The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-26
DOMINION ANXIOUS
OYER WHEAT PRICE
Great Britain Not Likely to
Pay More Than Is Abso-
lutely Necessary.
DIMINISHED YIELD SURE
Livestock Situation Much I'm
proved and Winter Food
Is in Sight.
DIMINISHED YIELD SURE

with fairly satisfactory results. A new
| estimate of the Western wheat crop
places the total around 152.000.o00
bushels. OF which Saskatchewan would
provide $4,000, 900, Manitoba 100000
and Alberta 100000. The forecaster
of this total. A. E. Whitmore of Re-
gina, has a reputation in this field, his
estimate/ last year, made about this
time, being within 100000 of tho final
Government report He expects the
Manitoba yield to be fifteen bushels per
acre, Saskatchewan ten and Alberta six.
1t will be seen that the early predic-
lions OF a diminishing yield the further
West one goes have been upheld. 1t is
expected that Canada will have an ex-
portable surplus of 100.00o,000 bushels.
| The situation in regard to livestock
however, has been much improved by
general rains during the last week and
| the great anxiety felt a month ago that
| stock could not be wintered In the West
| for lack of food has been much modified.
| For some days, however, the agricultural
and financial world has been in a state
of suspense over the foreign market for
| wheat The statement in Britain that
prices would be from s1.b5 to $3.50 came
| as a shock after 1t was announced that
| the Dominion Government would pay
SAILS.
| A later Interpretation was to the eff
feet that the price quoted In England
was the resale price, and that they
| would agree to the figure fixed at or
tawa as purchase price. This may be
, subject to the qualification that the
worlds market will be opened to Great
| Britain and a country feeling the
financial pinch as It does Is not likely to
pay any more for wheat than is abso-
lutely necessary. Meantime. the milling
| industry here Is awaiting announcements
in detail and is somewhat in the dark
as to the prospect OF its export business
Some OF the Canadian flour companies
have been built up mainly by export
trade and anything that will jeopardize
that trade is causing uneasiness.
Shortage of Potatoes.
Certain small phases of the agricul-
tural industry have developed interest
ing points during the last few days
There is, for example, prospect of a
marked shortage of potatoes. The aver
age yield in old Ontario is expected to
be eighty-six bushels to the acre, com
pared with an average of 116 bushels
for the past thirty-six years. Northern
Ontario has much good potato land. but
the acreage is small as yet; even there
the yield is expected to be only $50 to
eco bushels, compared with 400 and 600
y
staple food will be a hardship on the
city populations. where already discon-
tent is sufficiently in existence over the
cost OF living.
| During the war considerable Indus
try was built up in Ontario in the grow
ing OF fax. This came from the short
age OF flax from France, Belgium, Hol-
land and Russia, which had formerly
been the main source for the linen i'm
4 I,,r -
that the demand for Ontario fax has
lessened considerably in Ireland, owing
to the return Oh the other countries to
the list OF producers. 1t is reported
however, in returns to the Ontario Gov
eminent that the thirty-three flax COM
panies operating In the province with
firty mills have an acreage of 1O,00S this
year that will be pulled. and an acreage
of 3,792 that will be cut There are los
acres on which the crop has been a
complete failure. The general conditions
this year have been fair to poor. About
ome-third OF the crop will 10 made into
Scotch tow and two-thirds into fibre.
Field for Canadian Steel.
Although tho merger talk In regard t.
Canadian steel companies has subsidet
recently. the steel situation takes on 9
new phase by the discussion among some
OF the leaders OF prospects for an export
business. 1t Is commended that condition!
in Great Britain. whereby United States
steel men are undertaking tho old coun
try hold out hope for an expansion for
Canada, which has as yet received littl,
consideration A steel man high in tn,
operation of one of the Nova Scotis
companies puts forth the view that Their,
, Is a big field abroad for Canadian stee
companies in countries to which England
formerly exported. and perhaps In Eng
. land itself. Conditions for steel max
ing in Nova Scotia are believed TO be ex
ceptionally favorable by reason of tn
: large coal deposits and the neaJness o
! the iron deposits In Newfoundland. tt
the question as to why Canada should
hope to export steel while still import
: ing such large quantities, his answe
/ was that the steel industry Is already ex
. tending in this country by means or set
!. eral companies recently organized, in
, GLIDING one this week, the Consolidated
! to build at Brockville, Ont. especiall!
with view TO taking care of the HON,
: market. So far as Nova Scotia com
' panIes are concerned, 1t is not profitable
4 for them to ship steel further inland thar
$ Montreal because OF the heavy freigh
rates. This situation In regard to expor
4 business may ultimately have a bearing
a on the merger question. AS in othe
| countries, II has been found desirabl
' from an Industrial standpoint to hav
. large organizations for foreign business
J so it may take that form here.
= This Is a slack season in the issuanc
, OF reports by Industrial companies, blu
there is some illumination in tho annua
p statement of the Canada Bread Com
i pany just published Tho chief infer
. ence from this document Is that com
panies with q large list of employee
are suffering from the labor unrest, an
. that this unrest will be reflected In tn
I. | financial statements of the noxt fey
q months. This company, which operate
in Toronto, Montreal and Winnipeg, suf
. fered from the general strike In the lat
ter city, keeping Ats wagons Off the roa
for three weeks, and from strikes. rea
or impending. in the other cities, whic
resulted in the increase of wages an
: the lessening OF profits.
: you cannot cali US a profiteer," sat
T. one of the directors, as he went owe
the statement. Manufacturing profit
and other income amounted TO $176.20S
: compared with S2o6,T71 the year before
but in the case of 1918 there had al
ready been written off depreciation an