GEOGEAPHY 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. 
From— 
To Liverpool, 
England. 
Cents. 
5.6 
6.6 
8.8 
21.0 
Export wheat, all rail, carload lots, 1913, per bushel. 
From— 
To- 
Cents. 
New York 
10 
do 
15 
Do - 
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 Blachfoot, Idaho, to Liverpool, England (1913), 
per bushel of wheat. 
Via Pacific: Cents. 
By rail to Seattle or Tacoma. . 24 
Ocean freight to Liverpool 21 
Total 45 
Via Atlantic: Cents. 
By rail to New York 39.2 
New York to Liverpool 5.6 
Total 44. 
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. 594 3 
