390 
AMERICAN AG-RICETLTTJRIST. 
[August, 
Missouri River west to Fort Kearney, a distance of two 
hundred miles. One and one-half million acres of agri¬ 
cultural lands, and from four to five millions of acres of 
grazing lands, belonging to their grant, remain unsold. 
These lands are held at from three to ten dollars per acre 
cash and on time. 
Ho ! for Dakota. 
A few years since, in writing for the American Agricul¬ 
turist from the West, we predicted that Dakota would 
soon become the great objective point of emigration. 
Such is now the case. Beginning with last year, a most 
decided boom continues, and this fertile territory is to¬ 
day the “ Mecca” toward which vast throngs in search of 
new homes are marching nloDg. We found the Chicago 
and North-western Railroad Depot in Chicago fairly be¬ 
sieged with people bound for Dakota. Dr. Stennett, the 
General Passenger Agent of the road, informed us that 
from March 20th to April 30th, this year, this Company 
alone sent eighty thousand people to Dakota to live. 
During April, two hundred car loads of emigrant “ mov¬ 
ables,” that is, household furniture, etc., daily went 
over the road to Dakota. The owners came from the 
Middle Western States, Pennsylvania, and New York, 
largely from the latter State, and embrace a goodly pro¬ 
portion of well-to-do people. Considerable apprehen¬ 
sion, however, prevails, lest this very large influx into 
Dakota may lead to want and suffering, should the com¬ 
ing winter be long and severe; and we found in Northern 
Nebraska a common expectation that there would be a 
considerable overflow from Dakota; that is to say, that 
many emigrants of the poorer classes would stampede 
south when the weather becomes cold, and funds, food, 
and fuel scarce. This, however, can be averted by the 
exercise of proper care and forethought by those di¬ 
rectly interested. At the same time, those who now con¬ 
template going to Dakota, should bring sufficient funds 
along with them, or delay coming until they have funds; 
otherwise they may become a burden, both to them¬ 
selves and the new country. The general sentiment is, 
that the territory should be and will be divided into two 
States, both of which will have sufficient population to 
be entitled to admittance into the Union as States when 
Congress again assembles. In another letter we shall 
speak very fully of Dakota, designating the more de¬ 
sirable localities in the territory, giving the best modes 
of reaching them, and such other information as may be 
derived from an extended tour through this magnificent 
territory. D. W. J. 
Wheat—Corn—Oats—Pork—Lard. 
Great Excitement and Changes in Prices. 
The tornadoes that swept so disastrously over many 
parts of the country during a month past, have been 
paralleled in the great central breadstuff and provision 
markets of Chicago. The aggregate money losses by the 
former, are probably far exceeded by the depreciation of 
the “assets ” of a small number of persons operating in 
the Chicago grain and provision exchanges. Wheat 
was selling in Chicago the first of the year at $1.00 per 
bushel, and lower still last autumn. It was quoted at 
$1.10 on February 1st, at $1.14 on March 6th ; and in two 
months (May 7th to July 7th) it varied all the way from 
$1 .14 to 98 cents per bushel, a difference of 16 per cent, 
and the closing rates are but little above the lowest 
figures. There were still more marked changes in Pork 
and Lard figures, especially lard, which in January 
sold for 10X cents per lb., was carried up in May to 12)4 
cents for July delivery, and on July 3d was only a little 
over 9 cents, a difference between May 7th and July 3d 
of 33 per cent on the latter quotations. Pork also varied 
$4.73 per barrel between May 7th and July 3d, for July 
delivery—a difference of over 30 per cent from the latter 
date. Corn, though running at more uniform rates most 
of the time, was quoted at 48 cents on July 3d, and at 62 
cts. on March 6th, a difference of nearly 30 per cent. Oats 
for September delivery fell 13 cents per bushel from June 
7th to July 3d—a difference of nearly 50 per cent. 
Cause# of the Variation and Decline. 
These have been three-fold. First, the higher rates 
were not legitimate—were not made or governed by the 
relative supply and demand, in this country and Europe 
— but by the schemes of a few leading cliques, who drew 
with them a considerable following of outside parties, 
led by them like lambs to the slaughter. “ Put not your 
faith in princes,”—in the magnates of the stock, the pro¬ 
vision, the grain, or any other speculative markets—is a 
lesson learned at serious cost by a great many people. 
In the Chicago markets, the leading operators undertook 
to buy up all the available supplies of Lard, of Pork, of 
Wheat, and of Corn, and then make their own prices. To 
do this, they had to take or put up “ margins ” on all 
that was offered at figures under those they had “pegged.” 
