The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-19
Wheat-GrOWing ia Virginia as Com
pared with the West.


pared with the West.
We find in The Dispatch very interest.
ing article from the pen of one of our fore
most farmers and agricultural writers upon
the above topic. We have repeatedly had
occasion to make this comparison, and
can endorse substantially the conclusions
of the writer from whom we quote:
Let me illustrate this by comparison
have used before-a comparison of the
value of land and of wheat-production in
Virginia and the central West as affected
by transportation. | select Dubuque, in
Iowa, as a point in the central West, on
which to base the following statement:
Suppose a farm there worth twenty
five dollars per acre to produce twelve
bushels of wheat per acre, and farm in
Virginia worth twenty dollars per acre to
produce eight bushels of wheat per acre
these being the rates of production stated
in the United States agricultural report for
1867. The cost OF marketing the Western
wheat is (see speech of Mr.. Mon
roe, of Dubuque, Iowa, before
the national board of trade at Gin
cinnati, December 1868, p. 81 seventy
cents per bushel. The average cost in
Piedmont and Tidewater Virginia is not
more than ten cents per bushel. The
Iowa crop is spring wheat, worth in New
York one dollar and twenty-five cents per
bushel. The Virginia crop is winter
wheat, worth in Richmond one dollar and
fifty cents per bushel. The cost Of trans
portation for the Iowa wheat is eight dol
lars and forty cents per acre for the Vir-
ginia wheat, eighty cents per acre. But
these figures represent, at six per cent,
respective capitals of one hundred and
forty dollars and thirteen dollars and one
third, and accordingly make the prices of
land stand. for
Virginia, 500 plus 1888 ."................ 80 so
Difference (enough to buy six and half
acres Virginia land at the price as
sumed) 13l CT
The return per acre for each would be-
for Iowa, twelve bushels spring wheat
at $l.25 per shel"..-."................ is 90
Less freight C70e. per busheD ."....". 40
50
Virginia, eight bushels winter wheat at
$l.60 per bushel. ....-................a". IL 90
Less freight qOc. per husheD ....,....... so
IL 20
Balance in favor of Virginia. 80. ,....... 81 GO
being an actual gain of nearly one-6fth or
twenty per cent, on the cost of the Iowa
farm, and making that as compared with
the Virginia farm worth only eleven dollars
and twenty-five cents per acre. This is
a perpetual tax whilst the inferior quality
of their wheat is also perpetual tax, be-
cause climatic disadvantage.
You will observe that the lands in Vir-
ginia are rated at an average figure de-
cidedly beyond their market value, and
you will notice that say nothing of the
difference in the cost Of labor.
Of course have read with interest and
instruction, and with gratitude, the late let.
ter of my friend Colonel III. G. Cabell, and
note his conclusion that wheat will be
brought, as / hope it may, from st. Louis
to Richmond for twenty-six cents freight
per bushel. But what other charges does
it pay before and afterit gets to st. Louis
If from the farther West, the charges
were probably as great as Mr.. Monroe
makes them if from nearer point, then
the land costs more and the labor is a
great deal dearer. Thus private letter to
me, written from st. Louis in July last,
stated that hands were engaged from that
city to work in harvest at from So to
So per day, and four meals furnished. 1t
was either that or let the wheat rot in
the fields. Oar extreme price here was
So.
IL is such exaetions as these in labor and
transportation, and the frauds of state,