The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1890-05-22

Totals lnGpl.aIss, ~. 'S.Ss' 9s.G>'.5s - Ss."l
PER cent $500 $40.
inrrra>i Sl"t ll.'s IL.
The increase In the corn area dur
ing the last three years has been
but - per cent per Annum, rs
against IL per cent in the two pre-
eeding years.
COrn-g growing is apparently APP
preaching its limit, the increase Of
acreage having ceased in the coast
region, extending from Maine to
Maryland, aud la the lake group,
which includes such states as Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wis
cOnsin aud Minnesota.
Ia the states OF the Missouri
vaIley-IOwa, Missouri, Kansas,
Nebraska, aud the Dakntas-the
area Of corn nearly doubled in the
i've years ending in lsIg, and the re-
durtiUu i'm the rate Of Increase
shows that the quantity Of new land
being devoted To this crop II less
than formerly. This u the scene Of
the excessive expansion In corn
growing which flooded the markets,
depressing prices TO the present un-
tFict the corn acreage has nearly
reached its limit, settlement having
passed beyond the corn area aud
partially Overrun the arid plains
where corn culture II impracticable,
except upon such limited areas As
can be irrigated. The process Of
converting corn fields int dairy
farms, orchards aud meadows, 10
here In active operation, and we
may conclude that the corn fields OF
this district will not la this century,
II ever, exceed 30,UU,OU acres.
South Of the Potomac and Ohio,
corn-growing made great strides
from 1874 TO lSTs, but advanced
much less rapidly from 1874 to lSS6.
Since lSSG there has been but little
increase. In Arkansas and Texas
the increase has been better sus-
taiDed than elsewhere, aud shows
less signs of an early halt, although
there IL an encouraging slAcksning
In the rate. A moderate increase
may be looked for Ia these states.
The acreage employed 10 corn
growing In the vast regions extend
ing from the l02d meridian To the
Pacific, does not equal that Of the
corn fields Of two counties in Kan
sas; and this entire area, being but
poorly adapted to the production of
this staple, will ever remain an un-
important factor in determining the
extent of the supply.
From this survey Of the sources
Of supply Il appears that any mater
ial increase Of the corn acreage must
he looked for in the states Of the
Missouri valley, In Arkansas and
Texas, aud In that portion Of the
Indian Territory lying east Of the
9sth meridian. IL IL safe to say that
the Indian Territory will not for
years produce any considerable sur
plus, but will, by she end of the
century, have two or three million
acres employed In growing corn,
which will no more than cOmpen-
safe for losses In area east OF the
Mississippi.
The tendency Of the present very
low price will be TO contract the
area ia corn wherever the land eau
be otherwise employed-at south,
for instance, In the production Of
cotton-And some expansion OF the
wheat fields may result from, q de-
crease In the corn area in northern
localities.
This review Of the area Of corn
production leads to the conclusion
that the acreage devoted to this
staple will not exceed S,,Un,UsI
until such time as far higher prices
shall render profitable the cultiva-
ton of soils OF very low fertility (;
and Il Is not likely to exceed S0,oOO,-
600 acres within FIVE years. Careful
computation of the extent OF the ex-
pOrlation Of animals and animal
products, now and fifteen years
since, shows the increase In such
exports to be equal t1 an addition Of
Que bushel OF corn per capita; and
what with the increased eXpOrta-
ton Of corn In this form and its
larger employment In the manufact-
ure Of various forms of glucose aud
as = substitute for Canadian aud
homegrown barley, n moderate
estimate would put the per capita
requirements at least u per cent
above the amount consumed prior to
1875.
With the consumption at the rate
OF tweuIy-eight bushels per capita,
an average yield from S3,OO.UU
would supply = population Of IS, co.
90, which we msy expect TO see As
soon n the year lSa5.
In the North Atlantic group the
Increase In acreage WAS constant
until lSS0, thereafter giving place to
. material dimiGution. The addi-
lions tn the acreage In the lake
states was very great up to $50.
when 4 rapid decrease began, the
loss now amounting 10 1853, TsS
acres. In the states OF the Missouri
valley, exclusive Of the Dakotas,
the enlargement of the area was very
great up TO ISL. when q sharp corn
er was turned, the wheat fields Of
this district having since shrunken
sos, 80 acres. The southern states,
including Arkansas and Texas,
show q moderate increase from 1875
10 1884, but q loss Of SIS ,99S acres In
the last i've years, now employed In
eotton fields.
There occurred q rapid increase In
the wheat area Of the three Pacific
states prior 10 1884, since which time
thu ln0Raaaa haa kaaa faGa thar 4 s,aR