Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-09-10
Mr.. Dalrymple's Views.

Mr.. Dalrymple's Views.
Mr.. Oliver Dalrymple, of North Dakota,
is the largest wheat producer in the United
States. His views of the present situation
as we'll as the future prospects of the In
terest of wheat-prcducers, and the rela-
tions that wheat-culture generally is to
bear to the question Of supply and demand,
are worthy of attentive consideration.
The following communication from him
to the editor of the Cincinnati Price Cur
rent is introduced to the readers of thas
journal as follows under the title of 'The
General Position of Wheat -
1--WE were given credit for 'sgoing into
the prophecy business" when we said in the
Price Current of June ~: sit is not usual
" wise to urge the holding up on stocks of
grain when there is activity in demand,
especially at values better than previously
current-but the signs of the season are
more than ordinarily favorable to an out
look for better prices for the incoming
crop than even the improved values now
being obtained for the remnant of the DID,"
Wheat in Chicago at that time for Septem-
Der delivery was at about 20 cents-and so
far as the logic of events since then can be
reasonableness of the proposition.
We have received from Oliver Dalrym-
pie, widely-known and extensive wheat
grower in Dakota, who has long been
reader of the Prtce Current, clipping
froRa newspaper, bearing his signature,
ss copied below. One point made by Mr..
Dalrymple is that in late years wheat-pro-
duction has not been enlarged in proportion
to increase in population, and that in the
United States the tendency suggests that
this country ere long will reach the point
of importing instead of exporting wheat
1t is not unlikely, however, that this may
not prove well-founded apprehension, es'
pecially if values of wheat should become
established on a higher plane than in re-
cent years. The coming year appears
likely to develop an increasing interest in
wheat. culture in this country, under the
oil. transportation, the economies in the
great milling establishments, and other
factors, will serve to maintain the interest
in heat-culture to a point of liberal sur
plus for export for many years to come
Not unlikely irrigation methods, or higher
state Of culture by which increased yield
per acre will result, may serve in an unex-
pected manner in the near future in shift
ing the seeming tendency in production as
compared with population.
The main object of Mr.. Dalrymple in ad-
dressing his ''brother farmers and the
wheat dealers generally is to urge upon
them the grounds which support the view
that the legitimate situation of wheat at
this time is strong one for producers and
holders, and favors higher prices. His ex-
pressions are as follows -
CAssELToN, N. D., Aug. 25.-Permit me again
to communicate through your columns with
my brother farmers as to the worlds wheat
production and prices. The original sources
Of wealth are the fields, forests and Mines
Ofthese the fields stand first in Importance
The best official and other information dis.
closes that the worlds wheat average is not
materially increasing and that population is
steadily increasing over production.
During the last decade Eastern Europe. In
Guiding the great exporting countries of Rus
STA, Roumania and Hungary, has but slightly
Increased its acreage, while Western Europe.
embracing the importing countries, has stood
still or declined. Ten years ago the wheat
acreage OF the United States was about 49,
600 600 acres. and the year 1890 finds 1t the
same figure.
western limit as profitable wheat production
without irrigation. beyond which her vast and
fertile acres can be most probably devoted TO
the various live stock industries. The census
of 1890 finds the United States increasing in
population near fifteen million people in ten
years. consuming for bread, seed, &C., near one
million bushels of wheat per day, leaving from
this crop only about forty million bushels of
wheat for export. while the average production
of the country for the last ten years is AS 000-
600 and the average export for the last ten
years 100000 bushels per annum.
If the present ratio of increase OF population
over production continues for the next ten
years the United States will be changed from
an exporting to- an importing wheat country
The yield and value of this years crop most
Immediately concerns us.
For the last ten years the grand average
wheat-crop of this country and the world has
appropriated yield of twelve bushels per
acre. This year Eastern Europe claims only
an average wheatscrop, and admits serious
deficiency in her rye. crop, which is her great
bread commodity, while Western Europe has
a short wheat>crop. Reliable statisticians esti,
mate that the crops and reserves OF Europe
have SO much declined that she will require
l60,0O0,000 bushels of wheat from outside ex-
porting countries from the crop and reserves
of 1890 TO supply her wants.
AS near as can be estimated, the average
wheat crop of the United States for 1890 is
about l01z bushels per acre on say IS, 0O0, COO
acres or near 600 bushels, from which
must come total home consumption ap-
proximating 36OOOO,OOO bushels. India and
Australia have short crops, and the small ex-
porting States of South America are yet to
hear from. 1t Is no doubt business for all
8 hould make speciality Of that particular
crop or farming industry most natural and
best suited to its locality.
There is nothing in production or prices 10
discourage the wheat grower In good wheat
producing countries. or hasten them to sell
their crop Tor future delivery at present prices
The abnormal surplus developed from excess
sive crops accompanied by increased transport
tation facilities all over the wheat-producing
world a few years since brought prices tempo
rarily to the lowest point of the century.
A lessened production, nearly stationary
acreage, with increasing population, tend to
make the legitimate situation strong one
for producers and holders Of wheat and favor
as high range OF prices for the crop of 1890,
when uninf1uenced by speculation, as has OBJ
tanned for many years.
am yours. &c,
OLIVER DALRYMPLE.
In the SPECTATOR of June 18th we re.
produced the entire article from which the
extracts above from the Price Current of
the 18th of June are taken. For many
good reasons we had faith in the prophetic
views of the Price Current as expressed in
June and gave emphasis to them. The
editor wss not mistaken in his opinion that
better prices would be realized for the in
coming crop than the remnant of the old
had then reached.
Good Public Roads.
There is nothing more important to a
county than to have good public roads, for
nothing adds more to the value Of its pro-
A. ha ob /