During the early years of this century, wheat was seen as the very lifeblood of Western Canada. People on city streets watched the yields and the price of wheat in almost as much feeling as if 41 they were growers. The marketing of wheat became an increasing 42 favorite topic of conversation. War set the stage for the most dramatic events in marketing the western crop. For years, farmers mistrusted speculative grain selling as carried on through the Winnipeg Grain Exchange. Wheat prices were generally low in the autumn, so farmers could 43 not wait for markets to improve. It had happened too often that they sold their wheat soon shortly after harvest when farm debts 44 were coming due, just to see prices rising and speculators getting rich. 45 On various occasions, producer groups, asked firmer control, 46 but the government had no wish to become involving, at 47 least not until wartime when wheat prices threatened to run wild. Anxious to check inflation and rising life costs, the federal 48 government appointed a board of grain supervisors to deal with deliveries from the crops of 1917 and 1918. Grain Exchange trading was suspended, and farmers sold at prices fixed by the board. To handle with the crop of 1919, the government 49 appointed the first Canadian Wheat Board, with total authority to 50 buy, sell, and set prices.