They, of course, expected that the dear public would 
have so much faith in their names, power, and ability, 
that the people would help carry their loads. In this 
they were, in part, mistaken, thanks to the warnings to 
the public by a faithful press that oould not be purchased. 
On June 16th the first blast of the hurricane struck in 
Chicago. McGeogh, Everingham & Co., were loaded up 
with untold millions of lard, which they were carrying 
at 11X and 12 cents per lb. They had refused to accept 
a large amount of a leading brand of this article on a con¬ 
tract, claiming that it was “adulterated,” and thus threw 
discredit both at home and in Europe on one of the lead¬ 
ing and purest articles of export. Of course nobody, not 
even the simplest “ Lambs,” wanted lard when no one 
knew how large a percentage of all the lard in the market 
was “adulterated.” This was the “last straw,” and 
down went the McGeogh firm, and others followed. 
The second cause of the decline has been the larger 
stocks than were looked for, of “ reserves,” coming out 
from the producers who had been holding corn, wheat, 
and hogs, partly for hoped-for higher prices, and partly 
because too busy with spring work to marketthe surplus. 
The third and a prominent cause of lower prices, is the 
improved and the improving condition of the growing 
crops in many parts of this country, and to some extent 
in other parts of the world. 
The Only machine that received an award on both 
1 Horse-power and Thresher and Cleaner, at the Centen- 
I nial Ei-hibition; was awarded the two last Cold 
I Medals given bv the New York State Agricultural 
I Society on Horse-powers and Threshers , and is the 
On ly 'Thresher selected from the vast number built in 
the United States, for illustration and description in 
“Appleton’s Cyclopedia of Applied Mechanics,’’ re¬ 
cently published, thus adopting it as the sta tl d a rd 
machine of this country. Catalogue sent tree. Address 
I MINARD HARDER, Cobleskill, Schoharie Co., N. Y. 
2 S" FRIENDS If you are in any way interested in 
BEES OR HONEY, 
We will with pleasure send you a sample copv of our 
MONTHLY GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE, 
with a descriptive price-list of the latest improvements in 
Hives, Honey Extractors, Artificial Comb, Sec¬ 
tion Honey Boxes, all books and journals, and every¬ 
thing pertaining to Bee Culture. Scthing Patented. Sim¬ 
ply send your address on a postal card, written plainly, to 
_ A. I, ROOT. Medina, Ohio. 
Drain Tile 
New York Prices, though usually in close sympathy 
with, and following Chicago rates up and down, allow¬ 
ing for freightage and tire expenses of transferring, have 
not changed as much as at Chicago, from day to-day. 
The Great Failure Beneficial. 
MACHINES, 
By Chandler & Taylor, 
Indianapolis, Ind. 
Multitudes of farmers, who were keeping wheat, corn, 
and hogs for higher prices, were greatly troubled on 
June 16th, when the news was telegraphed throughout 
tlie country that the great dealers in Chicago, McGeogh, 
Everingham & Co., had failed for many millions of dol¬ 
lars. Lard suddenly dropped from $11.50 per 100 lbs. to 
$9.05, or more than 21 per cent; other hog products, 
pork, bacon, etc., declined largely, and wheat and corn 
rapidly fell. A few farmers have been temporarily bene¬ 
fited by the bold operations of speculators, that is, those 
who have sold their products while the speculators’ 
prices were maintained. But the future good of farmers 
generally, and of the country, lias been promoted by this 
collapse. The consumption in Europe, the chief buyer 
of our surplus breadstuff's and provisions, is largely 
increased by moderate prices. The last crop of wheat 
was so large in nearly all the world, Spain excepted, that 
there would be very little wheat called for from this 
country, except at medium rates. If the speculators had 
succeeded in keeping prices above the export figures, we 
should have had a large surplus of last year’s crop left 
over, to be added to the crop of 1883. In this case, 
unless the now ripening wheat and the growing corn 
should meet with some disaster, the supply would be so 
large that there would be danger of prices sinking below 
the cost of production even. The utter failure of every 
speculative dealer in the great grain and produce mar¬ 
kets would be a real blessing to the whole country, 
farmers as well as every other class. 
Grain in Sight. 
LYO^&HEALY 
Slate & Monroe Sts..Chicago. 
