Barbour County index., 1882-05-25
CALIFORNIA WHEAT.
What II Costs Farmers to Bear the
Market and Send Grain to the An
| @Inadac

Market anu 0enu iratn 10 the An
tipodes.
California has continued during thu
whole of the present season the chroni,
bear of the worlds wheat market
But not satisfied with underselling al
competitors in the various importing
countries, she is now at the end of her
victorious campaign, and with the
view of carrying the war into Africa,
shipping a portion of her wheat sur
plus to the Mississippi valley and
Australia-her two leading rivals as
exporters. While the stateo east of
the Rocky mountains are themselves
shippers this season to the extent of
about 70.0OO,oO0 bushels, as compared
with about 50,000,000 bushels from
the whole of this coast, sample parcels
of California wheat are now to be
seen in every section of the country
from Texas to Maine and from Mime
sofa to Florida. That SAMPLES of
California flour are not equally plenti-
full all over the continent is simply
owing to the silly and eccentric policy
of the railroad which, instead of dis
eliminating, if at all, in favor of the
manufactured article, actually dis
eliminates against it, to the great
loss and injury of the state. In the
same way Australia, while herself a
large exporter, is now confronted by
shipments of wheat, per steam and
sail, from this coast. Nor is it all un-
likely that California wheat, which is
now so plentifully distributed over
the continent of Europe, has found its
way into the cars dominions. Novel
as such state of things must appear,
the logical result of greatly underbid-
ding a seller is to compel him to be-
come a purchaser, and this is what is
now occurring simultaneously in the
western states aud Australia. Per-
haps the only large exporting country
entirely beyond the reach of Califor-
MIA is India, which is also trying to
get up reputation as cheap seller.
But since India has never yet shipped
to an exporting country. although
Australia is nearer to her than to
California, she is still very far behind
in the race. Instead of entering into
fierce competition with regard to
raw material, like wheat, India acts
more wisely in supplying California
with bagging, from which she draws
two pro6ts-one for the jute cultiva-
tor and one for the manufacturer.
But while India cannot be accused
of any extreme effort to bear the
worlds wheat market, she has very
largely increased her export, and in
that way has ably seconded the efforts
of California, shipping last year the
respectable quantity of 30,775. .912
bushels, compared with 10,l37 ,440
bushels the year before, and promising
to do still better during the present
year. India has suddenly wheeled into
line as the third largest wheat exporter,
ranking next to the United States and
Russia. Her export quantity, which
is estimated at 40,000,000 bushels this
season, it is thought may in few
years reach 1OO,OO0.OO0 bushels, unless
one of her periodical famines should
occur in the meantime. So long as
India is dependency of England she
must continue large exporter of raw
material, and if she finds wheat to pay
better than cotton or even than rice
she is sure to increase its cultivation
whatever risks she may run with re-
gard to the supply of food for her owr
population. The Suez canal, and the
change from sail to steam, have, by
bringing India much closer to Europe
given an increased impulse to her ex
port movement, and made her greater
competitor than formerly of this coun
try. But the cultivators of India, like
the farmers of the eastern states, be
sides having their chief market a
home, have the reputation of being
tight holders. so that, as regards prices
competition is always likely to be KEEP
within bounds. With good prices
India is always free seller, but will
low prices she consumes more and ex
ports less-making up the differenc,
in specie and other valuables. It l:
different with California, whose Gro,
and surplus are nearly alike, and wht
forces the latter on the European
market entirely irrespective of time
season, quantity, or price.
Curiously enough, while the bearing
influence of California has made whea
cheap in Europe. it has no perceptibl,
effect in the eastern states and Austria
liza. While wheat sells in this state a
$l.60 cental, it commands an averag,
of $2.35 Genital in eastern and Aus
tralian ports. Hence California com
petition, instead of injuring the farm
ers Of the northwest and of Australia
has fallen exclusively on ship-owners
who in some cases lately have carriet
wheat across the Atlantic for nothing
at all, and in one or two instances fo,
even less than nothing-steamers hav
ing to pay premium for the privileg,
of carrying it as ballast-while from
South Australia the freights just nov
are reported to be only Gne-fourth tn,
ordinary rates. In fact from the stand
point Of the western and Australian
farmers California could have obtained
very high price for her surplus thi
season, and in fixing an extremely Low