Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-27
THE WHEAT PROSPECTS.

Ell Perkins Gro,cs Enthusiastic 0ver tho
Prospect.
FA1HMoN1, Neb.. May 23.-Wheat, wheat,
wheat; wheat everywhere, and always good.
I all along, before
examining Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska
critically, that the wheat crop would be one
third larger this year than ever before, but
every day am more and more astounded
at the immensely of the growing crop.
To-day, and have seen personally as
much of the growing crop as any one per-
son in the United States, to day, I will say,
I will stake my journalistic reputation that
there is 60 per cent. more wheat growing in
the United States than ever before.
How does the crop look?
Almost invariably fine, cedentedly
fine.
In passing through Nebraska over the
Burlington 81 Missouri branch of the Chica-
go, Burlington & Quincy, l find the country
literally carpeted with wheat. In every in
stance the young crop looks magnificent.
Land that used to be in corn is now in
wheat. Corn here is worth 20 cents per
bushel off the track, while wheat is worth IS
cents. So you see what great temptation it
has been for the farmer to SOW wheat, and
oversow it,too. The lands here are fine, and
produce from fifteen to twenty-five bushels
Of wheat to the acre. Everywhere along the
Burlington & Missouri river I see the evil
dence of an immense immigration.
In Iowa, along the roads-along the Chi
cago, Burlington & Quincy, Northwestern,
Rock Island, Milwaukee & st. Paul, and
Illinois Central,-the one crop that stares
you in the face is wheat. The farmers
depend largely next summer on their old
crop Of corn already in cribs, and have
gone into wheat as if insane on the subject.
Now what will be the effect Of this mag
nifcent wheat crop?
Wheat will go down to 80 cents in Iowa,
to IS in Chicago, to 80 in New Yofk, and to
80 in Liverpool. War will add 20 cents to
these figures, but with peace my prophecy
will prove true. Let the Chicago grain man
remember the figures.
Where is wheat damaged?
find that some winter wheat in southern
Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky is a little
damaged by rust, and a few fields will be
completely destroyed, but have not seen a
damaged piece of wheat in northern Illinois,
in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, or Nebraska.
spring in western Nebraska and in Dakota
of wheat spectators have come into the fa1
West and plowed up So lands and put them
into wheat.
What will be the effect of this immense
wheat crop on the world?
Why, when we deliver wheat for less thar
81 in Liverpool, it will cripple the Russian
wheat growers. who cannot compete with us
The bulk of our wheat is raised on lane
worth less than $12 all acre, and much OF
land worth less than SIS per acre. How car
the English, Irish, Scotch, Hungarian ant
Russian farmers compete with US, when hi
lands are worth from 800 to $500 per acre
How will the immense crop affect the rail
roads?
1t will tax their utmost capacities to trans
port it. Corn is invariably condensed int,
pork before shipment. That is, six pound
of corn is condensed into one pound of por]
and beef, and then the pork and beef ar
shipped. With wheat, the railroads viii
transport it uncondensed in bulk.
1t is safe to say that the immense whea
crop, which must go out of this country TO
a market will raise the value of all railroad
. which tap the wheat country. The North
western, Milwaukee and St. Paul, Illinoi
Central, Rock Island, Chicago and Alton
and the Chicago, Burlington and Quinc
railroads will transport the bulk of the com
: ing crop. Their stock will be advanced 2
} per cent. They are mostly owned in tn
East, SO that the capitalists will also be mad
rich, and these roads will be put on coli
! financial basis
: Everywhere I find the farmers hopefr
and happy. They expect TO see wheat dro
to 60 cents. They say they can live at S
cents.
The crop is coming which will make Chi
cago and New York rich, and the farmer in
dependent again. ELI PERKINS.