The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-01
THE SUPPLY AND CONSUMPTION
OF WHEAT.
From the Topeka Capital.

! From the Topeka Capital
| Among the most interesting and i'm
! pressive magazine articles of the last year
are series contributed to the Forum
and Arena by Mr.. c. Wood Davis, of
| Kansas, on the wheat area of the world.
In these contributions Mr. Davis makes
the prediction that within four years the
United States, in place of being the
greatest seller of wheat to the European
and tropical countries, will itself become
a buyer This prediction he sustains by
a mass of statistics showing familiarity
with che problem which gives him po-
sition of high authority. Mr.. Davis CON
tributions to this important subject have
attracted wide and serious notice and
are OF primary interest to Kansas.
The May Arena opens With the most
exhaustive article Mr.. Davis has vet con-
tributed to the subject. 1t is stated that
nearly year was required to secure
from Europe. Asia, Australia and North
and South America the official data en-
ployed i'll this essay. The statistical
tables given in support of every essential
statement made in the article make it
what the Arena describes as ''the most
exhaustive examination of the wheat
problem that has ever appeared in re-
view"
Mr. Davis shows by an interesting table
that the production of wheat in the
United States increased from trifie less
than 200. 600, 600 bushels annually in
1869 to 464 900, 600 annually in 1S60-04,
or 1872 per cent. the amount exported in
creasing from 25. $50, 900 in 1860 to
149. 572. csc in 18S0-84, or 500 per cent.
From $3.50 the amount produced fell
of to an annual average of 435 ,5l7 400
bushels, reduction of Sc per cent, and
the amount exported TO 11S, U33, 3Ol, Il re-
duction of 81 per cent.
This decrease in wheat production
was due 10 the more profitable produc-
ton of other crops, the wheat area In
the United States having decreased in
the last five years 24 per cent. or about
l 900, 600 acres. The natural increase in
the demand for other staples, due to the
advance IN population, will require an
increase Of 5000, 600 acres IN the
United States by 1895, the increased
acreage being necessarily taken from the
area now devoted to wheat. The fairly
fertile lands OF the United States re-
naming TO be brought under cultiva-
ton do not exceed. according To Mr..
Davis statistics, 81, GOT, 0C1 acres, and
large proportion Of this area consists OF
land occupied by Indians in the Indian
territory and by the vast forests OF the
extreme northwest, in either case being
Ineligible for many years 10 come. From
1870 10 1880 the wheat acreage Of the
world increased %. 700. 900 acres. Of
which the United States contributed 49,
600 900 acres, or over 50 per cent. From
1880 TO 1890 the increase was but ., J00,-
600 acres, of which the United States did
not contribute an acre, Withdrawing in
facts to the extent OF ! ,9)o, 900 acres.
From 1870 to 1Sso the bread eating pop
ula.lon increased 70 10 per cent, aud the
wheat aud Tye area increase IN acreage
was bat 3 Per cent.
Mr.. Davis estimates from the statistics
in his possession that the probable Amer
lean wheat crop in $50 VIII not exceed
400 $50. 900 bushels, while the certain
American demand VIII be 401 400. 90
bushels, requiring a probable importa-
ton or $1,000. lie says Of the results |
Ct this deficit OF tie wheat supply:
Such change - impending aud can
not - postponed beyond 1895 unless I.
population shall cease 10 increase or the !
average standard Of living shall be Re- |
duced greatly: and with short crops it |
may occur a year or two earlier. and /
VI ben this inevitable change comes, the |
era of cheap dread and worldwide |
agricultural depression viii end and the 1
price OF wheat aud ali other farm pro- /
duets reach a higher level than that /
known during and Immediately after !