1 48 



Tunisian Wheat in France. 



[JUNE, 



3 cents less on grain products and i\ cents less on grain than 

 the rates from Chicago to New York. 



The Western lines have agreed to restore grain rates to the 

 basis of 14 cents per 100 lb. between Missouri River points and 

 Chicago. The rates from Missouri River to the gulf ports will 

 also be restored to the normal basis of 18 cents. 



The reason why grain from Nebraska, Kansas, and other 

 trans-Missouri territory is sent to the gulf ports for export 

 instead of via Chicago to the Atlantic ports, is because the rate 

 from Kansas City to New York is 29 cents per 100 lb., and from 

 Kansas City to New Orleans 18 cents, or 11 cents per 100 lb. 

 less than the rate to New York. 



During the season of lake navigation practically no grain for 

 export goes entirely by rail from Chicago to the Atlantic ports. 

 Every summer less grain is shipped by lake from Chicago for 

 export, the low rates by the gulf ports during winter having 

 been utilised by shippers, who in former years had to store 

 their grain or pay the high rates demanded by the Eastern 

 lines. 



It has been the practice of the French Government to vote a 



certain sum annually for the purpose of allowing a specified 



quantity of Tunisian grain to enter France 



Admission Of free of duty. The amount allowed for 

 Tunisian Wheat J r , 



into France. I 9°4 was hxed at 800,000 quintals 



(1,574,000 cwt), but, owing to the plentiful 



harvest of last year, this limit was exceeded early in March, 



when the exportation was still proceeding briskly. The free 



export was for a time suspended, and payment of the duty was 



demanded on grain which had arrived at Marseilles in excess 



of the quantity allowed. As the result of the negotiations 



which ensued a supplementary " credit " has been granted for the 



introduction into France, free of duty, before 30th of June, 1904, 



of a further 350,000 quintals of wheat and 200,000 quintals of 



barley from Tunis. 



