, 1865-01-06
Total


In blowing an acre of ground is reckoned at
So, 90 narrowing at $l,OO. Labor here is
reckoned at not quite double the rates in Massa-
chusetts twenty-five bushels per acre is the
basis of these calculations. California is esti
mated to yield, on an average, 244 bushels per
acre. Then taking 20 bushels as fair, average
basis, a: ST so per bushel, and you have $37 so
per acre, from which deduct $23,80, and you
have $l37O, or a fraction less than ffty-fYe
cents profit per bushel.
Second. Cost of grinding bushel of wheat.
The miller pays 81 so cents gets forty-hve
pounds of flour, and thirteen pounds of bran
and shorts. At present prices, six cents per
pound So 10 for the -four; say sixteen cents for
the bran and shorts, and you have 81, Sc, as the
proceeds from bushel of wheat, from which
deduct SO cents for sacking, and you have S2 SO
from which deduct the price paid for the wheat,
Isl ,5O) and you have ST ,03, from which deduct
help, and expenses, and you have ninety-three
cents left, profit to the miller. 1t may be said
that ten cents is small estimate for the espense
of help oil, paint, etc. but if the mill grinds
one hundred and fifty bushels per day, that
would be SIS. Then, we will be liberal and
add the other three cents, and reduce the profits
to the round number of ninety cents, and allow
$3.50 for expenses, which will be wide mar
GIN IT, as is shown from these results, the far
mer gets ffty-fye cents profit, and the miller
ninety cents profit, per bushel of wheat, then
the miller's profit, as compared to the farmer S,
is as ninety to ffty-fve or in excess of the far
mer's, thirty-fEe cents.
Third. Now then, suppose the farmers OF
Walla Walla raise one hundred thousand bush
els of wheat per year, and get this thirty-fve
cents of the millers excess of profit on the bush
ell of wheat, they have $4,000, or cash capital
sufficient to erect three gristsmills
at cost of over eleven thousand dollars each
Then, suppose we add together the farmers
ffty-fye cents, and the miller's ninety cents
profit, and you have $l45, 900, which would be
quite an item saved to farm labor.
That there are difficulties to be overcome in
uniting the farmers in an enterprise of this kind
has not been unforeseen or overlooked; and
that it is harder to unite the many in any enter
prise, than for one to enter upon and consum-
mate it, will not be denied but this country pre-
sents inducements unparalleled in the history OF
any other country, for the accomplishment OF
such an enterprise. First, in the way of remu-
neration, as has been shown and second, in
Importance in it's convenience. At present,
the farmer drives his load of wheat to mill to
get his supply of -four for the winter. He goes
through the mud, rain and coldy from ten to
twenty-five or thirty miles, and is sent home
with a hundred or two pounds of -FOUR and
compelled to return again, perhaps through
snow and ice, and freezing winds, to get two or
three hundred pounds more, and then repeat the
same thing over and over again during the win
ter. 1t is urged, by somey that the present de-
mand for -four will be of short duration, and
that California will soon resume her place in
the market. This may admit of some doubt,
and it is question whether the failure of the
crops in California, was more attributable to the
drouth, or to the exhaustion of her soil. If to
the latter, then, the farmers of Walla Walla
may calculate on renewed and long-continued
profits in wheat raising, and manufacturing
-four. A. f. b.