REPORT OF THE STATISTICIAN. 



197 



by rains during harvest ; that of 1870 was saved iu a iianch better con- 

 dition, but \Tas somewhat smaller in yield than its predecessor. Con- 

 siderable quantities of old barley remained in hands of dealers up to 

 harvest, and holders found some difaculty in disposing of it. The 

 market was generally in favor of buyers and against holders. This made 

 the profits of handling this crop very meager at best, while in many 

 instances heavy losses were incurred. From the beginning of the 

 year till the incoming of the new crop the tendency of the market 

 was to lower prices, the resultant decline amounting to 30 cents per 

 bushel. During the fall months prices occasionally rallied, but the im- 

 provement was not permanent, and the year closed upon a dull and 

 declining market. Prices were at their maximum, 97 cents per bushel, 

 at the begining of the year, and closed out at 80 cents, reaching the 

 minimum of GO cents in July ; they ranged from 4 to 50 cents lower than 

 in 1875. The amount in store at the beginning of the year was 167,510 

 bushels, which, added to the receipts, made a total of 2,297,329 bushels 

 handled during the year. Of this amount, 1,235,481 bushels were 

 shipped abroad and 822,735 bushels taken by the city brewers, leaving 

 a surplus at the end of the year of 239,113 bushels. 



The following table shows the flour and grain movements at Milwau- 

 kee during the last five years : 



PEORIA. 



Flour. — The receipts oi flour by river and rail amounted to 129,331 

 barrels in 187G, against 97,734 barrels iu 1875. The city mills manu- 

 factured 200,000 barrels, an increase of 40,000 over the previous year. 

 Receipts and manufactures in 187G, 329,331 barrels ; in 1875, 257,734 

 barrels 5 total increase of receipts and manufactures, 71,597 barrels. 

 Shipments in 1876, 178,512 barrels, against 134,019 in 1875. But few 

 transactions in flour occur on 'change. 



