The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1920-01-16

plies, then came decline as ship
ments increased, and finally recov-
cry of prices after shipments had pass
ed their height.
Prices Followed Course.
The main crop season opened in
carly September at $2.ss to $3.50 per
100 lbs, sacked for No. l Michigan,
Wisconsin and Minneapolis standard
round white varieties in the leading
terminal markets. Values declined
steadily until the third week OF Get
ober when prices were at the seasons
low points $225 and $40, while ship
ments were at the seasons peak of
about 1000 cars per day. The recov-
cry since then has been nearly contin-
uous reaching 1925 to $3.50 the last of
December.
Less Regular
During this period of price rccov-
cry shipments have decreased steadily
to an average daily movement in
early December to about 800 cars,
which Is about the same as in early
December of last year but is about
50 per cent larger than the movement
at the corresponding time two years
ago, although 1ol7-l8, as well as 1913
lo, was season of heavy yield. The
after harvest price recovery last year
came to an end in early January, hav-
ing lasted but short time After the
middle of January the price trend was
generally downward until late in
March. In fact the lol8-10 season.
except for late spring rise and less
irregularity of the price ranges in win
ter, was in general way much like
the 1918 season. There were heavy
crops in both seasons.
Active Early Movement.
For the present season to Decem-
Der total shipments of the northern
main crop were 1865 cars out Of an
estimated northern commercial crop
of 1883 cars. Shipments to cor
responding date 1918 were $1,000 cars
out of estimated commercial crop of
146,047. Thus it appears that the car
lot movement of the main crop to
date has been heavier than last year
although the estimated commercial
crop is much lighter and although the
early movement Of last year was cor
sidered heavy in comparison with that
of the preceding season.
The heavier early shipments this |
year have been in part because of
the active demand before the main
crop came forward. This no doubt
drew heavily on the intermediate
shipping state like New Jersey. which
under other conditions often extend |
ed their shipping season through a.
longer period The same cause led
to the early digging and shipment in
the more northern potato states, An
other incentive to early shipment was
the danger of loss by rot in some
eastern sections. Drought in the far
west lessened supplies from that sec
ton, forcing some of the central and
northern consuming markets to de-
pend more than usual upon eastern
and northern potatoes
Supply Responds to Price.
1t short crop is assumed, the &C
tive early movement must mean that
the per cent of the crop remaining to
be shipped is less than last year. But
conclusions of this kind are deceptive
because in its actual working out the
volume Of shipment in crop of this
kind depends largely on the price ex-
pected by the shippers. The total pc,
tato crop is always an immense guam
tity compared with other vegetables, !
and only about one-third of the whole |
crop appears as car lot shipments. The |
rest is sold or used in some way near
the point of production, If the price is |
low it hardly pays to ship many pota.
toes from remote producing sections |
If the price goes up. shipments might
be made to the most distant markets
at profit. and even the low grades. |
commonly fed to livestock or made
into starch, will be worth shipping.
Sectional Prices Close Together.
The most impressive feature of the
seasons potato market has been the
comparative uniformity of prices thru
out the country condition caused in
part by the high prices in the west !
During the second half of December,
prices in Idaho, usually one of the
lowest primary markets, were higher
than in Maine, which commonly has
been relatively high in price because
near the great consuming centers. The
extreme range in producing sections
in all parts of the country was 2.8Sl