The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-06-24
CONCERNING "oVERPRODUC-
TION."

I'LL - 49,"
Agriculture" Statistician Dodge in a
long brochure on agricultural depres-
sion and it's causes, proves to his own
satisfaction that the farmers produce
too much stuff for the market oe-
mand.
Tn a recent number of the Forum,
another writer arrives at the same
conclusion. Both are quoted at length
with high approval by the America"
Economist, official organ OF the Fro
tective Tariff League.
And nov nm S. A. Houston l n
an article on Certain Relief " In d
Progressive Farmer for April Is, With
the same wild tale. l doubt mat
either of these writers or any OF d
rest who try to delude us moss-oacKs
ever read government statistics except
those erpqrte ones that confirm thelr
opinion. If they will turn to page
222 of the Eleventh Statistical Alb.
stract of the United States, 1888"
which is issued under the supervision
of the Treasury Department, they
will find that the wheat crop OF 1868
was 4,O36, 900 bushels; that OF
1888, 4l5,8 1858, 900 bushels, a gain OF
IS per cent If they figure out the
area sown by acres as there gwen, II
will show them the area increased U
per cent, which shows a decided loss
in yield per acre. .
If they figure On the total value OF
crops for those years they will note
that the gain on total value OF the
crop of 1888 over that Of 1868 IS a
little over 20 per cent, less than one
fifth the gain per cent. in acres; less
less than one-fourth the gain per cent.
in bushels.
The value of crop per acre is given
az Sl7.29 for 1868, and $1,000 for
1883, a loss of 40 per cent. .
Now if they turn to the Table OF
Exports of what and wheat -four on
page l3l, they will find that the ex-
port of wheat by bushels has grown
3l3 e cent. in that period of 20
years and the export of -four by bar
rels has grown 476 per cent. n the
same time.
Now if they will turn to the Sec
ond volume of the y. S. Finance Re
port of 1888 on Commerce and Navi,
CATION, page XXI, they will learn
that the average export price of wheat
per bushel in 1868 was $l.897; in
1883, $3.50, a loss of SIS per cent.
The price of -four per barrel is given
as $50. O69 and S4. 1873 for the respec-
tive years, a loss of "a per cent.
The export has been much higher,
l53,252, 1876 bushels and ~6,0ll,4l9
barrels in 1880. Now allowing five
bushels Del capita. the government
estimate, our foreign demand shows
an increase equal to 20, 900, 900 popu-
lation.
Our W population has increased
over 20, 900, 600 in that time accord.
ing to the experts. 1t was 80, 900,
900 in 1870, but our increased popu.
Iation added to the increased demand
for wheat equals $1,000, 900 more
bread. eaters in 1888 than in 1868; OF
an increase of 100 per cent. in con
sumers, during that 20 years.
Please notice that area increased
102 per cent, total crop IS per cent.
consumers, 100 per cent, and yet the
value per acre lost 40 per cent. anc
export value of wheat and flour les
SIS per cent. Why?
] have examined these reports anC
find the same condition of things il
the other grains, in provisions, il
dairy products and in cotton. Why
The various reports disagree on cot
ton statistics, but as near as | Ca
make them harmonic, the total pre-
duction increased 1913 per cent, tota
export in pounds gained 1873 per cent
total export value increased 46 pc
cent. TIE price per pound, averag
export value, fell from 1872 cents
SO cents, a less of 48 per cent.
The Fifth Census Report, Vol. /,
P. $40, shows that the annual col
sumption of cotton per capita for 5
years was II per cent for Gres
Britain and 1873 per cent. for til
United States. Assuming this as
standard, the increased export 1868
1888 is equivalent to an added pop
lation of 100, 600, 900, or 100 pr
cent. increase in foreign consumer
Our population increased so per cent
a total of $50 per cent. increase
consumers, and average per capita
the time increasing. Yet the tot
production increased but 1913 per Ger
The export price per pound denreasC
48 per cent.
In the face of government statisti
the cry of overproduction is a FRA
snd don't you forget it.
If you will examine the U.
Finance Report for 1888 Vol. l, pa
232, you will find that the silver d
lar in 1873 was worth in Lond
$1,000; in 1887, $.758.
Right here is the moral of my ia
All our produce has lost at the rs
of 2 to 2 and one.half per cent. T
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