Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-01-01
j. S. TO TAKE WHEAT
CROP OF THE NATION
Will Pay S226 Bushel. and May
Lose 100000 to
Farmers.

Washington. Jan 1.-The l'nited States
government is preparing 10 take over the
entire 1919 wheat crop, estimated from
preliminary reports 10 he more than
600 nO0. 900 bushels, and sell il at the
worlds market Incc This Will entan
net loss 10 the government OF an amount
roughly figured at from $4,000, 900 to
5000 0oO 900 the difference between the
worlds average market price and the
price guaranteed To the American farmer
A Jnint resolution to provide for tins
action. approved by the Food Admins
tration and the Department OF Agricul-
turc, has hcen prepared ior TRANSMISSION
to Congr, $ and will be introduced in q
few DAYS hv Chairman Lever Of the HcvS2
committee on agriculture It's early
adoption is urged 10 enabie the authorized
,cenciCs 10 60 ahead with their plars for
the tremendous task of taking over the
biggest wheat crop tho nation ever had.
The legislation will provide for:
Fxters.on Of the Food Control Nct re-
latiTg 10 wheat. especially such parts OF
sections Il ana ] rs are necessary.
Authorization 10 the President to create
, new agency for the work or to continue
the Grain Corporation
Placing in the President hands large
fund not less than $500. 600, 900. which
would bc used IS = revolving fund.
sale of the wheat and for meeting "on-
ditlons arising out OF the importation OF
wheat from foreign countries.
Minor provisions covered will Re pre-
ventlon Of the sale cf 1919 wheat In 1920
at the government guarantee.
"Ju,t how the details OF meeting the
Cuarantec will have to be worked out
an unable vet to say, Mr.. Lever stated
I lei IL ngr,f
II viii bc necessary to take over the entire
1919 wheat crop br the government
hlch in turn would sell il TO the public
al what would be the prevailing world
price Of whoat.
II IS entirely possible, ] do not think
probable. however, that the world price
of wheat would save the government
! anv loss Al all This, Of course depends
upou the amount of wheat produced In
| other large countries and transportation
/ conditions
Great wheat reserves are known TO be
/ held in Australia. Brazil India, Ar
/ gentina, and il IS believed the 1919
paintings in those countries will be ex-
ceedIngly large to say nothing Of in
creased Yields that Will be sought in the
European countries engaged in the war.
The Government guarantee at Chi
fGSt' - 60 ~ iftA J0N4Att- lH> NNiA'4
market prize is estimated variouslv as
promising TO be from $1.70 TO Sl.90 a
busheI The difference between the low
and high price viii be made up to the
American farmer, whose crop the govern
ment i, pledged to protect at the stipulat-
! ed figure
Mir Lever declared vest terday it would
/ be Incumbent on the government To keep
faith. havinc carried on campaign u
get big planting for the 1919 harvest
Here are figures showing the con
ditlonS now confronting the country:
Tho planting in the fall Of 1918 for
/ winter wheat IS estimated Al 49.26I 900
acres. an increase Of l6.5 per cent over
tho winter wheat planted in the fall Of
1917 Il the same increase in spring
wheat is made there will be planted next
spring 26,O00 600 acres, or a total Of
7j.26l 900 acres
The normal prc-war export for 20 years
was 10000, 900 bushels yearly The
estimate If exports wheat and -four
for the 1918 crop are expected To total
$4,000 600 bushels.