The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-11
"THE FARMER ON TOP"
And the Washington Farmer on Top OF
All Other Farmers.

SPOKANE, Wash, July =, 1891.
To THE EDITOR: Erastus Wimsn has written
very strong article for the July number of the
North american Review, which is entitled ssThe
Farmer on Top" In doing 80, 10 ought to be said,
however, that he has but given emphasis and
embellishments to q line OF argument very fore
IDLY presented in the Forum some months ago
by MI c. Wood Davis, of Goddard, Kan. At
time when the prices of farm products have
reached the lowest ebb and when the occupa-
ton of the farmer bore its most gloomy aspect,
Mr.. Davis, who is himself q practical farmer,
came out with an array of statistics that were
almost startling to prove that the ratio between
supply and demand as to agricultural products,
wheat in particular, was about to be reversed
that while for many years the percentage of in
crease in wheat had been greater than the per-
centage in the increase of consumption, the
limit had been reached or would be soon. and
that before the close of the century the United
States would not have bushel of wheat for ex-
port, but would need all that could be grown for
home consumption. Mr.. Davis has been vindi-
Gated in two ways. First, by the facts developed
through the census returns, and, second, by the
actual course in the prices OF wheat
Mr.. wiman points out that the returns OF the
census now being completed show that while
the population of the country, a. q whole, has
increased 26 per cent. during the decade, the
cities have grown at the rate of over Is per cent?
while the farming population has increased
only IA per cent. The cities have increased in
population more than three times a. fast a. the
country. In the cities are the consumers of
bread; in the country are the producers of
bread. At the present rate of increase between
the two, higher prices for food products are in
evitable, and it cannot be long, as Mr.. Davis ar
gued, before the facts Of the present census are
revealed until we have home market for all we
can grow.
What has afflicted the farmers for several
years back is over-production. For the fourteen
years ending in 1885, as Mr.. Wiman points out,
the cultivated area OF the United States in
creased 112 per cent, while the population of
the country increased only A per cent 1t was
in this period that the great agricultural dis
tricts embraced in the states of Kansas, Texas,
Nebraska, Minnesota and the territory OF Dakota
were occupied and brought under cultivation.
The increase in farm products was enormous.
The total cultivated area in the United States
for the year 1871 was 50, 100000 acres. 1t had
arisen to 12S 100000 acres in 1875, and to 16o0o0,
600 acres in 1850. Between 1871 and 1875 there
was an increase OF 32.2 per cent, and between
1875 and 1850 there was an increase of a per
cent.
But the tide had turned by 1886, when the Gull
tivated area had increased to 1877 100000 acres
The increase had been only 81, 100000 acres for
the five years ending in 1885 a. against 100000
acres for the Ave years ending in $780, For the
five years ending in 1890 the increase had been
only IA, 900 900 acres, or but IL per cent. What
was the cause of the decreased percentage in
the increase of cultivated area? This simply:
We had reached the limit of the arabic lands OF
the United States, except certain districts in
the state of Washington. The growing OF
wheat stops within the limit OF the rain belt in
the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas and Texas until
the Rocky mountains have been passed and we
come to the Pacific coast states of California,
Oregon and Washington. The great middle area
of the continent embraced in the states and ter
ritories of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming Montana,
New Mexico and Arizona can never be wheat
growing states without expensive irrigation.
The whole state of Montana, embracing an area
of 10000 square miles, last year produced only
about 100000 bushels of wheat, less than was
shipped of the crop of 1890 from the town of
Oakesdale alone, in the Palouse country.
The wheat area of the United States is now
on an actual decline. In the decade between
1870 and 1880 the wheat area of the world In
creased % 100000 acres, to which the Uni ed
States contributed 100000. In the decade be-
tween 1850 and 1890 the wheat areas of the
world increased 100000 acres, to which the
United States contributed not one acre. This
is the way Mr. Wiman puts it, and this is right
1t Is a most significant fact that there are no
new arabic lands today in the United States to
be put down in wheat EXCEPT right here In our
own state OF Washington, and on the whole
there is a decline in wheat acreage owing to
the exhaustion of soils in the states OF the East
i have taken the trouble to point out these
general facts that it may impress upon the peo
pie of Washington that great wealth awaits
them because OF their wheat and agricultural
resources believe Washington is the richest
agricultural state in the Union, and believe we
will soon have in our midst the most prosperous
farmers in the world. | wish all the world
could come and see our PaIouse country lust at
this time. Beginning at point five or six
miles south OF Spokane there is a region that
stretches away TO Lewiston, $50 miles distant
through which you can travel nearly a whole
day over the Spokane & Palouse railroad and
have limitless wheat fields on either side
which promise yield of thirty forty
and nifty bushels an scre. IL Is Certainly
the finest single wheat district in the Uaited
States, and will this year produce not less than
l5,0Oo,oO0 bushels. The facts addueed by Mr.
Wiman and Mr.. C. Wood Davis very conelusiyely
show that we have reached the limit of low
prices for wheat Mr.. Wiman saws he looks for
dollar wheat-that is he expects To see farmers
in the Middle states receive a dollar hushel for
their wheat delivered We cannot exnect an
much per bushel in Washington because we are
too far from the great markets bnt if the farmer
In Ohio gets dollar bushel for his wheat the
farmers here win get 10 cents.
in Washington than one dollar in
Ohio. Why? Because while the farmers In
Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, lows. Kansas
Nebraska and the Dakotas harvest only from
twelve TO fifteen bushels from an acre the farm
ers in Washington harvest thirty bushels: 40.
while his Eastern brethren are receiving from
sl2 10 SIS per acre he is receiving 81 per acre
In other words, il is nearly 40 per cant. mora
profitable to grow wheat in Washington than in
the wheat states of the Mississippi valley. THE
same reasoning might apply to California.
where, believe. the yisld is less than fifteen
bushels per acre. Strange TO say, the ont.
side world Is Just beginning To .nnre
ciate the possibilities of wealth in the
wheat product OF Eastern Washington. The
Palouse country proper embraces about 300
square miles, or 100000 acres. Probably one-
tenth Of IL is IN wheat this year Certainly ons-
half is capable OF growing wheat, which. at an
average of thirty bushels per acre, would pro-
duce 7S,oO,0oO bushels. This sounds extrsva-
CANT, but IL is not unreasonable, aud I should
not be surprised to see the Palouse country pro.
ducing that quanety OF wheat in five wears if
prices are good The entire wheat product OF
Eastern Washington last year. including the Big
Bend and Walla Walla districts wa, between
100000 and 10000 900 bushels There will be
an increase OF nearly % per cent in the agsre-
gate this year, because there ia both an in.
creased acreage and the sure promise OF al in
creased Yield per acre, so that We may look for a
total yield OF at least IS 600 900 bushsls Atlesst
l5oO,oo bushels OF that will be marketed
sixty cents is now o1sred--To 10 expected. Rut
suppose We say 60; that means ts.ooooeo ter the