St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-09-13
Farm Value of the Crop.
which does not depend on It's size as the 10
.tal.. .1. 696 0sO OOl sI .651 10a n0O

Total. .........1 ,696, $4,000 81, 651, 103. 600
The above figures are very significant.
They prove that 1t does not matter how
large the farmers crop is but what he gets
for it: for, while the crops during the first
four years i'll the above table exceed by 300
100000 bushels the other four years, the
farmer got $500 100000 less for them.
Therefore, look with suspicion on thencws-
paper articles congratulating about immense
crops, and on those who inspire them.
The same parties now enlighten the farm
ers that Europe will need all they have raised
and more, but that they cannot buy it at eX-
orbitant prices.
This is true. and it only remains to be as
certained when exorbitant prices commence
The shortage i'll Europe can now be fig
ured with accuracy.
About week ago a congress of grain deal
ers from all parts of Europe met at Vienna
Austria, and computed figures about the
crops in Europe.
These figures are the highest which we'll
Informed. reputable men could furnish; for
II, i'll a famine year like this, they should give
for the crop of any one country lower figures
than circumstances justified, the govern
ment of that country would certainly remon-
strate.
1t is surely the policy of Europeans not to
eXaggerate their disaster.
The figures of the Vienna congress show
that Europe raises 100000 bushels of
wheat, and 49O,00Q0O0 bushels of rye less than
last year.
Last wear it consumed all of its own wheat
crop and at least 50,010,000 of reserves 100.-
100000 bushels imported from America all
that other countries could supply, and all its
rye crop.
This year it will have from America 12O.-
0OO,000 bushels more than last, if we take the
extreme figures which any reputable author
ity has made for our really splendid crop
1t Will have, as usual, what other countries
supply, which is very Insignificant. but it
viii have 74S000 900 bushels less OF its own
crop and 50O00,000 bushels less to be drawn
from reserves.
In short it will have 12O0Oc, 600 bushels ex-
ira from America TO make up deficiency of
79S, 100000, and must consequently eat 67S,-
COO, 600 bushels less grain.
Rye being dearer in Europe than wheat,
the latter becomes substitute, and is equal
ly affected by deficiency il rye or wheat
When it is entirely certain that Europeans
will have TO economic in bread to the ex-
tent of 67S,000,000 bushels. and when the sit
uationls aggravated by the partial failure of
the potato crop, it is TO be considered what
prices they would
Pay for American Wheat.
The above named advisers of the American
farmer tell him that price of 81 per bushel
in Chicago is about the highest Europeans
will stand and that they would rather eat
other things than pay moro for wheat.
Let us see how true that is.
They can surely not substitute meat for
bread, because at the highest. price of wheat
ever known bread still remains the cheapest
food. When driven to eXtremities they
could substitute corn, barley or oats, and
they will have to do SO anyhow. without
question, for of wheat and rye there is not
enough on this planet to come anywhere
near making up the deficiency; but when it
becomes necessary to draw upon these prod
ucts TO fill the shortage they will also Iise to
heretofore unknown prices
1t being admitted that the shortage in Eu-
ropean crops is far the worst ever known in
history, 1t would be only natural for Euro
peans to expect high wheat prices.
The average price for wheat for the last
thirty two years in England. on gold basis,
was Sl.4 per bushel, which now corresponds
with price of S1.21 in Chicago.
During the eight highest years of that
period, namely 1876 -6s- 7l-72-73-74 ana 1877,
the average price was Sl.7724. equal to l.57sl
in Chicago.
During 1867 and 1865 the average price wa.