GEOGRAPHY OF WHEAT PRICES. 17 
For the purpose of presenting concretely the effect of transportation 
charges on regional differences in prices paid to farmers, such charges 
may here be divided into the two general classes of export (or ocean) 
and domestic freights. Ocean freights fluctuate greatly, but taking 
the year 1913 as one in which normal conditions prevailed, the 
following illustration will serve : 
Average ocean freights per bushel of wheat, 1913. 
To Liverpool, 
Brom England. 
: Cents. 
INGRVENIOL Nerina eo oe sists omen oasise me ciacn ces cplws on oS CREE eee ela cisaeioe set cece seer 5.6 
ESM RERIONG propre oa ele ttet=isiae ne Se eie ie eiteiee aco aS = cinl= asics eee nmap ea sia tie s-\lrin esis seisteetsse oe 6.6 
Neary On Ost S ear eee rete ee ite a rise pa sic=) stats S:cterd ia ciero a (eis. 2 SER aes Sietesin oer cite oe seinicivie cise 8.8 
Calompim River aAndUP User COUN te. «aces sci-- =» -- seers -teiceisic sels cei Seen 21.0 
Export wheat, all rail, carload lots, 1913, per bushel. 
From— | To— Cents. 
(CGE SO). esd pk eee ieee +e eek Sonne op SEBO RGe BECP epBeS- 6 sosccsaoceaeRe | New: York. 9-222 - 10 
ENG ASIC yee ertae ain = 2 eee ee win te Sse oa oe'e 2 oS SS eee sella f (6 Co ear he ee 15 
DO ccccc SORE SES BD BAER OSE ee Eps Aes ottae Se ta ae nt 5.0, Se ae earns | New Orleans. ....-. 11.1 
Thus the normal difference of about 5 cents per bushel in favor of 
Chicago, in the total transportation costs to Liverpool, as compared 
with the rate from Kansas City, represents also the disparity in the 
farm prices of adjoining territories, as will be seen by reference to 
map 3. 
Similarly, the Pacific Ocean rates quoted above, although consid- 
erably cheaper than rail freights eastward, are yet nearly four times 
the ocean freight from New York. This higher transportation cost 
to European markets is an important factor in the lower prices 
received by Pacific wheat growers. 
The line of cleavage between Pacific and eastern markets may be 
noted in the following rates from the area of lowest wheat prices: 
Approximate transportation costs from Blackfoot, Idaho, to Liverpool, England (1913), 
per bushel of wheat. 
Via Pacific: Cents. | Via Atlantic: Cents. 
By rail to Seattle or Tacoma. . 24 By rail to New York.....-.--- aoe2 
Ocean freight to Liverpool... . Al New York to, Liverpoot....... 5. 6 
“TDS arlene ee aie aie as 45 SOG ae et. ah SSRIONE NOS a: 44,8 
Transportation costs from Kansas City to Liverpool (1913) were about 20 cents per 
bushel. This difference of 25 cents, compared with the above, is reflected in the 
farm prices in surrounding areas—65 cents as against 90 cents. 
In the internal commerce, wheat takes a special or commodity 
rate, with a complicated rate structure adapted to the characteristics 
of its commercial movement. The freight rates on grain are con- 
9578°—18—Bull. 5943 
