St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1866-02-01
THE WHEAT TRADE OF NIINNEsO.
TA.-STOCK,

The Winona Republican publishes a col.
umn of st atistics of the wheat shipments Of
that city md the State. From that place,
Ealone, 2,543, lac bushels Of wheat were
shipped daring the year 1868. The Re
lpubltcan says $
In order that the full Significance of the figures
given above may be p'eciaed it is necessary to re-
member tnt, previous to the year 1859, not bushc
| of wheat WIS exported from Minnesota. Up to the
year 1858, I'LL, nearly I'LL, Of the breadstus CON-
| su,aed here were impaired. The following partial
compuriso" viii show the rapid increase OF tho wheat
Bushels
1859 $4,000
1sSe.,''.,,...,,.'.'. Geo o0o
oooA,ol9
syet, Minncs,tl is hut the threshold of her
career as producing State. We have scarcely COM
menced to develop the fertile areas that lie spread out
between the Mississippi ana ked N1vers; Even IN ING
largely concentrated, and agriculture made greatest
progress, to exceed one-urth Of the soil has yet
been brought under cultivation And tar to the west
ward and tho northwest, there numhcrless acres
of beautiful and fertile lands as ever the sun IN his
course Locked upon that the Pillow has ever farroWs
Gratifying and wonderful as Is tho progress we
have made during tho past six years. the development
of tn decade WILL predict be still moro graf
flying and wonderful to those who live to witness It,
The st. Paul Press gives later table,
showing still more gratifying increase.
We extrac.: ..t...s..
Chicago is regarded as miracle Of growth in the
grain trade, but part Of this continent 9TH
multiplication of its wheat product and export
Minnesota. Here a little table which places this
prodsious wheat development in a very striking
light:
Acres ~ ~ Bushels We Bushels
LSS ii ssit4ls h* ss asss
1S65~..":o 100000 loyooo,Ooo ri @s,ll3,565
The gro,vta Of sia years!!! 70. - '.s5~%
While these figures show production Of
the great staple cereal that is almost in
credible in Il state so new and so distant
from the European and great Atlantic
mats as is Minnesota, ytt this cereal alone
does not constitute the entire, or ever
most prominent portion Of the wealth of
the State. Wheat ard -four will always be
exported in immense quantities, and will
dorbtlsss maintain that position for excel
ieuce which they now enjoy. But stock
raising is to be the zero wing feature of
a!innesota agriculture. / Already large
tracts OF land are being taken by men who
purpose deyoting their; entire! time ani
means to wool raising. Beef and pork are
both commanding high figures, and corn
can be better convert cd into the latter item
othome consumption and sexpor, than used
in ally other way. While not, equal to H.
,linoisi in this particular, yet our cora crops
take front rank. Cattlc actually fatten
on the nutritious grasses that require but
the cutting. 2wia nliw e.: sill 1'.A! f,ei'
u So, while We justly look with satisfaction
and pride on,he rapid growth Of our State
as a grain producing country, and san
guinely anticipate the increase Of the next
decade, we have better cause tosg look for
SAIL greater wealth from the source Of
which W have just spoken. ;, s... >5..'