Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1890-09-18

was tWenty-slX and third mllllOns; IN
1884, forty and half millions. An in
crease OF abo 1t IS per cent in corn, and
a little N re than 50 per cent in wheat.
During that time population increased
less than 30 per cent. Meantime India
came into the field. For years England
had been spending millions Of pounds
sterling to build irrigating works to re.
deem the scorched fields of that empire,
and railways to transport the grain from
them. The outcome began to be felt
about the time OF the largest production
of American farms, and together they
quickly caused the granaries Of the world
to groan with surplus cereals.
1t IS true that most of the wheat pro-
duced in India was poor. The miller did
not like it, and the eater regarded it with
distrust. But it could be delivered in
Liverpool for dollar bushel, some
times for less. and it served-served as
club to hold over the heads of American
producers, forcing them to accept the
same price.
Everything was adverse to the prices
of farm products. and nothing in the
world could have saved them for the
time
Following 1888 the farmer has been
wearily waiting for the good time coming
when his farm would not merely afford
him living, but some fair profit, so that
he might feel he was having part IN the
general prosperity. But the enormous
increase of area planted to cereals from
portion to the increase of population,
addition to that area since, has up to this
~ Id al tn I,o cr,ll
at Liverpool prices.
Now it is certain that so long as our
farmers must export 20 per cent OF theli
sell at the lowest value England can de-
wise. At present India makes the stand
ard prices for wheat III England; Ameri-
can wheat must sell in Liverpool not
higher than the wheat from that country
paid for in silver If it be true, as we
were assured in the debate on the silver
bill, that the price paid the ryot or his
master never varies as to the amount of
wheat given for silver rupee, whatever
may be the value OF the silver bullion,
then we may hope that that standard
has just now permanently advanced. We
shall have to wait and see.
And now, Mr.. President, there looms
and corn, as we'll as to beef and wool.
We seem TO be just learning about the
resources and fertility of certain South
American countries, threatening to be
more formidable competitors than India.
l read from Harpers Monthly OF Novem-
Der, 1857, part of an article by Mr.. Will
liam Elroy Curtis. >: q: * Here then,
Mr.. President, is an immense area Of
agricultural country, purely agricultural
fertile to The highest degree, il we may
accept tho impression formed by Mr.
Curtis (ant they are confirmed by others)
easily c1llivated, teeming, with a con-
stantlv increasing abundance of cheap
italian and Spanish laborers, an area di-
vlded in half by the great rlver de la
Plata Ga river navigable by large ocean
steamers to the very center of the farm
ing region), and able to lay its wheat
down at tide-wate at 60 cents a bushel;
an area not heretofore largely under cul-
tivation, but destined, under the system
of assisted immigration and of lands fur
nished without cost inaugurated by the
Argentine Republic, to development
probably more rapid than the world has
ever seen.
Already this region is demanding part
of the British market. Soon 1t will want
it all. Before long it will supply France
with its 6O,OOO,O00 bushels OF maize. In
less than ten years, If it's development
continues, the Argentine Republic may
be expected to be without a competitor
in the markets of the world in wheat and
corn and wool.
We see, then, If statements generally
accepted as authoritative are to be taken,
that the American farmer is likely soon
to sec the foreign markets escape from
him, simply because another source
promises to furnish his products more
cheaply than he will be able by any pos
sibility to dc.
Let us consider now what our home
market is and what it promises to be-
come.
We have now to provide food products
for sixty-four millions OF people. We
may, and ought to provide for these sixty
four millions also wool for their clothing
and their carpets, as we supply practic-
ally all their cotton. Probably Is per
cent of this population consume their
commodities in ratio corresponding to
similar percentage in other hourishing
countries. Another Is per cent live
somewhat better than the corresponding
Is per cent in England. 1t is safe to say
that the next 10 per cent are good deal
better fed aud clothed, and that the re-
naming GO per cent are consumers Of
much greater, probably of double. the
quantity of high class food and of wool
products consumed by any correspond
ing 60 per cent in any other country.
Why is this so? Because the great
consuming class of staple farm products
in the United States is made up of we'll
paid laborers.
I do not say that all labor is sufficiently
paid. Doubtless there are exceptional
industries where starvation wages are
doled out. Happily they are the excep-
tlons; and the extreme ignorance, often
degraded origin, Of laborers in such in
dustries, explain the anomaly. Most
deeply are these exceptions to be de-
plored.
But, under protection, the American
mechanic has found behind the great
manufacturing establishments q refuge
and bulwark, whence he not only can
defend himself against q reduction OF
wages, but can carry on warfare for
increased wages IL he find himself all