198 REPORT OP THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



Wheat.— The receipts of 1876 were 677,647 busliels; of 1875, 831,039 

 bushels. The decrease ia the receipts- is attributed by local statisticans 

 to the decreased yield of the wheat region dependent on the Peoria 

 market. The deficiency is less in proportion than at other points. 

 While the yield was below what was anticipated, the quality averaged 

 well. The sales were principally to millers, the price varying in propor- 

 tion to the quality and condition of the samples offered. Sales are uni- 

 formly by sample. The shipments of 1876 were 155,210 bushels, against 

 349,020 bushels in 1875. The falling off in the shipments being greater 

 than in the receipts, shows an increased surplus left for manufacture by 

 the city mills. Most of the sales on 'change were to millers for domestic 

 manufacture. Prices of Xo. 1 winter opened at $1.12 © $1.25 per bushel 

 in January, attained its maximum, $1.47 ^ $1.50, in March, and fell to 

 $1.10 © $1.12 in September, after which no quotations are reported. 

 No. 2 winter opened at $1.10, rose to $1.28 © 1.37 in the beginning of 

 April, and closed the year at $1.15 © $1.20. No. 1 spring received but 

 little notice; No. 2 opened at 80 © 90 cents, and closed at its maxi- 

 mum, $1.20 'g) $1.26; No. 3 spring opened at 75 ^ 82 J cents, and closed 

 at $1.09 ® $1.15. 



Corn. — The crop of the corn region dependent on the Peoria market 

 was, on the whole, of fair yield and of better quality than in 1875. This 

 accounts for the increased receipts, amounting to 7,062,695 bushels, 

 against 6,206,300 in 1875, and constituting the heaviest supply ever re- 

 ceived in the city in any one year. The shipments were 5,367,050 bushels, 

 against 4,211,340 in 1875. Prices ruled much lower than in 1875, the 

 maximum price of high mixed in store being 47 cents per bushel, rarely 

 falling below 42 cents, except in the early part of the year, -when a few 

 sales were made at 35 cents. 



Oats. — The receipts of oats during 1876 were 3,418,810 bushels, against 

 3,981,115 bushels in 1875. Shipments of 1876, 3,236,050 bushels, against 

 4,169,025 bushels in 1875. The crop of the neighboring region was poor 

 and unsatisfactory both in quantity and quality, much of it falling con- 

 siderably below the standard weight. Prices ranged from 24 J cents per 

 bushel to 32^ cents for No. 2 in store. 



Rye. — The rye-croi> of the neighboring country being unusually abun- 

 dant and of good quality, the receipts at Peoria showed a considerable 

 increaso, amounting to 609,135 bushels in 1876, against 609,985 in 1876. 

 Shipments, 589,330 bushels in 1876, against 442,255 in 1875. At the 

 opening of the year No. 2 in store stood at 66 cents per bushel, declined 

 to 48 cents in August, rallying gradually to 67 ® 68 cents at the close 

 of the year. 



Barley. — The barley crop of 1876 was also abundant around Peoria, 

 though somewhat damaged by rains in harvest, rendering the most of 

 this grain unfit for brewing; hence prices were low, and as sales were 

 by sanjple, no definite report of prices was recorded. Receipts, 714,090 

 bushels in 1876. against 439,938 in 1875. Shipments, 271,740 bushels, 

 against 263,990i 



SAINT LOUIS. 



The flour and grain trade of Saint Louis during 1876 was the largest 

 ever known, showing an aggregate of receipts 25 per cent, greater than 

 those of 1875, and llj per cent, greater than those of 1874, the maxi- 

 mum of previous years. This is attributed in great part to the 

 improved facilities in transportation and the reduced tariff of railway 

 freights eastward. The merchants of Saint Louis have long urged the 

 oluroojo grieTAiice of unjast ditcriminatioix on the part of railway oom- 



