The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-10-05
OUR SURPLUS WHEAT.

The occasional correspondent whose
paper in THE HERALD couple Of weeks
ago, regarding the disposition Of the
Utah surplus wheat, ~hit the nail on
the head, " to use a familiar smile. lie
wanted the grain converted into -four,
and sent to surrounding markets. In
times past this journal has frequently
urged that this be done, as the best
solution Of domestic prolEeIs that has
puzzled and oppressed our farmers or
many occasions. From Z barren, desc
late waste, given up to alkali and sage
brush, Utah has been converted into an
orchard, int waving meadows and
golden grain fields. Some OF its many
valleys are veritable flower gardens,
gioZ70usly teemipg with the best fruits
of the earth While the country is
fruitful in many OF the agricultural and
horticultural products, it is especially
80 in wheat, which here yields bounte-
ously in its abundance and quality. FROM
Sanpete in the south to Cache in the
north the valleys may be said to be so
many wheat fields, and such wheat
fields as are seldom encountered else
whore in the republic. For weeks
past. one living ia the wheat belt,
extending two hundred miles north and
south, has not been away from the
hum OF the thresher, which will yet con-
tinue for further weeks, until the SHOWS
and frosts OF deep winter quiet the rattle
to be resumed IN the early autumn OF
1875. Stream after stream of golden
wheat is flowing into bins, granaries
and mills already overlooking. The
farmer is atsshis wits end to improYise
bins for storing his grain until he can
convert it into other articles for the
comfort and well-being of his household.
A reasonably careful estimate of this
years wheat product places the amount
at not less than 200O, 600 bushels, while
the total for home consumption and
seed will not exceed 1000, 900 bushels.
Then the Territory has produced just
double the amount OF wheat that it can
dispose of unless a market outside its
borders can be found. That such market
exists no one will dispute. The difficulty
ia the way is the transportation TO that
market. A few years ago Cache Valley
largely supplied the demand for -four
in 4 section Of Idaho and in Southern
and Western Montana; but short
sighted railway ofisials, exercising
their powers as the tools Of gigantic
monopoly, cut that rich county out of
the competitive field, brought -four
from distant points, another railway
entered the Territory on the north, the
monopoly was broken, the trade {
changed, supplies were brought from
Minnesota aud Cache and the Union {
Pacific were both dropped, whereas a I
fair, liberal and what we may call S
sane policy on the part OF the railway l
at the first would have retained the {
carrying trade TO tho company, and 6
he'd the market for Cache. The '
railway people now admit the
truth OF this. The new and improved c
nails have elevated Utah -four to level T
with the very best, and made it posi-
bic TO put it in competition with the I
'amous Minnesota and CaIifor MIA pro- c
90ct Oar farmers will not want for u
purchasers il they are allowed to place a
their four on the market. t.
In refusing fair and reasonable trans c
rates out of Utah the railroads t
re tying up with the local farmers from o
laH 70 three quarters of a million o
lOIars, TO say nothing of the annoy j
nee and suffering caused the producing 8
iasseS; not only this, but We hold they h
re standing in. their own light, and di- tt
estly injuring themselves by theceurse 81
hey are pursuing with regard to Utah ze
nd her industries. The railroads can 1t
Cord to give our farmers rate which st
Ill enable them to send their surnIus "
heat products to. market. Unless H
hey will give such rates, we can see no st
az by which the farmers can get rid of yG
leir surplus wheat at anything like re- ar
prices. 1t is much to the W
ScFedit of the transportation con-
lnies that they should pursue course az
dePress one of the leading. industries A
the country, and one which if encour- N
Jed would grow into Importance second D'
none in the Territory. ale
The HERALD hopes the railway people De
Il find it convenient and proper to go PIX
the relief Of the many grain growers lie
re, who are really suffering for the th'
1ney that is locked up in their wheat VII
%. WI
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