Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-24
PRESIDENT FIXES
PRICE OF WHEAT
Declares Figures Quoted Will
Permit Reasonable Profit
for Grower.
TO STIMULATE PRODUCTION
Issues Proclamation Setting
Forth Schedule at Interior
Primary Markets.
TO STIMULATE PRODUCTION

WASHINGTON. February o3.-rrcs-
idcni Wilson to-day raised the govern
mental guaranteed price for the 1915
wheat crop as high S2.@s a bushcl
in ono primary market and in vary
ing sums in all other primary markets
except four.
Acting under authority o, the food
law. the President thus met the asita-
tion in Congress for higher prices and
took steps to stimulate production and
proven, holding back the crop while
the agitation was going on.
The prices fixed, the President de-
ciarcd. would assure tho producer OF
reasonable profit On tho basis Of
No. Northern spring wheat and its
equivalent. the President fixed prices
as follows
Chicago. $50: Kansas city. ,o.t5;
Minneapolis. se.l7: New York so.os
Newport News. SET; Charleston s. G..
SET; San Francisco. $40: New Or
leans. SEQ.
The equivalents Of No. Northern
TO which the same price applies. are
No. hard winter, No. rcd winter
No. durum and No. | hard white
The wheat must be harvested in the
United states during 1918 and sold In
tho market before June J. 1919. The
Presidents proclamation states that
the action is 20 meet an emergency
requiring the stimulation OF wheat
planting.
PROCLAMATION GIVES
REASON FOR ACTION
Explaining that tho fixed price guar
antces the farmer reasonable profit.
President Wilson, in a further state
ncnt says:
Under the food control act OF Au-
gust 10. 1917. it is my duty 10 an
nGunce "A guaranteed price for wheat
or the 1915 harvest / am. therefore,
issuing proclamation setting tho
price AT the principal interior primary
markets. II makes no essential altera-
iion in the present guarantee. 1t is
continuation of the present prices of
wheat. with some adjustments arising
from the designation CT additional
terminal marketing points.
This guaranteed price assures the
farmer OF reasonable profit even IL
the war should end within the year
and the largo stores OF grain in those
sections OF the world that arc now cut
OFT from transportation should again
come into competition with his prod
ucts. To increase the price OF wheat
above the present figure or to aEitate
any increase Of price would have the
effect OF very seriously hampering the
large operations CT the nation and OF
the allies by causing the wheat OF
last years crop 10 be withheld from
the market. 1t would moreover. dis
locate all the present wage levels that
have been established after much anxi-
ni,C iiS~ esr
create an Industrial unrest which
would be harmful to every industry
IN the country.
COUNTS on THE LOYALTY
OF THE AMERICAN FARMER
Il know the spirit OF our farmers
and have not the least doubt as 10 the
loyaity with which they will accept
:hc present decision. The fall wheat
planting, which furnishes two thirds
OF our wheat production. took place
With no other assurance than this, and
the farmers confidence was demon
stratcd by the fact that they planted
an acreage larger than the record =:
any preceding year. larger by 1000. 900
acres than the second largest record
year, and 100000 acres more than the
average OF five years before the out
break or the European war. II seems
not to be generally understood why
wheat is picked ou; for price de,ermi-
nation. and only wheat among cereals
The answer is that while normal dis
tribution OF all our farm products has
been subject 20 great disturbances DUR
INF the last three years because OF
war conditions. only two important
commodities: namely, wheat and sugar.
have been so seriously affected rs 10
require governmental Intervention. The
disturbances which affect these pro-
Continued on Fourth PaseD