Wichita eagle., 1889-09-13
THE DECLINE OF FOREIGN DEMAND
FOR WHEAT.

THE DECLINE OF FOREIGN DEMAND
FOR WHEAT.
From the Milestone.
1t can no longer be doubted that the
area Of demand for wheat and wheat
products in Europe is constantly mar
rowing down, and this contraction is due
to two causes, one operating from with
in, that restricts the consumption of
flour by substitution Of other food forms,
as corn meal, canned corn, fruits, ETC.,
and the other from without, by the grad
ual expansion of the worlds wheat acre
age.
Indian wheat possibilities have taken
a large share of attention, but they do
not and will not be a controlling element
in the worlds wheat trade. We have
far more to fear from Russia, with her
enormous wheat belt extending from the
Baltic to the Pacific. We are overlook
ing the rapid stride Russia has lately
been making in the railroad development
of her enormous empire, and it will be
but two or three years before there will
be a complete line of railroad from St.
Petersburg TO the Pacific. Several lat
erals have already been built southwark
tan connecting with her Caspian system,
and these laterals are projected at inter
walls along the entire main line trunk
system. The country thus penetrated is
most all of it susceptible to wheat cul-
ture. and much of it fit for little else,
resembling our own Mississippi
states in climates and conditions, with
the difference that it is already fairly
populated by people fully as able to
COPE with us as the European Russians
who have been dividing the wheat trade
with us so long.
The gradual loss ofour supremacy in
wheat may be traced to an oves-conti-
dence in belief that this country must be
the principal reliance of Europe for agri-
cultural products, and this has led to a
degree of speculation, fictitious trading
and fictitious prices, that have contrib
uted every incentive for wheat culture
in all parts OF the world, aided by sew
eral years Of rather inferior growth at
home.
With available supplies from India. a
strong and growing menace from Russia,
besides numerous smaller sources IN
Australasia and North Africa, Europe
may draw plentiful supplies of wheat,
and may be sure of getting 1t at far
valuation The time has passed when a
few Chicago operators can raise the
price of bread in London or Paris,
especially when Great Britain, of all the
countries of Europe. IS the only importer
of breadstuffs worthy of mention.
Ii Is evident that whatever Of this
trade we may profitably retain will be as
flour. but to do this we must lay down
the -four on the foreign market as cheap
or cheaper than the British miller can
buy and grind foreign wheat. We can
not continue q policy that so far fayors
wheat as 10 admit it being ground in
Europe cheaper than our own miilers
NAV grind it: but this Is exactly what
the wheat manipulators have done. and
which. if it can not be stopped, Will go
far toward running our trade both IN
-four and wheat.
The farmer Is prone 10 blame the mil
Ter as bearing down on wheat. But IN
selling wheat to the foreign customer at
4 price beyond its value as -four. he has
unconsciously raised competition 10 that
degree that if the miller prove unable TO
overcome it by exporting -four, the
farmer must make up his mind 10 relin-
quish the foreign market altogether ex-
cept as an occasional makeshift against
failure Of crops elsewhere.