The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-04-14
ECONOMY IN SUPPLYING WHEAT.

cupHIfs
Last September Mr. Edward Atkin-
son addressed section OF the Brit
ish Association for the advance
ment Of Science on the silver question.
In the course Of his address he made a
guarded statement TO the effect that
since the years Immediately preceding
the SO called demonetization Of silver
by Germany in 1883. when the price of
wheat in Mark lane was about 80 shill-
ings pcr quarter, there had been such
economies in the production and distri-
button of wheat in the United States as
to make IL practically certain that mt
the present time 81 shillings per quar-
ter would yield as good results to the
american farmer 1000 miles from the
seaboard as so shillings did then. Mr..
Atkinson did not profess to be exact as
he had no books Mt hand for reference,
but he aimed to keep well within
bounds.
The statement, which must have
been startling to an English audience.
as well as dIsquieting to English land
lords and farmers. was challenged at
all points, especially by number OF
correspondents of The London Times.
II was contested ms to all its details, and
some writer's rather broadly insinuated
that Mr.. Atkinson was in alleged Amer
lean propensity to spread the eagle.
Mr.. Atkinson did not care to rest
under the suspicion of having made an
unfounded and extravagant assertion
in the presence of grave scientific
association. Accordingly on his return
10 this country he made thorough in
vestigation Of the subject, and the re-
suits are given the public in two letters
addressed to Bradstreets and The
London Times Interesting as they
are TO all Americans engaged in farm
ing milling. and the grain trade. they
are too long for reproduction entire in
the columns OF The Times. Their
substance may. however. be stated
within moderate bounds.
Taking up first the assertion of some
OF his critics that western farmers
were. rs body. tending towards
bankruptcy or being eaten up by
mortgages. Mr.. Atkinson summarizes
the returns he has received from the
books of fifteen companies and firms
which have loaned eastern money upon
western lands for periods ranging from
two and half to thirty-eight years
$50. 600 mortgages. amounting to 1884,
000.0 900, averaging about 5000 loaned
on each mortgage OF these 1873. 500.
amounting to Sl10 500. 000. have been
paid. and 1l6.50o. amounting to sl23.
500. 600. are still outstanding Not one
per cent In number of the mortgages
have been foreclosed. and as the net
result OF foreclosure sales there has
been no loss. At present interest Is
being promptly mot The average
rate of interest has fallen In twenty
years from 10 TO IL per cent, or even
10 per cent. TO Ga or z per cent
Replies to questions addressed to
manufacturers and merchants point to
the same conclusion-that farmers, as
a body, are prosperous rather than the
reverse.
Mr.. Atkison next takes up tho cost
of transportation. and shows from
sufficient data that tho reduction by
rail east of Chicago since 1870 1871,
and 1872 has been seven-tcnths OF n
cent per ton per mile. West OF Chica-
20. he says, 1t has been in greater pro-
portion. though he has not the means
OF showing how mnch greater. AS
Stunning that il has been no greater.
there would still be reduction of 1
cent per ton per mile for 1900 miles.
instead of three-iourths OF cent as
he stated in his Manchester address.
He finds therefore. that the reduction
on quarter of wheat for ]. 500 miles
has been over ii shillings. He finds
also that the reduction In ocean traffic
charges has been IS. per quarter. In
stead of 2 as he stated ut Manchester.
He also finds that the charges for ele-
waiting. handling. and the like. have
been reduced Is 1. and the cost OF mill
ing, including the substitution of bags
for sacks. at least IS. per quarter.
These figures are more than supported
by seperate estimate by Byadsireers
from Chicago to New York. averaging
water rates with rail rates In addition
to this there has been saving Of 2s.
or more I'm the cost OF nlanfinn and