Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-02-27

ARTICLES.
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Jan'y 7 mon. Jan'y r mon,

The result disclosed by the foregoing
wheat during the seven months of the
season 500 cents per bushel less than
last year, for corn 7.94 cents less, for
oats $40 cents less. Assuming that the
above represent the difference obtained
by the producer for the same periods, no
doubt the difference is broad, and if that
statement completed the contrast, we
should say the western farmer was obvi-
ously i'll as bad a condition as repre-
scented. But there is another
factor in the problem, and
that is the extent of the crop.
The yield of wheat, for instance, was
reported by the agricultural department
this season to have been 400. $50, 900
bushels, against 415,660,000 in 1888.
Multiplying those totals by the above
average unit of value, it will be found
that the receipts for the two crops esti-
mated on that basis would be S26, 016,-
112 more for the 1889 crop than for the
1888 crop. That is not all; for it must
be borne in mind that the difference in
net surplus between a full yield and
poor yield is by no means measured by
the relative price per bushel. The ex-
pense account is about the same
in both cases, but in the one the
farmer may secure enough gain TO
obtain at the ruling price no more than
the cost of production, while IN the
other case he may raise grain enough to
net much better result, and whatever
he gets above the cost is obviously
profit. Illinois, for instance, raised in
1888 on 2,449, 343 acres IS, j56,-
600 bushels. 1871 bushels to
the acre: whereas in 1899 its acreage
was 2.375, sos. and the yield was 3S.0l4,-
coo bushels. or 10 bushels to the acre.
Such wide difference in the production
per acre affords a broad margin TO make
good loss in price.
With regard to corn comparison is
more difficult because that grain becomes
part of so many other products, ana is
the life of so many other industries. The
corn crop of 1856, for instance, appears
raised in 1889. furnishing food for the
farmers family, besides n greater sur
plus to sell, the proceeds of which sales
become part Of this years income. But
it is impossible to cover those facts in
any estimate of results. We can gain an
idea of the relative situation of the states
that is suffering this season from the low
price of corn by mere comparison of
the product Tor the two years. Kansas
raised over 50 per cent more corn IN 1899
than In 1888. the amount of the yield per
acre i'll the former year 1889 being 3D.
bushels, and in the latter 1SSol 26.7
bushels. The agricultural department in
its LIST of January report for 1889, and in
the corresponding report for 1888. gave
the average price for corn in Kansas, %
cents in 1888 and Is cents in 1889. Ac-
cep;ing these figures as correct, this
state is better off this year than last
year. even granting that the cost per
bGshel of raising the larger crop was as
much as IN raising the smaller, which
could not have been the case.
VIC nav < a-Os SSk OUk tutcC 1GEtS 10
prove that the western farmer is in as
good condition as could be wished. We
all know the untru.h of that. As al
ready said, farmers products are selling
very low-so near the cost of production
that great economy has become neces-
sary. What. however. we have sought
TO show is that the statements are untrue
which asse IT that the condition this
year is so muAh worse than il was a wear
ago. Prices have declined. but larger
production has more than compensated
for the loss in price.
The fact is the farmers are disappoint-
ed, \ year ago everybody was hoping
for big crops. and the universal belief
was that that would relieve the situa-