The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-09-08
American Breadstufs.


total annual cereal product Of Europe
averages at present 1904 600, 900 bushels.
Of this Russia furnishes 100000, 900
bushels, Germany 1880, 600 bushels,
and Austria 450,000,000. DR.. Edward
Young, Chief of the Bureau of Statistics,
Washington, estimates the product Of
cereals Of these United States at about
100000, 900 bushels At this present
writing the United States is the greatest
grain-producing and grain-exporting coun-
try in the world. Since 1867 we have
been rapidly driving our chief competitor,
Russia, from British and European mar
kets. In 1867 we supplied England with
but IA per cent. Of her total imports of
wheat, as against Al per cent in 1873.
Meantime, Russia supplied her with Al
per cent in 1867, as against 81 per cent
in 1873.
With undiminished resources of land for
the production Of wheat and corn, there
would seem to be no conceivable limit to
our production and export Of both. Our
machinery, railroad system, and elevators
enable us to place grain on shipboard fif-
teen per cent. less than can be done in the
ports of Russia. For over twenty-five
years past the millions of Europe have
looked confidently to this country for
cheap food when short of breadstuffs.
From present appearances it would seem
that the United States can heuceforth
control to a large extent the grain mar
kets Of Europe, Russia and Turkey have
heretofore furnished 22,6 per cent. Of the
supplies required by England. The gigan.
tic war in which those nations are engaged
must naturally cause an increased demand
for American breadstuffs. In India ia
mnie prevails this year. Egypt, subject
to the suzerainty of the Porte will be
affected by the Russo-Turkish war, and
whether the war be confined to the present
combatants, or whether it draws into it
other European powers, it is evident that
the demand for American breadstuffs will
be increased in the neighborhood of twen-
ty-fve per cent. in the case of the cutting
off Of the Russian and Turkish supplies
from market, and the war at present does
not promise to be Of short duration. Italy
draws large supplies from Russian and
Turkish grain centres on the Black sea
the failure of those supplies will create an
active demand for our breadstuffs in Ital-
ian, French, and other Mediterranean
ports.
For the last four years we have export.
ed wheat, -four and Indian corn to the
average value of more than one hundred
million dollars per annum. Though our
exports of raw cotton-the great American
staple-exceed by nearly two thirds in
value the combined exports Of wheat, -four
and Indian corn, the ratio Of increase is
enormously in favor of the latter articles.
If we look at the natural per centage of
increase, estimating the value Of exported
cereals at s100,00O,0OO, roughly stated,
as against S16l 100000 of co ton for the
year ending September /, 1876, We find
that, as compared with the previous year,
the increased exports Of wheat, -four and
corn added last year S18,334 AS to the
wealth of the country, while the increased
exports of raw cotton only realized 81
02O,O37. The exports of wheat from all
United States ports to all foreign countries
increased from II, 597 ,585 bushels in 1868
to 52,697 1893 bushels ia 1876. Duri ne
the five years ending June 30, 1876, the
total grain exports have increased from
56, lab, l66 to 125 $685. bushels. On
an average of 44,74l 81, the total corn
crop Of the United States in 1875 was l :
1920, O69, 900 bushels, while, on an average
of26,3Sl 1858, the total wheat crop reached
1872, l36, 900 bushels.
In order, however, to appreciate the
advantage of the United States as a grain.
growing country, its population should be
taken into account-40,0 100000 of people
producing forty bushels per head. Europe,
with population of not quite 100000
600, produces only sixteen bushels per
head; Russia twenty-six bushels per head,
and Great Britain only four bushels per
head. As the average quantity of grain
consumed per head is fifteen bushels, we
produce nearly three times as much as we
require; Russia scarcely twice its wants;
Europe, on an average, all needed, but
Great Britain not much over one-fourth.
1t will be seen that the general production
far surpasses the consumption, but this
excess is absorbed by breweries and dis
tilleries all over the world, which do more
to keep the price of breadstuffs at high |
figure than anything else.
The demand for foreign food is con-
stantly increasing in England. Some |
valuable statistics recently submitted to |
the Manchester Statistical Society by Mr..
Stephen Bourne, of her Majesty's Gus
toms, shows that each member of the !
community now consumes TO the value of |
two and half times as much foreign food
as he did twenty years back, and that the
total cost of such food in the past twenty
years has been over $4,000, 900, 600 |
$4,000, 0O0,00O) The true index to
what this means is found in the quaint.
ties, rather than the values, because prices
are to some extent deceptive, being liable
TO imitation or depression, as the case NAV
be. OF the 9319, 600, 900 worth of i'm
ports imported into Great Britain last
year, one-half represented food supplies
thus, el59,000,0O0 were for food, GIl9.- |
100000 for raw materials, and e4l .0O0.-
600 for manufactured and miscellaneous
articles. During the past ten years the
growth Of imports has been most rapid in
articles for food. OF the 1880. 1874
cwts. of wheat imported into the United
Kingdom from Sept. l, 1875, to AUG. 81
1876, 20,8S2,115 went from this country.
The imports Of maize into the United
Kingdom in 1876 were 10000 900 bush
els, comprising about $4,000, 900 from the
United States and 20, 00O, 900 bushels from
southeastern Europe, including France.
Anticipating the future course and fur
Their rapid growth Of this trade, British
capitalists are now building six Of the
largest sized iron vessels for the transpor-
tation Of breadstuffs from our shores on
English account. We should not only |
strain every nerve to meet the increased |
demands of Europe for breadstuffs, but we |
should also supply ships to carry them. |