Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-17

Within about a month the price OF
wheat has declined 9 cents bushel. The
price was low before the decline began.
The condition of the wheat market natur-
ally excites inquiry. 1t was expected
that the prices for the crop OF 1888 woulo
be high. because it was estimated that II
was 1OO. OOO. 600 bushels short. Those who
purchased for rise have lost heavily
They failed to take into consideration
two things. viz: the large surplus OF 1857
and the remarkable increase in the pro
duction of India. John W. Bookwalter'
of Ohio. who lately returned from Visit
TO British India. has a letter in the last IS
sue of Bradstreet's, which contains 1aets
and figures respecting the production Of
v-baat in India that are worth studying
He very pertinentlv asks whether the
LARGO expectation of wheat from that
country to Great Britain is not the cause
Of the present low price Of that article IL
this country. Fully one-fourth oil our
wheat crop Is sent to Europe. Inc
nrica of wheat. therefore, is fixed III LIN
arnooI. The stock Of wheat IN England
now is immense. 1t is estimated to De
II ooo 400 bushels more than at this time
last year.
Mr.. Bookwalter, in his letter, says that
the first cargo Of wheat was sent from
India to England ten years ago. In 1870
the export reached !, 5OO,0 600 bushels. In
1ssl-s2 it exceeded 37,OO0,0 900 bushels.
Last wear it is estimated that oO,OOO,O 900
bushels were exported. The increase is
simply wonderful.
American farmers have pretended to be-
Iieve that wheat could not be produces IN
such quantities as to come into cOmpeti-
ton with their production. They can no
longer have doubts on that point. With
their crude system Of agriculture the far
mers of India succeed in raising an aver
age of eleven bushels per acre. That IS
nearly equal to the average in this coun-
trv. The question arises whether, with
improved implements and greater expert
ence. they could not greatly exceed the
average in this country. 1t mas been
Droven that the soil and climate of India
are admirably adapted to the culture OF
wheat. England is doing all she can to
introduce improved agricultural nipple
ments and harvesting machinery. she
has also projected about $1,000 miles Of
railway to get the wheat to the seaboard'
She would rather buy her wheat OF india
than the United States, because she can
paw for it with her manufactured products
and thereby make profit.
Admitting that India is rapidly becom-
ing formidable competitor of this coun-
try in the markets of the world as food
producer, is it not grave question
whether the American farmer can sustain
himself in competition with the farmer Of
India? Mr.. Bookwalter, who has giver
this matter careful thought, says thai
ssthe necessary outlay of American farm
ers and planters for what they consume
independent of the cost Of labor and fixed
investments, exceeds that of like num-
Der of agriculturists in Europe and Asia
bv more than $500, O00,0 00 Il year. The
American farmer is handicapped to the
extent of this immense sum while pro
ducing n crop of the same aggregate
value. Can he hold his own in the CON-
petition. or will the time soon come when
he must have his supplies cheaperE The
question is one which the Ways and
Means Committee could discuss with pro-
fit in framing their tariff bill.