather; many day the weather
man" told US that a cold wave would
strike Us probably" the next day, but
only on few occasions did the predic-
ton come true. The Ozark mountains,
it is probable, have had much to do with
the scattering of the oncoming storms
and the notification of the weather
man S representations On one occasion
the gale caught US mapping. We had re-
tired to rest as usual, leaving the window
of our sleeping room open for the incom-
ing of the fresh air. Unfortunately we
had neglected to properly replenist the
fires. The morning in consequence
brought sorrow to the heart, and | think
tears TO the eyes of the feminine portion
of the household when she found most
of the house plants which had been tend
ed with so much care were dead. A
few Of them have partially revived, but
they are rather a sorry sight even at the
present writing.
Crop conditions as yet are not very
promising. The weather all through the
southwest has been too dry. We hope,
however, that the conditions will soon
improve and that the wheat crop will re-
vive and Strawberries improve, and that
from this time onward we shall look out
more hopefully upon the future.
The h. C. OF l., with all its appalling eff
fects, has penetrated the regions of the
great southwest. Coal has cost US about
70 per cent more than in previous years.
Flour Is at least rs per cent higher than
1t used to be. Corn chops Cracked corn).
OF which large quantities are sold. are
worth 1920 per cwt; oats are worth 70
cents per busheI, bran So per hundred.
and only very limited supply can be
OBTAINED at this price. The best prairie
nay sells at SIG. 90 per ton, and alfalfa at
S22.0O. Butter brings 40 cents Der pound
Meats have jumped skyward, as have al
animal products. And as for potatoes
they have jumped SO high as to very
nearly equal the price of eggs, pound for
pound. You can buy fifteen dozen epos
at the price of bushel of spuus. Tween.
ty-seVen cents per dozen for the former
and "a per bushel for the latter Msnu
OF US are therefore eating more epps
than potatoes, and there are at least
three months before relief Will come
from local gardens. The flour trade here
Is uhilke the trade in the East. You buv
and sell IN barrels. We buv and soil in
sacks for domestic use, mainly in % and
4o pound sacks. We handle about p car
load per month of flour and about one.
third of this amount goes out in 24-nonnd
sacks.
spring will soon be here. Many have
already planted their gardens aid we
shall soon be favored with lettuce. onions
and radishes on our tables but theso
thlngs are more appetlzing than nourish-
ing The dairymen have had hard time
manufacturing $40 ton bran and s22
Ton nay and 81 corn chops into ten cent
milk. The restaurants and BOARDING
houses have been compelled to raise the
price OF meals, and even then to limit
some OF the former necessities to a very
considerable extent. Nor is all the dis
advantage on the side of the consumer.
The dealer is oftentmes at his wits end
10 know just how to make all things
work to the satisfaction of his customers
MS banker and himself. 1t requires
about 10 per cent more capital to do the
same amount of business today it for
merly required. A car of corn chops
cost me last week seven hundred and
nlnesy-four dollars. Today paid draft
on a mixed car of flour and feedt of
81, 42113.
Today the weather is exceedingly mild