Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-10-17
OUTLOOK FOR POTATO PRICES
The Crop Is Large and the Demand Will
Be Very Large Also.-

Potatoes are bringing $1.00 busnel
cash here now but not many are being
offered at that figure as the feeling
prevails that the price will go consld-
erably higher within the next few
weeks. There are some reasons for
|, that condition and there are some rea-
sons against such an outcome.
REASONS FOR HIGHER PRICES
The following are the main reasons
why prices may advance beyond what
is now being paid:
An early frost in Michigan, Wiscon-
sin, Minnesota and South Dakota Is
said to have damaged the crop 30 per
cent. 1t Is also reported that the dig
pjnp IN those states seems to indicate
that the crop has been over-estimated.
In Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas and
some other states Of the middle west
and south est the crop was practically
a total failure due to drouth. The
railroads are declining to receive pota-
toes tor Shipment from the states OF
the middle north above mentioned, be-
cause of heavy demands for cars for
hauling wheat ard other commodities,
and the growers are storing the crop
instead of putting it on the market as
usual. 1t is claimeed that cold wealth
er will very soon--before the railroads
accept them for shipment-make car
shipm ents impossible and that condi-
ton Will make heavy demand for
southern grown potatoes, thereby fore
ing up the price. Since the high quail
ity Of the potatoes grown In this Sec
ton has become more widely known
the demand has increased. As is we'll
known, the states south of Tenr essee
grow very few late potatoes but depend
on northern stock for their supply.
With the northern potatoes stored and
shipments of much consequence being
out of the question the demand for the
crop grown iu the states near Tenncs-
see becomes stronger.
1t is also claimed that since the gov
ernment must have large quantities to
feed the 500, 900 soldiers IN the various
training camps of the south the demand
will be far above normal.
5. AGAINST PRICE INCREASE.
The crop this year is one hundred
million bushels above a normal crop.
No potatoes will be shipped to Europe
because the food content is too light.
If wheat keeps up to the point where a
sac of flour can be bought for practi-
cally the same price as bushel of TO-
tatoes-whlch is practically assured
people will eat less potatoes and less
of them Will 60 into bread than would
be the case it they were not so high.
Should potatoes in the south 60 to
high levels the government will have
them shipped from northern points IN
refrigerator cars, which will have
strong tendency to prevent abnormally
high prices.
The difficult question to answer now
is: through what channels or by what
means will the country consume that
one hundred million bushels surl llus?
If it does not find ready market the
price would likely remain not very far
from present quotations to the grow
ers.
The Chronicle does not pretend to
advise any one to hold or sell potatoes.
We are giving the basic conditions that
will effect the price and leave every
one to make his own decision as to the
wisdom of selling at present prices or
holding for rise.
Most persons who grow potatoes un-
derstana what shrinkages may be ex-
pected, the cost of handling and the
dangers incident to freezing, rotting,
etc.
yV,Cy n ]