The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-10
Il WHEAT

to be easy to direct attention to a question
pressing forward for solution. The grain
crops of the United States for the year 1884
were the largest ever raised. So great was
the aggregate yield that it largely exceeded
not only the home, but the foreign demand.
As a result, the price of wheat has dropped to
a point that seriously threatens to make
wheat-growing Improbable, even when the
best results are had from it. Wheat selling
at eighty cents a bushel in New York means
that farmers in the great West have not real
lied over fifty cents, a loss to them, compared
with the prices of 1883, of not less than $780,
000, 900. The explanation Of this is easy, and
has repeatedly been made in these columns.
England, our great customer on the other side
of the Atlantic, as l as France, Belgium
and other European countries, have developed
a new source of supply, which has grown rap
idly during the last past few years
and threatens still greater development
as the years 60 by. The wheat
growing lands in the British possessions in
India are annually being brought nearer the
great markets of the world, and the export
yield has shown gains in the recent
past. Briefly it may be stated that from L.
76l, 200 bushels exported in 1879, it had in
creased to over IA, 900, 900 bushels in 1883,
more than half the amount shipped from the
United States during that same year. A mo-
ment's reflection should be enough to convince
anybody of the danger that threatens one of
our chief sources of revenue. When the
Indian railway system, which is now
in active process of construction, is
completed, the volume of wheat that can be
poured into British vessels at Indian ports
will be incalculable, and sufficient to relieve
England from all dependence upon America.
There are two ways in which to meet this
question: The first is by trying to compete
with the ryot wheat growers Of the Punjab,
to do which the price of farm labor, and of
everything entering into the cost of farming,
must be very greatly reduced, perhaps not less
than so per cent, if not more. The farm hand
now receiving $50 a month must be content
with SIS, and harvest hands getting So a day
must accept ST., or even less. But the price
of other products must go down in like degree.
The blacksmith that nails on four horse-shoes
for $3.50 will then have to be content with
--1-I - MI 1~--~. 4laA
makes boots for So must make them for 81.
The tanner must cut his prices in two; so must
the butcher; and finally it comes back to the
farmer, who must sell his live stock at prices
so per cent. lower than before. But even then
it is doubtful if American grain-growers can
successfully compete with the half-clad, rice
fed laborers of India, who work for ten cents,
or even less, a day. In this no account is
taken of the universal distress that must com
to debtors, for while the value of labor and of
products falls, the amount of the debt remains
the same. The farmer who owes o note that
5000 bushels of wheat would pay off now
would have to give 10, 900 bushels for it under
the new values brought about by the attempt
to meet Indian competition.
The other way to get out of this difficulty is
to 60 forward to the development and diversi-
fcation Of American industries. AS it is,
American farmers produce enough. and more
than enough, to feed and clothe every non
producer. The people of the United States
are in position to afford employment to every
man, woman and child within its borders.
This being the case, and the foreign demand
for American cereals being cut off, suppose
the Western farmer turn his attention to the
encouragement of labor at home. With more
than enough to feed and clothe every
individual in the Nation, there is no
reason why all not engaged in farm
ing should not be busy at something
else. Let American goods be worn, the prod
ucts of American mills and factories be con-
sumed in preference to those of any other
country. In this way the price of American
labor and its products could be maintained,
and, with plenty to feed and clothe all, there
is no reason why this Nation should not stead
ily increase in wealth. But let the wall of
protection be leveled, and outsiders will come
in and sell manufactured products atless than
they can be made here, the only result
of which would be to close our mills and drive
operatives to the fields, to become farmers, at
a time when it is quite apparent that the per-
centage of farmers is already too great, and
with every prospect of the foreign demand
becoming less and less from year to year If
it were found that too many plows were being
made, the manufacturer would shut down at
the moment their manufacture be-