Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-02-14
Limiting Agricu!lural Production

| II MlNluB a IlCulluIdl IIOuuCLlOus
over production Is believed to be the
cause OF the ruling low prices IN wheat
and other farm products. That this
belief Is general among farmers them.
selves is established by the ports
just published IN regard TO the ecresge
seeded to wheat for the coming har-
vest. Every stale reported shows a
lesser acreage than last year. THIS de-
crease ranges from 10 per cent in MS
souri, to 80 per cent. in Kansas. The
great wheat growing states OF Illinois,
Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Dakota, Min
nesola and Ohio show general aver.
age decrease OF - per cent and this
will probably Represent the ratio all
over the country. II is time to con.
template the probable ,f ct Of this
great diminution Of production upon
the bu,iness Of the country.
The wheat crop OF 1854 yielded
5l3 900, 900 bushels. The average pro-
ductiOn per acre Was heavy, and even
with a highly favorable season the
harvest Of 1885 is not likely TO be mor-
abundant. II the same rate of ield
per acre Is sustained the total prOduc-
ton OF the harvest OF 1885 will be
lO2 500, 600 bushels less than that of last
year, which will reduce the amount to
about 4lO 600, 900 bushels. The pro-
duclion being thus diminish d by one
tifth, and the demand being kept up
or even enlatged, const quent upon
growing population and the wars In
Africa and Asia, higher prices may
COZ fl ienilY be looked for. With
lO2, 900 900 bushels less for sale, aud
demand TO be met which has not d.
minished, but rather grown larger,
the mischiefs of over. production In
that industry at least will be'averted.
AT this point, however, we have con.
sidered but half the question. Though
relief may thus be sought and obtain.d
as regards the raisers OF wheat, the
very action by which that relief is to
be purchased produces a fresh evil and
new difficulty. The men who have
cultivated this great surplus of wheat,
aud the ground upon which it was
grown, are not to be thrown out Of em-
ployment and left idle. Into what
new cham els Of industry shall they
be turned? Not in oats, or corn which,
besidee cotton, constitute the other sta
pie eXportable crops of the country, for
tho market is as gorged with these
cereals as with wheat. The only
avenue, and IL is not wide one, that
can lead to a better adjustment of
the relations OF agricultural indus.
tries is to turn part Of this
redundant labor into the production of
hay, with which to support Isrger
! number aud better class OF beef cat
+ tie, for which there is fair market.
70 The relief to be obtained by this means
I is only partial The great question Il
$ not yet answered-What shall be done
, with the men who produce this lO2..
: 100000 bushels of wheat in 1881 which
9 Is in excess Of the amount that will be
: cultivated In 1856?
: Limiting production cannot give the
i country property. Such a course
means unemployed labor and un.
9 productive lands and capital-true
signs Of industrial decay. w
y must fad q market for our 80 the
instead Of restricting prO''.fk Is must
3 present demand. TSnds. Our grain
e be sought In f-.nust have vent, and
i and br, a.''or them must be found ba.
e pur-'ea. To accomplish this end I,
2 b'needed for the government 10 on.
courage commerce and create a do.
mand fortho surplus wheat and com
OF the West. Such commerce can.
not be developed except by the sbsp.
Comment OF the present prnteo,iye
tarlh policy, which surrounds ns
trade OF this country with barrier NJ
taxation to exclude exchanges ~
Other countries that would come 10
these shores, and ia return for thar
wares would gladly take our wheat
and corn N"N