Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-06-16
M|LLERS DISAGREE
ON FLOUR PRICES
Further Cuts Depend on Size
of Wheat Crop, Which Is
Now Uncertain.
BY j. C. ROYLE.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, June 16.-Sharp diff
ferences OF opinion exist among mil
lers in different sections Of the couri-
try as to the future prices of -four
They disagree vigorously as to the d.
rection in which 1.-The staff of life" Is
pointing. At present the industry is
in a period between old and new
wheat crops and analysis of the situ-
alton Is difficult.
Mill managers in the southwest said
today that low flour quotations In the
northwest might be reflected in their
section when the movement OF the
new wheat crop gains full proper
tions. The southwestern and Texas
millers right now are In an attitude
of waiting, one Kansas City miller
said. Rains, he continued, had de-
Iayed harvesting in the southwest TO
some extent. but the wheat market
. had been dull and weak recently. The
eventual movement of the market
when the real flood of grain from the
field strikes, it will determine the
course of flour prices with modlhca-
tions from number of other factors
notably the demand for feed.
From ST. Paul comes word that
northwest wheat crop conditions are
good but the acreage has been re-
duced from Is to 90 per cent. Grain
today that a stiffening of prices was
due when the growing situation was
revealed as 1t would be in five or SIX
weeks.
Prices Lowest Since 1915.
The drop in flour prices recently
to the lowest point since 1915, they
continued, reflected the low figures
for wheat, but it is believed the low
point now has been reached and the
outlook of the European situation Is
declared to favor better prices when
the new crop gets to market.
Any settlement of the German situ-
alton, grain men say, would max 9
Germany a big wheat buyer ana
~-eause a jump in the market. III or
binary foreign demand prevails as
is expected, prices they feel may be
expected to hold at about present
levels.
The annual freight-car movement
is already giving wheat growers con-
Germ, and efforts are being mace TO
forestall an acute situation. KALI
road officials in some parts of the
middlewest admit that it Is doubtful
If this can be accomplished.
Farm Implements Sales Improve.
Implement dealers today reported
large increases in sales from January
/ to date. w. L. Simms Of Kansas
lily, CEe largest uiSll lpullh5 SSheSi
for agricultural implements in the
world, who is manager of the Inter
national Harvester Company's branch
there, said today the Improvement
had been remarkable.
Business this year will exceed that
of 1914, a normal year." he added.
"The farmers condition is not nearly
80 bad as 1t has been pictured
NJ. J. Healy, general manager of the
John Deere Pfow Company, and Ed
ward Downs. manager of the Rock
Island Implement Company, made
similar statements.
Building Materials Active.
President II. VI. Keasbey of the Ma
tional Fireproofing Company of Pitts
burgh said today business, so far this
year, had been eUinently satisfac-
tory Car supply has improved and
shipments for May were the largest
in the history of the company.
"All of our plants are operating"
he continued, "and last month reach
ed the maximum output. Present I'M
filled orders are sufficient to keep the
factories in continuous operation at
this rate for several months. Re-
gardless of the fact some building
projects have been held up on the At
lantic seaboard. our eastern plants
have more orders on their books than
any of our other works. They have
business to run them at least five
months"