The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1918-07-05
1918 WHEAT PRICE
s2.2O PER bUSHEL

\ A price of $2.20 bushel at Port
land for wheat of the 1918 crop, as
against $2.O5 for the crop of 1917,
has been fixed by the Food Admins
tration. Word to this effect was re-
ceivedBy M. H. Houser, second vice
president of the Grain Corporation
and agent for the corporation in the
Northwest and by W. B. Aver, Fed
eral Food Administrator for Oregon.
Allowing for the 25 per cent in
crease in the freight rate on wheat
from the interior to Portland, the
farmers will still receive about l2 l-2
cents bushel more for their wheat
than they did in the past season.
The new crop will be at least TO-
10000 bushels larger than that of
1917 and the wealth that will 90 to
the grain producers will be about $685.
600, 900 over what they received last
year.
with the establishment of the 1920
basis for the Pacific Coast the farmers
are given all and a little more than
they had asked for and been prom-
ised," said Mr.. Houser.
Figuring the last Spring price at
| 80. 80 in New York, and $3.50 per ton
freight and the loading charges here
and the unloading on. the A tlantic
Coast would leave net price of SALT
per bushel."
Eastern wheat prices have not yet
been decided on 1t is possible they
will range somewhat higher than they
did last year on account of increased
freight rates from the Middle West to
the seaboard.
"0n account of the submarine activ-
tiles and other unforeseen obstacles
that have arisen," said Mr.. Houser.
"it is more than likely the Shipping
Board will be compelled to readiust
their wheat rate of $3.50 per ton.
Under these conditions it goes without
saying that it is difficult to anticipate
changed conditions. With our speed
ed-up shipbuilding programme here in
, the Northwest the larger part of our
surplus should be atloat by the first of
the year..
Regarding the movement of wheat
from Southern Idaho ard Western
Montana, he stated that that largely
depended upon the size of the Oregon,
Washington and Northern Idaho crops
and the tonnage situation. This mat
ter undoubtedly will be decided at an
early date, when the crop figures and
a closer check on the tonnage will be
available.
The net returns to the farmers will
be materially greater than last year.
Mr.. Houser figured that the $2.20
price this year against 81. 05 last year,
even with the 25 per cent increase
in freight rates. which will make the
average haul about l2c against J-2c
last year. will net the farmer prlctic
ally IA l-2c per bushel more than last
year. With a 55, 900. 900 bushel crop
that is naturally tributary to the
Northwest, this will mean an added
value of about $7.000.OOO. Making
allowance for lower grades, etc, it
should net the farmer at least on an
average of 80 per bushel, which with
the 55, ,000. 900 bushel crop would mean
$4,000, 10000. the most valuable
crop which has ever been raised here
Senate for Sc. so Wheat.
The Senate by an overW helming ma
| jority refused to yield to House oppo-
stion to an increase in the Govern
ment's minimum guarantee for wheat
at 50 SO per bushel. A motion Of
Majority Leader Martin, proposing to
instruct the Senate conferees to aban-
don the Senate price increase amend
ment to the annual agricultural bill,
was defeated 48 to 10.
The frame work of new barn at
I Walkar'c Iaca in tha north mart