BEPOKT OF TWS STATISTICIAN, 



195 



the prerions year. The total shipments amounted to 2,664,028 barrels, 



an increase of 490,682 barrels, or nearly 23 per cent. The deficiency of 

 the wheat crop of 187C in the region around Milwaukee had no percep- 

 tible effect upon the milling operations of the city till about the close of 

 the year, when the d6i)letion of interior stocks, especially of good wheat, 

 began to appear. This deficiency in raw material indicated an enforced 

 decline in the aggregates manufactured and marketed at least before 

 the receipt of the crop of 1877. A comparatively small proportion of 

 the flour from other points was for sale in the Milwaukee market, but 

 was mostly received only for transshipment. Prices were generally 

 steady and affected less than usual by the fluctuations of the wheat 

 market, closing at an advance of 25 cents to 50 cents per barrel over 

 the rates prevailing at the beginning of the year. Superfine spring 

 brands opened and closed at $3 to $4 per barrel, running as low as $2.50 

 during the last weeks of summer. Spring extras advanced gradually, 

 but without reaction, from $4.25 to $5.50 at the beginning to $4.87 to 

 $5.75 at the close of the year. Eancy springs showed scarce a ripple of 

 variation, ranging from $6 to $8.25. Winter extras gradually rose from 

 $5.50 ® $G.50 to $5.75 ® $6.75. The latter ranged somewhat higher 

 than extra State flour in the New York market, the quotations being 

 carefully made on the same days. 



Wheat — The wheat trade of Milwaukee shows a very heavy decline, 

 the receipts of 1876 amounting to 18,174,817 bushels, a decrease of 

 9,703,910 bushels, or nearly 35 per cent., from the receipts of 1875. The 

 shipments were 16,804,394 bushels, a decline of 5,876,626 bushels, or 26 

 per cent., from the previous year. The deficiency occurred entirely 

 within the latter half of the year. Unfavorable reports of the prospects 

 of the crop began to tell upon the receipts even a mouth before harvest, 

 and the subsequent confirmation of these reports by the results of the 

 harvest produced a very marked deficiency. The recei|)ts of the crop of 

 1876 during that year were only 7,083,777 bushels, against 14,302,942 in 

 the previous year. The crop of 1876 was saved in excellent condition, and 

 of its receipts at Milwaukee during the closing months of the year 12.14 

 per cent, were graded as l!5"o. 1, 54.26 per cent, as No. 2, 28.3G per cent, 

 as No. 3, and the remainder, 5.24 per cent., as rejected. Of the receipts 

 of the preceding crop of 1875, 26.72 per cent, graded as No. 1, 41.50 per 

 cent, as No. 2, 26.89 per cent, as No. 3, and 4.89 per cent, as rejected. 

 The relative quality of the receipts of the last twelve crops is shown in 

 the following table : 



The amount of wheat left over from 1875 was 3,266,966 bushels, which, 

 added to the receipts, 18,174,817 bushels, made a total of 21,441,783 

 bushels handled during 1876. Of this aggregate 16,804,394 bushels 

 were shipped to other points, and 2,914,214 bushels ground into flour 

 by the city mills, leaving a balance at the close of the year of 1,723,175 

 bushels. No. 2 spring-wheat opened at 9S-J ® 99 cents per bushel, and 

 gradually rose, with a few minor reactions, to $1.03 ^ $1.0SJ in June. 



