Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-12-07
United States Wheat Director Tells
Facts Regarding the Elimination
Of Embargoes and Crop Conditions

Julius H. Barnes, United States
wheat director has issued q statement
dealing with the handling Of the wheat
crop by the government, government
control and conditions regarding the
crops. The, statement Ia as follows:
erhe wheat embargo. the remnant
of the general food embargo placed in
the summer of 1917 In the protection of
the food supply of ourselves and our
allies as a war measure, was In effect
for two years under the war trade
board, and since June 20 continued.
with some minor notifications. under
the wheat director.
The proclamation OF November Fl re-
stores freedom of opportunity to trade
In import and export. World trade il
now governed by very unusual influ-
ences. including completely disor-
ganized international finance. The ef-
tects of this step therefore are very
difficult to forecast. but 1t is very
probable that this will lead to no en-
largement of the foreign demand al
ready currently supplied through the
grain corporation. This freedom of
trade, however will be reassuring to
those producers who have felt that
their opportunity in the world market
has been obstructed by this export con-
troll.
At the same time the elimination Of
import restriction will probably attract
into the United States Canadian wheat
and wheat flour, which is OF that strong
type that Is In relatively light supply
in the United States owing to the par
tial failure of our northwestern states,
and on those particular grades Of
wheat and wheat flour the elimination
of the import embargo should probably
tend to reduce United States prices.
which are far above the government
guarantee price basis, to the extent of
even 80 cents per bushel in some va
rieties.
AT all events the elimination of
these distractions to private trade will
tend to reform the broken international
trade connections and these connec-
tons must be, step by step, allowed to
function SO that they may carry the
burden of international commerce when
the grain corpora ton finishes it's Off
cial mission next spring or summer.
The opportunity to gradually recon-
struct these is exceedingly desirable in
view of the great difficulties Of pres
emit ocean transport and international
finance.
WHEAT CROP INFORMATION
Against the June promise of 1,2so,-
100000 bushels of wheat in the United
States the last official estimate % the
department of agriculture indicates
9l7,OOO.O00 bushels as against crop
last year of 91S,000,O00 bushels. From
this crop Of practically the same size
there has left the farm, up to Novem-
Der IN months-a total of $50, 000,-
600 bushels. against $4,000, 900 bushels
for the same period last year. From
this movement there is in store in all
elevators and mills November IA 2S8. :
100000 bushels. against 91,000.090
bushels last year and the theoretical
estimate of wheat still on the farm
(above seed requirements) to move into
market during the balance of this
year is 23S,000.000 bushels, against
I'll 100000 bushels year ago.
TT is interesting to note that, ap-
plying the percentage Gf crop move
ment to be expected month by month
from the records Of the department. of
agriculture extending over many years,
the wheat movement from the farm,
represented in the 5s2,O0O,000 bushels
above, Is 100000 bushels more than
the average rate of marketing. I en-
phasize this because 1 have seen the
statement in irresponsible quarters
that the wheat director and the rail-
road administration were combining to
hold back the Wheat crop on tho farm.
The figures themselves answer this.
WHEAT DIRECTOR CONTROL
1T should be made clear also that
the wheat director has no authority
In the wheat guarantee act for con-
troll of maximum prices. The whole
act was framed on the assumption that
we had an enormous crop of wheat that
could not be marketed except through
gavernment agency paylns the guar