The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-01-10
COMMERCE IN HAY.

THURSDAY. JANUARY TO- 1850.
COMMERCE IN HAY.
The Hay CROP Of this great coun.
try Is Of ever increasing value and i'm
l'ortance. In value it reaches and pos.
eih'y exceeds that o! the greatest of the
cereal crops. In 1870 the acreage was
80. l5O, 600 acres: the tonnage to IS, $780,
100 tons. At the moderate average Of
so per ton the value of that crop would
ti.~t year would be $3.50, 500, 600. New
York reported in 1879 the largest acre.
xxe mown. 4.644, ,OGO tons. Minnesota
had tile largest yield per acre-about
one aud half tons to the acre. The
central and northwestern States pro.
duce the bulk of this great crop. and
the southern States comparatively lit.
tie. In many of these States grass is
green SO much of the year, that h1y is
not much depended upon. But AS hay
10 becoming more and more M article
'of inter:stato eomtnercr, tiifs depart,
ment OF. production is receiving more
attention from southern farmers. -
Thirty years ago u statistici.n pro-
claimed that the hay crop of the Uni
ted States was worth more than the
much vaunted cotton crop. But this
was practically misleading. Cotton had
u commercial value which hay had not.
The latter had only q limited market,
its price being determined by the de.
mand in the locality where it was pro-
duced. Commercially it was much like
grass IN the pasture lot. That time has
gone by. Hay shipping, though yet in
its infancy, has attained a sturdy de-
velopment, aud is more and more be-
coming All element of importance in
interstate commerce.
What does this fact imply? What
prospect does it open up before the peo-
pie Of Southern Minnesota It means
that the time is at hand when hay will
be principally produced on soil adapted
to produce it proitably, both in regard
to quality. and market value. Com
munities, even states, which are now
producing their own hay will draw their
supply from abroad, and devote their
attention to crops better adapted to
their capacity for profitable production.
Ba'ed hay is as transportable as wheat
and, commercially speaking, of SINH
lar nature and Importance. When the
carrying trade wakes up to the growing
Importance of the hay trade, it will af-
ford it more favorable rates aud more
adequate facilities.
The production of wheat, as a crop.
has been abandoned in the Atlantic
States, where it was once their chief re-.
lance. They are as near the seaboard
rs ever, but they can no longer compete
with other sections where the soil and
climate are better adapted for wheat
production. In like manner, and for
like reasons, many sections will prac-
tically abandon the production of hay,
except for local demand, and turn their
attention to other crops. The lesson
to Minnesota farmers is that the hay
crop is growing in commercial import
ance, and will continue so to do. Their
soil is we'll adapted. and produces hay
of an excellent quality.
The chief difficulty is in securing
favorable terms of transportation. On
this point an intelligent writer says
The difference between a paying bus
iness and a losing one is only the differ
ence in the margin. and that may be
but small percentage. Rough and
poorly baled hay, with half loaded cars
may occasion loss that will more than
cover the margin. Old hay merchants
have remarked that u margin of 81 per
ton on hay is good business. Now The
manner in which hay is put up will
make more than this difference in the
market, and the additional freight on
poorly baled hay will double the loss
hence the margin will be the wrong
way. and will eventually tell seriously
against the capital invested in the bu
siness. Ten tons in grain car ut $40
a car, would be, say 81 per ton; eight
tons in same car at same price would be
SIS; five tons So: and four tons $40 pr
ton. Very much hay, put up with in
ferior machines, in new sections, is
shipped at the latter figures"
No matter whether cotton, wheat, OF
hay is king, the laws of trade are very
imperions, and the scepter departs from
the hand which does not conform to
them. Hay dealers and producers are
learning the initial lessons and condi.
tions of this trade. Prices will fluctu.
ate and years of disaster are possible,
but there is fair prospect for those in
the northwest who wisely pursue ite
production aud commerce.
CONCERNING OUR SENATOR