Mohave County miner and our mineral wealth., 1920-12-18

THE MOHAvE COUNTY MINER A. ter. It is estimated that the farmers of this country vii require S00,O0C trucks within the next few years as against 100000 now on the farms, and the importance of the truck in relation to all lines of endeavor is growing constantly.
 A substantial program of State highway construction in California is guaranteed for 1921 by the passage of Amendment No. 9, at the election last month, under the provisions of which State Highway Finance Board has been created with authority to fix a prevailing interest rate and offer for sale such an amount of bonds as may be needed to meet existing ob- legations and provide for new work. Probably February 1st will be as early as new contracts may safely be let, but in the meanwhile the State Highway Department will work on it's program for the coming year.
 Oregon, our Northern Sister State, is also showing great activity along road building lines, and claims to have already expended more money per capita for good roads than Cali fornia.
 There is a constantly increasing demand for American cars in For eign countries, and the future market for them abroad will continue to be excellent if gauged by the growing worldwide demand for more and bet ter roads accompanied by increased appropriations by Governments for road building in nearly every coun- try.
 It is evident, therefore, that the complete confidence in the future of the auto industry, shown by manu- lecturers and dealers is fully justi- fled.
 GRAIN TRADE REVIEW-Under pressure of liquidation sales, Grain prices continued to decline the past month until they reached the lowest average range in more than four years, the declines which have been registered,> being the most severe of any recorded since the reconstruction period following the Civil War.
 Deflation in Corn and Wheat seems to be about completed, as prices are now down to pre-war figures, so far as the producer is concerned, but as is usual when prices have had heavy decline, sentiment is more bearish when the markets are around the low point than at any time during the de- cline, and it is very hard to find b man who has the courage to back his judgment that Grains are too low.
 While many farmers continue to hold their Wheat in tenacious mans ner, some have been forced to let go of their holdings in order to meet their obligations, and imports of Can adian Wheat continue on a liberal scale.
 Flour prices are lower than at any time since 1917, with mills operating at half capacity, and business in this line on purely hand-to-mouth basis, where it is likely to stay. until wheat prices show clear signs of stabilizing as buyers are thoroughly frightened and discouraged by losses on recent purchases.
 New Corn is coming forward in volume, and now comprises the bulk of the arrivals at the leading terminal markets, the quality being reported as excellent. Foreigners are taking large quantities of Argentine Corn, but very little from this country att present, although clearances have been large recently, due to sales made earlier in the season. It took two years to get the price of Corn above One Dollar per bushel, and in the past two months the price has been cut in half.
 Stocks of Oats at terminal mar kets are heavy, which more than off set the effect of light receipts from the country, and prices are the low est since 1915. Eastern demand is rather slow, and stocks at terminal markets more than ample for all re- quirements. Approximately SO0,OOO bags of Rice, or 209o of the 1920 California crop, which is estimated at 100000 bags, will be lost as a result of the un-