The morning call., 1891-01-09
WHERE DOES THE FARMERS IN
TEREST LIE?

Alexander NJ. Dockery, who represents
10 DayiesS County. Missouri, in the Lower
House of Congress, is naturally opposed to
aiding the merchant navy of the country.
The bulk of his constituents never saw a
ship, and to them foreign trade is an abstrac-
ton. There is not river in the county on
which jolly-hoat could be iioated. The
farmers Of 10 Daviess County are really de-
pendent on the foreign demand for their
products for the profit they realize on their
corn and their hogs; but they are not
aware of The fact. So long as they can find
a market at Chicago they are satisfied, and
they have an idea that Chicago prices are
regulated by the members of the Produce
Exchange, and that MiSsourian pork is all
consumed in Wabash avenue. Hence they
see no object in promoting maritime inter
course with foreign nations. They belong
to the same class as that English squire
who hoped to live till all those dashed rail
ways were torn up and people returned 10
the good old days of st ge-coacheS.
Being like unto his constituents. Mr..
DOckery informed the House on Wednes-
day that sea-going iron steamers could not
be built as cheaply in this country as
abroad 1t would probably surprise him to
hear that they conli, and that if the bust
ness of sAip-buiidiDs engaged the best
minds in the country, as It once did, they
could probably be built more cheaply.
There is no reason why iron and steel
should be dearer here than in England. In
fact, it quite frequently happens in the
course Of year that both articles sell for
less money at Pittsburg than on the Clyde.
1t depends on the momentary demand and
the momentary supply. When we build
10000 miles of railroad in 4 year the demand
for steel rails puts the price above the En-
glISh quotations; when we only build
5000 miles, rs we did last year. our prices
frequently fall below the English prices.
especially if there is a demand for English
rails TO be laid in Chile, Argentine or else
where. Our naval architects do not at
present turn out as swift or as strong ships
as the English do for the same money. But
that is because, from various causes, ship
building has fallen into decay in the United
States. With little stimulus, the industry
will revive, and Mr.. Dockery will discover
that American builders can beat the En-
glish in steamship building as they beat
them forty years III yacht-building Pro-
fciency is the child of experience.
Sooner or later the people of Missouri and
OF the other central States will discover that
if they want good prices for their produce
they must provide markets for their surplus.
1t is the tail end of the crop which makes
the price for the whole. Fifty million
bushels Of wheat left over without a buyer
knocks several cents bushel off the price
of a crop of 100000, 900 bushels. 1t is the
fact that for ten years the world has been
growing a little more wheat than could be
marketed conveniently which has destroyed
the profit of wheat-growIng in the valleys
of the Mississippi aud Missouri Now, to
secure new markets which would convert
the present surplus into a deficiency there is
but one way, and that is to establish CONNER
cial intercourse with countries which might
have consumed that surplus. but have not
done so and the only practicable plan for
establishing that intercourse is to start
steamship lines from American ports to
new ports, which are now monopolized by
Europeans
Mr. D0ckery says that farmers can derive
no benefits from the extension of our trade
with the Spanish-AmericaS, because the
Spanish-Ameri countries produce almost
every article their people consume. In
spite of all the impedments thrown in the
way of trade Mexico imported last year
S735,000 of American breadstuffs and pro-
visions; Central America, 81 ,0S6, 600; Colon
Dla, some Sz,OpO,OOOi venezuela about the
same; and though Chile and the Argentine
Republic both produce wheat and provisions
the shipment of -four and hams from the
United States to both countries represent a
considerable sum. How steamship sub
sidy bill operates is well illustrated by the
history of our trade with Venezuela-which
of course is conducted with Atlantic ports
In 1870 our total trade with the republic
footed up S3.3O0,0OO, of which 1851. coo were
exports from this country. a few years ago
the Red Star line of steamers was established
to ply between New York and Venezuelan
ports, and the trade in 1888 footed up S13,-
0S9,o00, of which S3,OSs,OOO were exports,
consisting chiefly of breadstuffs, provisions
and lumber-the two former being furnished
by the farmers, whose interests Mr.. Dock
cry assumes to represent