The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1885-09-18

noted, and her annually increasing rank ss an
exporter, this is real compstition, and one
which we could not meet on sQual terms.
American farmers cannot, under existing con-
ditons, raise wheat to be sold at 81 per bushsl
in the English market.
"What considerations, then, are there to bs
advanced as an offset to the grave danger
which il represented as threatening the Amsri-
can producerP At least three lines Of escape
present themselves from competition % ruin
Gus, and one which has been rapidly growing
upon the comprehension Of the country. First
Of all, we must have cheaper transportation.
The lake and Erie canal route We have. But
the wheat grower Of the Northwest will gain
an immense advantage with the improvement
OF the great water rsuts which il to be to him
thing Ut insstimable value, and by recog-
milton OF its place in the transportation routes
of the future. Wheat sent down the kissis-
sippi and thence to Europe can he carried at
cost 80 trifling as almost to equalize at once
the disparity between cost Of production here
and elsewhere. Indian wheat brought to
England has to be carried thousands of miles
through tropical seas in tho holds of vessels.
That 1t is not injured in the least, disposes Of
the last shadow Of reason or probability in the
argument that grain taken via New Orleans
would be damaged on the way. The improve
mont of navigation to the head waters OF the
river, SO that barges may pass up and down at
all seasons, will open through water route
from the heart Of production to the ports of
k,CrONa ~ I'M a oil n1A fra 4, MT,
Is our first and obvious resource. In the second
place, the contest between Indian and Ameri-
can wheat for control Of the market il net an
even one. As an ingredient in flour making,
the hard varieties Of American wheat cannot
be dispensed with. The author Of monograph
on Indian and American wheat competition,
published last year, writing from the Eaglish
standpoint and wishing TO demonstrate tho su-
periority Of India, nevertheless makes the fol-
lowing most significant admission IN speaking
Of the Indian wheats: Their beany flavor is
not serious obstacle, rs fair average deliveries
when we'll cleaned and properly dealt with,
can be employed in the proportion of 25 Per
cent to 30 per cent along with home grown or
other wheats, such a. Americans, possessing a
fine, sweet, milky or nutty flavor A csnsid-
cradle proportion of American wheat il abso-
lutely necessary to make such flour as the world
demands. Indian wheat cannot stand alone
upon Its own merits. 1t can no more drive
American out of the market than largo yield
OF No. 2 in this country could destroy the de-
mand for No. l. Up to certain point II in
tensfes it. There will always be market
and effective demand for the better qualities Of
the American grain. And in conclusion, it
should DO remembered that the United States
is destined to slowly recede frsm her position
as the feeder of the world. Before foreign
competition can become a destructive force.
our internal development will probably have
carried US entirely beyond its reach. The GEN.
ter Of wheat culture resedes with tho growth
and diversi6catisn Of industry. Halt a GEN.
tury ago New York and Pennsylvania were
forcing New England to yield the palm In
wheat raising. Later, the scat of its culture
pushed to tho central West. Still later it moved
to the Northwest Stage by stage other indus
tries came in to take its place. Absolutely the
amount Of land devoted 10 wheat and the an
nual yield has increased. Relatively, az CON-
pared with the total area under cultivation, it
is destined to decline. In localities whore com.
petition now make the raising Of wheat profit
less, ether forms Of agriculture are succeeding
1t. The change must continue aud become
more comprehensive. Meantime, a. exclusive
devotion to wheat raising declines, population
increases, there are more mouths to bs fed,
and domestic demand gains upon foreign. It
will not probably be tho very distant future
when the excess Of production over consump-
ton in the United States, az far az this grain
is concerned, is SO slight that the spook Of for
eign competition can bring no terror to our
souls. All these natural forces and adjust
ments regulate themselves. 1t is true that In
dia il yearly becoming more and moro leader
In wheat production. The practical lesson for
us is to prepare ourselves to meet that competl-
ton as far as it affects us now, with serene
confidence that it holds in it no threat Of ruin
for our future prosperity"