The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-02-06
FHE WHEAT QUESTION


Rs the granary Of Europe is no longer
incontes:ible. So long as the harvests
In Europe failed, and there were only
Russia and the United States to run
upon to make up the enormous def
cisncies occurring for FIVE successive
years, the demand for our wheat and
other breadstuffs was correspondingly
large. b Tut now that the harvests
abroad are once more very nearly up to
the average, and in addition to the
Russian wheat the product of India is
entering year by year more and more
into competition with our own, it is be-
coming obvious that we shall not often
hereafter be able to dispose OF our sur
plus grain in foreign markets, except at
prices much lower than we have been
accustomed to get. Wheat can be
grown In various parts OF India at a
very small cost in consequence of the
low price OF labor, and it is this small
cost at the point Of production which
enables it to meet all the expenses of
inland and ocean transportation, and
yet be laid down in Liverpool at a price
that brings it in competition with our
own. The proof OF this is in the fact
Of tie extension OF the grain growing
area In India during the last three years.
In 1881 the total export of wheat from
India was 100000 cwts. In 1888
the quantity exported reached p. .3OO,-
600 cwts., and it is estimated that the
same propoItionate increase will be
shown by the exports OF the present
year. Moreover, the soft wheat OF In
dia when mixed with the harder va
rieties OF American wheats, especially
those grown in the Northwest, is said
BY English milllers to make the finest
quality Of flour. Here, too, it is to be
remembered that wheat growing in In
diz is q new industry, and that it is re-
oeiVing great encouragement because il
offers a new held Of labor to the masses
Of the Indian population, but also for
the Tesson that wherever its cultivation
extends It secures the people from those
devastating famines to which India has
been subject from time immemorial.
The capacity Of some parts Of India for
wheat growing is limited only by the
means Of transportation to a sea port,
and this capacity will be greatly in-
creased when the new railroads already
projected or in course of construction
are completed. 1t is 20 the interest OF
the British government that preference
should be given to supplies Of wheat
from India or Australia. both being
British dependencies, because of the
Increased demand tins made for goods
or British manufacture. Here are facts
that, in speculating on the future for
eign demand for our wheat and bread
stuffs, we have to consider. If we are
70 maintain our supremacy for many
years TO come, it must be under differ
ent conditions. The chief of these con-
ditious are economy in production and
cheapness Of inland and water trans
portation. There is a point. even at
the Northwest, on the gres.. wheat
farms of Dakota, where nearly every
thing is done by machinery, at which
grain cannot be grown at profit. To
the small farmers-anj these constitute
the bulk Of Western wheat growers
the cost of raising wheat is much high.
er than on the gteat Dakota farms, and
it Is by the standard of cost to the
small farmers that the possibility OF
proftable wheat culture must he judged.
A week ago the price of wheat at Kan
sss city was fifty-eight cents per bush
el. At that price the margin OF profit,
even on the best coils, must be small.
On worn or inferior lands there would
be no margin left. AT Chicago, on
Tuesday, the price was fraction less
than seventy eight cents per bushel,
cash, and contracts for delivery in Oc-
tober, November and December did not
exceed, even for the latter month.
eighty-twO cents. This, too, it. should
be remembered, is in the face of the fact
of a greatly decreased wheat crop las.
year. What then, is TO be done2 The
answer applies Lot only to Western far
mers, bat to those OF the MID lie States
To view OF possibly diminished de-
mand abroad, 1t would be advisable tC
place less dependence on wheat as the
money crop, aud TO enter more, as the
cotton States are now doing, into mixed
farming, to encourage dairy farming,
S1S 90 raise and fatten more cattle
which, as statistics running through
msBY years show, have never failed t
give q good return proport;onate to tn,
the care expended 90 them.-Bdltimor
San