The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-03-07
BULK WHEAT
PRICES WILL
GOVERN HERE
Il. INSINGER OF SPOKANE ANAL
Yves WHEAT PRICES FOR
WESTERN STATES
SCHEDULE IS EXPLAINED
SAYS BASIS PRICES ARE FOR
BULK GRAIN; ALLOWANCES
MADE FOR SACKS

MADE FUR SACkS
After all the discussion and con-
troversy about wheat prices as fixed
for the 1918 crop in the northwest,
the farmers were at loss to know
whether this price meant for bulk
grain or for grain in sacks. George
Sievers, of the Farmers Union ware
house here, asked this question
through a Spokane paper and the
question has been answered by R. In
singer and the Spokane chamber of
commerce. Mr.. Insinger's statement
was sent to Mr. Hawkins Melgard, of
the First Trust & Savings bank by
w. P. Romans, assistant secretary of
the Spokane chamber of commerce,
with request that it be made public.
Mr.. Insinger explains the visit of
the two committees to Washington to
secure equitable prices for grain in
the Pacific northwest, all of which is
known to readers of newspapers in
this section. He tells of the work
done by the committee and adds:
Fixes Minimum Price
Right after this, the president took
action and declared a minimum price
of $2.20 at Chicago, the same as last
year. with certain fixed prices at other
points and price of 1928 at Atlantic
coast points. The delegation were
able to induce the shipping board to
promise to carry our wheat in govern
ment owned ships from Pacific ports
to Atlantic ports at cost of 101a
cents per bushel for wheat (and $6 per
ton for four. It was admitted that /
the price of 1917 cents per bushel was
considerably below the cost price of
shipping as offered by private ship |
owners, but the government having
considerable ships building on the
coast wanted them sent to the Atlantic
coast, and thought they could afford
to promote wheat raising in the In !
land Empire by offering this fair boat
rate. The result is that we will get |
for our wheat s2.177a bulk at Portland,
Seattle and Tacoma, or only 21s cents
less than the Chicago price; whereas
the freight from our part of the coun
try to Chicago is 80 cents bushel.
AS result of their work, the delega-
ton, therefore, got as an increase in
our price of 27R cents bushel over
what we expected month ago, and
12k cents higher than last year.
We were able to get this result for
two reasons. One was that the gov
ernment had this year ships which
they did not have last year and we're
willing to put them at our disposal.
The other was that this year we we're
able to present our case to the govern
ment before they had taken action,
whereas last year we could not go to
the government until after they had
decided the wheat prices and wheat
markets.
All these prices are based on bulk
wheat.
Higher Prices for Bags -
The committee, while in Washing
ton, also took up the question of bags, >
and Mr. j. Stephens remained in
Washington to continue the negotia-
tions on that subject. AS result,
we were promised sufficient sacks, but
unfortunately, at high price. But !
we are promised, on the other hand, T..
a higher price for the sacks, when
we sell the wheat in sacks, than last 9
year. Last year we received AZ cents 8
q bushel more for sacked wheat than
for bulk. This year we will receive :,
as minimum cents and as maxi :
mum 8 cents per bushel more for !,
sacked wheat than for bulk wheat. :,
In 1917 our crop was very light,
only 100000 bushels, and the grade :,
was exceptionally low. Also the fed .,
era1 grades, which went into effect :,
last year, were especially hard on =
some Of our mixed grades, :,
We met the representatives of the g
bureau Of markets last fall in Spo- ;,
ZANE and induced them to reconsider
he deductions made on mixed grades
Ind in q few other cases, which will !,
'esult in much better price for Z !,
arge part of our crop. -
Better Wheat Expected r
estimate that our crop this year ned