Will send prepaid to any address their 
BAND CATALOGUE, ( 
for 1883, *200 pages, *210 Engravings, 
of instruments. Suits, Caps, Belts, 
Pompons, Epaulets, Cap-Lampa, 
Stands. Drum Major’s Staffs, and 
’Hats, Sundry Band Outfits, Repairing 
[Materials, also Includes Instruction and Ex- 
ierclsea for Amateur Bands, and a Catalogue 1 
of Choice Band Music. 
12th 
CLEARANCE 
CATALOGUE NOW READY. 
Bargains in new and standard books in 
every department of literature. 30 
to SO per cent diacount. The 
lowest-priced, and most useful cata¬ 
logue of books issued bn any bookseller 
in the United States. Will be mailed 
free to anv address. 
ESTES & LAURIAT, 
301-305 Washington St., Boston. 
OUR 
NEW 
_ CARDS g w j, lfferent g e . 
signs; Bird, Floral, Gold Panel, German, French* 
Italian and Oriental Views, summer, winter, moon, 
light and marine seeneg, all in beautiful colors on superfine 
enameled board, with your name in fancy script type, 10c. A 30 
page illustrated Premium List sent with each order. Agents 
make 60 per cent. Full particulars and samples for 3c. stamp. 
CAXTON PRINTING CO., Northford, Conn • 
WHEAT. 
The “visible supply” of Wheat, Corn, and Oats, that 
is, the amounts out of the hands of the producers, and 
stored in the markets, or in transit, continues very large. 
For the Atlantic ports of the United States and Canada, 
there are over twenty millions bushels of such wheat, 
above fifteen millions bushels of corn, and four and a 
half millions bushels of oats, or a total of above forty 
millions bushels of these three grains, besides rye, bar¬ 
ley, etc. 
The Outlook. 
There is considerable variation in the reports in regard 
to the condition of the growing crops and their pros¬ 
pects. On the whole, however, the general prospect is 
favorable. There has been a good deal of improvement 
in many places, from which the reports ran quite dis¬ 
couraging during the spring months. Spring Wheat is 
doing well almost everywhere, with a good acreage. 
Winter Wheat is also improving in very many places. 
These crops have yet to run the gauntlet of insects and 
damaging storms in the leading northern wheat regions. 
Corn is coming on fairly, generally. Now that the worst 
speculators have been crippled, and the markets left 
more to their natural course, exports are likely to in¬ 
crease, and there will he more room and a better demand 
for tills year’s products wiien they are ready. If the 
present maturing crops meet with no serious disaster, 
and late frosts allow the maturing of the growing corn, 
the year’s products will he ample for all home wants, 
with a good surplus for export. Fair but not high prices 
will, in this case, be realized by producers, and abundant 
food for all classes will he obtainable at reasonable 
figures. 
Send for circular, entitled 
A REVOLUTION IX WHEAT CULTURE. 
Address John Hamilton, State College, Centre Co., Pa. 
/x Fine White Gold Edge Cards, name on 10 cts. Sam- 
B Pie Book 25 cts. An Elegant Imported Birthday 
V' Card, 10cts. F. M. Shaw & Co., Jersey City, N. J. 
RARE OFFER'S* 
I 25 BEAUTIFUL CARDS, name In gtylbh 
prlnt.lOe. 12 packs (with 12names) and 
this elegant Ring for $1. (Don’t confound 
our Cards with the cheap paeks o( 50, adver¬ 
tised so extensively. Agents 1 Album of Samples, Blank 
cards at wholesale. NORTHFORD CARD CO. Northford, Ct« 
E 
AG-KNTS WANTED to take orders for our 
LEGANT PORTRAIT 
made from small pictures of all kinds. Send' 
I for terms. 8. C. Tallman & Co. Auburn, N.7. 
s 
LYONS (IV. ¥.) MUSICAL ACADEMY. 
Daily lessons. Noted for furnishing excel- 
Impartsjbest modern techni^ic and artistic 
Founded 1854. 
lent teachers. — r - . „ , 
execution. Address L. H. Sherwood, M.A., Founder &Prln. 
SO 
1HE CINCINNATI SCHOOL OF PHONOG- 
RA PHY. Send for descriptive circular to Jerome B. 
Howard, Principal, No. 23 Gazette Bldg., Cincinnati,0. 
Gold and Silver Chromo Cards, no 2 alike, with 
name, 10c., post-paid. „ 
G. I. REED & CO., Nassau, N. Y. 
Perfect BeautieB, new style imported Chromo CardB, 
Swiss and French Florals, roses, birds, mottoes, <fcc. 
name on, 10c. AEtna Printing Co., Northford, Ct. 
