New-York tribune., 1919-07-03
A Neighbor:s Wheat
By a Canadian Correspondent

Dy Cunddtun Correspondent
ToRONTO, July 1. - The magnitude ~
the Forthcoming wheat crop in the
United States is threatening to pus
serious difficulties in the way of marketins,
overseas Canadian grain of the new harvest.
and perhaps other products as we'll. Ths
Dominion government already has been ad,
vised that as as the United States cron
begins to move in large volume Canadian
grain almost certainly will be denied use of
the usual in-transt routes through Buffalo
and other United States lake points for ship
ment via Boston, New York, Philadelphia and
other Atlantic ports. 1t is expected that
Portland, the Atlantic terminus of the Grand
Trunk Railway, will continue to be available
for shipments from Canada, but, even sup
plemented with the facilities at Portland.
Canadian terminal capacity is sadly made
quate for handling the exportable surplus
even of a normal wheat harvest
Inc problem is now being studied by those
directly responsible, but without much prose
pect OF result other than growing reali-
zation of Canadian commercial dependence
upon the United States. It ia little short
OF startling to find that during the five years
913-1917-slighty more han 60 per cent
Of all the Canadian wheat exported from this
continent went through ports of the United
States For all Canadian grain, l. e.. wheat.
oats, barley and rye, the proportion is in
excess of SO per cent Portland has accounted
Tor about 10 per cent of the total shipments,
but UNITED States ports other than Portland
have been the normal outlet for no less
than 50 Per cent OF Canada's grain exports
These figures seem to indicate that it will
be impossible to handle in twelve months
through Canadian ports and Portland any,
thing like the surplus from an average crop-
for, aside from the requirements in railway
rolling stock, terminal facilities cannot ba
multiplied over night to the extent needed.
With an acreage in wheat in Western Canada.
OF between 100000 and 1900 900, and an
excellent prospect of harvesting more than
SOo,O0OoO0 bushels Of wheat in the Dominion
TINS year, as compared with 10000, 600
bushels in 1918, the situation promises to-
be serious, indeed. considerable part Of
Canadas grain may be isolated by Difficult.
ties of handling, just as truly as Australian.
wheat was debarred from needy Europa
during the war by reason of the shipping
shortage.
aspect
situation. With the world wheat price QUO
tations on the verge of readjustment, with
the United States pulling for price which
viii cover its guaranty, with European pur.
ohasers equally anxious for n return to a
level much nearer the normal and more repre-
sentative Of the equilibrium of unrestricted
demand and uncontrolled supply, and with
the coniilcting interests already mannuvrinr
Tor advantage, prices may undergo rapid
charges within wide limits during the year.
The Canadian crop, without price guaranty,
promises to be a factor OF great Importance,
The question of dear wheat or cheaper wheat
for Europe may be decided in considerable
measure by the magnitude of the Canadian
harvest and the extent to which it is avail
able when needed for European consumption.
Moreover, the country which is able first to
supply Europes requirements may obtain a
long price, while belated sellers may have ia
accept smaller return.