GEOGRAPHICAL PHASES OF FAEM PEICES : CORN. 19 



normal cost of shipping from St. Louis to some European markets. 

 Considerable unevenness in the price levels occurs throughout the Ap- 

 palachian and other mountainous regions and in general throughout 

 the South. Corn prices in the Ozark Mountain section in Missouri 

 are higher than in the surrounding territory. 



CITY AND FARM CONSUMPTION CONTRASTED. 



In the trade channels of corn two distinct currents are apparent, 

 each having a direct bearing upon the irregularities in the slope of 

 the price levels. One relates to the farm consumption — of home- 

 grown corn as well as of smaller quantities shipped in, the other to 

 the movement to cities, either for concentration and reshipment or 

 for consumption. 



In the farm consumption such factors as availability of transpor- 

 tation facilities, condition of roads, length of hauls, and lack of 

 marketing organization exert a marked influence on the price levels. 

 The quantities of corn absorbed locally vary greatly with market 

 conditions of grain and live stock, the size of the local harvest, and 

 the ratio of corn to live-stock prices. Trade currents are apt to be 

 irregular in quantity, sometimes in direction also, and farm practice 

 varies with respect to feeding and selling to local or general markets. 



The movement to large markets is aided by a highly organized 

 commercial organization and excellent transportation facilities. 

 Moreover, freight rates and competition among large markets tend to 

 stabilize price differences between cities and their tributary territories. 



FARM CONSUMPTION. 



Economic conditions attending farm consumption make for price irregu- 

 larity. 

 Transportation and costs of liauling. 



As farm consumption absorbs more than four-fifths of the produc- 

 tion, the preponderant influence of farm conditions is evident. Farm 

 conditions are such as to make for price irregularity. The average 

 cost of hauling a few miles from or to shipping points in many 

 regions is greater than the cost of shipping com to European markets 

 in normal times. An idea of sectional differences in costs of hauling 

 may be gained from the following table showing the average costs 

 as well as the hauling expense from most remote farms. 



