The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-08-28
WHAT A BUSHEL WILL BUY.
Comparative Price, Of Wheat, and the Cost Of
Farmers Living Nov. and Two
Yesrs Ago

SuSs uOWr Willie tuc lOH p4lCo VI Wueat IL dSt-
tating he farmers mind and causing some doubt
in the bresst Of the merchant as to whether he
will bs able to collect his bills it is we'll to con-
slider the question in all its bearings 1t is doubt
full if the farmers of the Northwest have stopped
to consider whether they really very worse off
now than they were two years ago when the
price of No. hard was $1.O8 While it is true
that wheat is 25 cents a bushel cheaper than it
then it also true that the cost of living as
compared with that time is a great deal less. A.
careful comparison of prices of all staple articles
Of consumption now and at this time in 1852,
shows that the cost Of nearly everyt thing the farm
er uses has been reduced to nearly if not as much,
in proportion as the price of wheat. lfthe farm
er who is complaining taht he ought to get 81
bushel for his wheat this year will sit down and
figure a little, using the statements below, which
perfectly reliable he will discover that he
buy as much for q bushcl of wheat now, at 81
cents, as he could two years ago at s1.05. Add to
this the enormous increase in the amount ofpro-
duction, and he will find that he isn't in great
danger Of bankruptcy as he may have imagined
himself to be.
THE CROP NOW AND THEN.
In 1882 the total wheat yield of Minnesota was
g. 000, 600 bushels and total corn yield 100000
bushels, in round figures. Tho average yield of
wheat was estimated to be about fifteen bushels
per acre. This year the total wheat crop is esti-
mated to be over 40 600 600 bushels an increase Of
S,0oO,000, while the total corn crop will reach
q, 600 900 bushels, an increase of 100000. TAX
ing the Minneapolis market as basis for prices
iu the Northwest, hard wheat sold at $l0s in
September, 1882, declined to sos in October and
remained nearly steady at that price till the close
of the year. The bulk Of the crop of 1882 was
sold OH basis of $1.O5 for No, hard wheat, de-
livered in Minnea polls. The value of the wheat
crop that year, counting the entire crop. and max
ing an allowance for seed and home consumption,
WAS s33 6O0,00o In 1852, corn sold at an average
price of rs cents per bus hel, which made the to
tai value of the crop $l2 O0O 00. The total reven
ue from wheat and corn in Minnesota in 1882 was
$l5, ,000, ,00n. Taking the estimate Of the present
wheat op of 10000, 900 bushels at "a cents per
bushel, the price new being paid in Minneapolis
and Duluth for cash and September, the total cash
value will be $D, ,GO0O00 exactly the same as that
Of 1882 The total corn crop of "a, 600 bushels
at Sc cents, the present ruling price, will give
&l2 $4,000 The total value, then, in dollars, Of
the wheat and corn crop Of MINNESOTA for 1884
will be 81 05o, 900, against s45, ,6oo0 0Oo in 1882
THE vAULE OF OTHER CROPS.
AS wheat and corn are the principal product
ions they are taken as the basis Of the wealth of
the State. From the above figures it will he seen
that, Notwithstanding the low prices Of wheat and
corn this year there will be so much moro to sell
that tho revenue from these products will be
greater than when prices were 25 cents a bushel
higher. The prices of other farm products have
not decreased, it nust be remembered, III any.
| t inu1 ;Lot tho rat
at only cents less than in September 1852. Bar
ley is worth as much now as then, and fax seed
is worth 10 cents bushel more. Cattle are
higher, and hogs about the same. Taking into
consideration the greatly increased yield of fcrop
of all kinds, and the comparatively small differ
ences in prices of everything except wheat, the
farmers of the State will receive more money for
their products than ever before. The quality Of
all kinds Of grain and vegetables was never better
in the history of State. Thore will be less low
grade wheat and corn and oats this year than
ever before and farmers will reap the beaetits in
a much higher average of prices. A farmer
whose income in 1892 from a farm of 100 acres We
say 81 900, with the price of wheat $lo5, viii find
himself in receipt Of as large, if not larger, in
come this year from the same farm, while the ex-
penses are reduced Fl ON Is to 20 per cent.
DIFFERENCE IN COST OF LIVING.
A careful investigation shows that the prices
of all staple accommodates Of life has steadily dc.
creased during the past five years. The co!npari-
son. for the purpose of this article. ia made with
1892 In that year lumber was from 20 to rs por
cent dearer than now.
|. Hardware has declined from Is to 80 per cent in
value Bar iron which sold for 1926 wholesale,
sells for $40 now. Horse nails have declined
from IS cents to 16. Earbed fence wire, which is
a heavy item of expenses to tho farmer, has de-
clined from e1< cents per pound to 5H cents
Building paper which sold then at &2.25, sells
now at l5O. White lead is 80 cents per 100 pounds
cheaper, though oils have not declined to any OK
teat. From the above figures it will be seen tha
buildings and fences cost from Is to 20 per cent
less now than when wheat was worth Sl.05, and
only moderately large crop.
1NrHE NATTER OF CLOTHING
there is a diiferance of about Is Per cent. Heavy
1annels an d WOODEN goods Of all kinds have de-
clned fully that much since 1882, and other quail
tiles of staple dry goods show about the same de-
crease. The following figures show the wholesale
prices then and now of few staple goods:
1882. 1884,
Cents. Cents
Prints per yard ...........".. - so 9
Ginghams: :.............:......:9@ @lO4
Brown muslin. ..!O2@!5. a@
Blsached shlrtlngs... ghS SSg
- Ready. made clothing is also much
cheaDer. The r etluction Is not 80 much in fine