Page:All Over Oregon and Washington.djvu/355

Rh date, was 15,000 bbls. During the past harvest year we received from Oregon 179,536 bbls.; from the interior of this State, 123,513 bbls.—the former 53,000 bbls. more than the year previous, and the latter 61,000 bbls. less. Now, then, how much flour was manufactured in this city the past twelve months? Probably not less than 200,000 bbls., or considerably less than for the previous harvest year. Our millers do not like to see the Oregonians successfully competing for their legitimate trade, and measures to check the same are being taken, which will doubtless effect a serious change in this regard; improved patent machinery being brought into play, thereby greatly reducing the cost of manufacturing. Oregon has already opened a direct export wheat trade with the United Kingdom, and more or less flour has also been exported to foreign marts, and it is to be presumed that some increase in this direct trade abroad will naturally result. Vessels bringing cargoes of railroad iron, salt, etc., to Oregon, will naturally cany off cargoes of both flour and wheat in exchange, though it is believed that upon the completion of the Northern Railroad to Oregon, much of the produce of that State will be diverted inland, while more or less will seek this market by rail. Heretofore the Oregon farmers have been so isolated from available markets that the millers of that State have had large advantages during the long winter months, buying up wheat at very low rates, grinding it at their leisure, and shipping it to the most available markets, and at such a low cost as to defy all competition. Changes of some moment in this regard are imminent, and that at no distant period."—San Francisco Commercial Herald.

"—A San Francisco exchange is responsible for the following, which is so eminently characteristic of California ideas that we publish it: ' Our city millers will certainly be glad to have Oregonians ship their flour direct to foreign marts, rather than send it here, to glut our market and keep up a sharp competition for the trade of this port. Our millers and shippers would much prefer to receive the Oregon wheat than the flour, for in the former case it can be utilized to a good purpose by mixing with the California product.'"—Oregonian.

"—The high prices obtained for wool by our growers will doubtless lend an additional impetus to the raising of sheep for wool. The range in the Wallamet Valley and also in Southern Oregon is gradually closing up, forcing wool-growers