Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-07-17
WHEAT BELOW 81
BLOW TO BUSINESS
Fewer Orders for Goods in
SouthWest-Many Feed
Grain to Hogs.
BY j. c. ROYLE.

Special Dispatch 10 The Star.
NEW YORK, July 1.-THE present
break in the wheat market is certain
to affect business in the middle west
adversely unless a quick and substan-
tial reaction sets in, Gov. w. II. Nc
Ma sters of South Dakota said today.
Wheat at less than 81 a bushel
means very great .hardships to the
growers" he continued, for their
costs are more than that President
Harding's recent direct contact with
the western farmers probably gave him
q clear insight into their problems
which should result in sympathy to-
ward the agrarian interests. Unless
relief comes before Congress meets.
however, western representatives and
senators are certain to pat the grow
ers' cause before the country very
forcefully."
Fewer Goods Ordered.
The business outlook of the south
west for the next year hinges largely
on the wheat market, according to
bankers and business men of Kansas
City. Already there has been marked
slowing down in business deals IN
Volvfng future deliveries as result
OF the slump in wheat prices. Unless
there is an unexpected upturn in the
wheat market fall and winter business
wiz suffer extensively. they said.
The break in wheat has not been
regarded as an unmixed disaster by
the railroads and elevators. r. G..
Merrick, general freight agent of the
Atchison. Topeka and Santa Fe out
lined this attitude today. when he
declared that market conditions were
slowing down the movement of wheat
and would result in distributing ship
ments over a longer period OF time
than usual. He added that he was
confident the middle west roads. par
ticularly the Santa Fe, would be thle
to. handle the movement this year
without difficulty.
Plenty of Cars Available.
Missouri, Kansas and Texas rail-
road officials agreed with this view,
asserting that the car supply of that
road was % per cent better than
last year, as a result of repairs and
purchases, Of new equipment. the
prospect of speedy handling of the
at any time since 1920. Cars have
been stored at advantageous points
since April, and 1000 have been
placed on sidings for loadings since
June l. This number is being con-
stantly Increased.
Roads of the northwest today re-
ported an increase in the car supply
Since June 80. attributed to a falling
off in business. Plans for car disposal
and to prevent kidnapping" of west
cussed by executives of the northwe est
roads and shippers who met today at
Sioux Falls, S. d. The railroad ex-
pect that car supply would be ade-
the wheat belt are ready with $4,000
cars to move the crop" said l.. j.
Riley of St. Louis, director of car
service for the American Railway As
sociation in that district Farmers
are heading back shipments in the
hope of price rally"
Would Feed Grain to Hogs.
H. Humberger. head of the extern
sion movement of the Kansas Agri-
cultural College advised the farmers
of that state to feed their grain to
hogs. He explained that by turning
their grain into fat live stock they
would net 81 a buShel on their wheat.
Already handicapped by shortage
OF labor, northwestern farmers are
showing keen anxiety over the threat
ened strike" of Industrial Workers
OF the World members.
Twin Cities executives of that or
ganization assert that harvest hands
Will be kept out of Minnesota, Mon
tana and North and South Dakota
unless minimum wage of 50 for
ten-hour day is paid. An acute
shortage Of farm labor would be
severe blow to the northwest.
Prices May Go Still Lower.
Reports of crop conditions in other
countries indicate that the outlook
for wheat prices is worse than il
was a year ago. The indicated crop
of this country is within about per
cent of last years and Canada will
probably duplicate her 1922 bumper
crop. In nine foreign countries, in
Guiding Spain, Italy, Bulgaria. Po-
land, india Japan, Egypt, Algeria
and Morocco an increase of IL per
cent is indicated
Cable dispatches received in this
city today from Russia indicate
bumper wheat crop and forecast
large expectations of Russian wheat
to other European countries. 1t is
estimated that there still remain on
American farms more than $4,000, 900