The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-03-25
MARKETS VS.. NIAXIAIS.

To the Editor of the Eagle.
Contributing to the EAGLE the result of
certain Investigations entered upon with
out any theory to sustain and desiring
only to ascertain the cause producing
/ certain effects. had not the remotest
idea that I should call out so many criti-
Cisms which the authors evidently deem
. conclusive answers, although in no one
that has come under my notice has the
critic fortified his statements and theo-
ries by particle of statistical or other
data, seeming to rely upon adiectives
rather than facts.
intend neither to question or contro-
vert the opinions of these gentlemen but
desire permission to state such facts as
are brought out in the investigation. [
am still pursuing and [ am glad to leave
/ theories Of free trade, protection, green
/ backs, recommendation, option dealing.
/ transportation, silver coinage, deficient
circulation, trusts. cambines, Henry
Georgeism, under consumption and all
the other isms to their respective cham
pions, quite assured that each viii rush
to the protection Of his pet the moment
its downfall is supposed to be threatened
by such facts as may be brought out.
1t may or may not be a
fact that the existing surplus of
acres IS the cause Of the present
depression and any one or all Of the other
things named may be the cause and the
/ existence Of such surplus of cultivated
acres have had no possible part in pro-
ducing this uncomfortable state Of af-
fairs; but no one, 50 far as | am able to
discover, has Yet been able to bring for
ward single concrete fact that any of
the other things named Is the prime or
even an important factor in producing q
depression which all admit to exist.
while | can and do produce any number
OF such facts in support Of the conclusion
forced upon me when | found the de
precision 50 clearly flowing from the Gre
alton and continued existence Of this
surplus acreage. ] state the facts upon
which my conclusions are based. NV
critics. however. seem to have reached
conclusions but forgotten to find. or at
least state. any facts to support them. l
Will. with the editors permission state a
few more OF these facts.
For instance in 1866 with fortv-thrae
(43) one-hundreiths OF an acre OF wheat
for each inhaoitant the price reached
S2.19+ per bushel. In 1881 with seventy
one l1J one-hundredths of an acre of
wheat per capita the price fell to 50 cents
per buShel. and we were forced to let
Liverpool dictate such price. During the
five years ending 1874 the per CAPITA
q
l33) Cue-huldrCdths Of an acre and the
average price for the five years. was
tiftv-one CD cents per. bushel During
the last FIVE years the per capita quota
il corn has been one acre and twenty
fiye 1.25j hundredths OF an acre and the
price averaging for the five years. has
fallen 10 thirty-f0ur and siN-tenths l3+6l
cents per bUshel. If others are ! am not
able to ignore the relation which these
facts show 10 exist between cOnSump-
ton. production and price.
When cultivated acres increased
seveny-three is@I per cent and the con
Stunning element population but thirty
t31l per cent. as it has done in a recent
period. I am logical enough 10 believe
it affects prices. especially when
the increase IN product was very much
greater than our exports. and when no
matter how large the crop and however
low the price we have never Vet been
able 10 get the foreigner 10 buy more
than SIX and Cne-half t6s} per cent OF the
corn crop. ithe average exports during
thirty-eIEht wears has been but three
and ei-ht-tenJh> ,3Sl per cent. Only
twice during this period have the eX-
ports reached per cent.
When the price Is low Wa export far
more corn than when Jhe price Il high,
aud the price is high when the yield Is
below the average.
What shall IT profit the farmer to raise
a large crop when the cost of production
and marketing Is mere than the product
sells for. II may profit the gram lu-r-
chant. the transporter and commission
man and possibly. lhe consumer, but *
certainly does NOT profit the farmer. No
longer ago than the lStb 81 this month.
before tie Interstate commerce CsuH.--
sion at Lincoln. Nvb-. evidence was adj
duced showing that IT cost over Is cents
per bU~hel TO produce c1rE- Where Is +
TIE pre6t vLen she farmer sells for Is OF
even - cents: don't care whether the