The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-28

Our. dispatches report that Russia Is
about to prohibit the expectation of maize.
The corn crop of the United States is COM
puted by the american Agricultural at over
1900, O00, 900 of bushels, and the surplus OF
this crop is therefore likely to be taken by
Europe. Our wheat crop is estimated at
from $50, 900 to 100000 bushels, the largest
wheat crop of our history, and it is likely
that our surplus wheat will be marketed
at the highest price on record
per bushel of recent years. The high
est August prices for wheat since the
Crimean war of 1S54-56 have been Sl.55 in
1867; $1.6i in 1872, and sL30K in 1875.
The wheat situation in the Crimean war
forced an exceptional price, because Rus
STA, Turkey, Asia Minor and the Danubian
provinces, that usually export grain, were
the theater of great war. and at that time
the United States raised only about $780,
600 900 bushels of wheat against nearly
600 000, 900 bushels today. For ten years
the wheat acreage of the United States has
been diminishing. In 1880 we had almost
10 bushels per head: in 1890 barely 60.
The wheat acreage for the whole country
fell off 1,352, 026 between 1880 and 1890.
Population increased nearly Is per cent,
while wheat dropped per cent, and each
acre on the average was producing less.
Between 1879 and 1884 the average yield per
acre was 1875 bushels; for the next six but
11.6 bushels per acre.
This situation impelled Kansas Stats
tician, Z. Woods Davis, in the May Forum,
to predict that in five years the United
States would import its own wheat; that
the wheat crop had reached its limit; that
exports would decline, population increase
and that by 1895 wheat would come from
abroad. The error of these agricultural
doctrinaires was pointed out at the time
by both European and American economic
writers. Prince Krapotkine, Russian
writer, showed that Mr.. Davis had left out
of his computation the increased posi-
bilities of agriculture exhibited by the re-
suits Of scientific cultivation Of land IN the
most densely populated districts of the
oldest countries in Europe. France
raises 80 bushels 70 the acre
on land that ~ years ago yielded
but % bushels 10 the sess, sss1 OCCASIONALLY
the yield is IS bushels 70 The are. In the
German state Of Hssse the Average crop is
81 bushels 10 the acre, and 3 number of
farms in Northern France yield year after
year from 55 10 81 bushels 70 the acre.
while farms in Central France produce
year after year, over large areas, Al
bushels 10 the acre. East Flanders pro-
duces from 80 TO 30 bushels of wheat to the
acre. Since the end Of the last century
the French peasants have nearly doubled
the area under wheat and returns from
each acre so as to increase four fold the
amount Of wheat grown in France. In
France the average wheat crop from 1882
IS was 21L bushels to the acre for A
departments and 20 bushels to the acre for
Ii departments.
Professor Wilken, a German scientist
who last year visited this country for the
purpose of studying its agricultural condi-
tions, returned home convinced that if we
but half utilize our enormous natural ad-
vantages we will be able to feed our people
for an indefinite time without importa-
ton. Today agricultural doctrinaire or
demagogue Davis can look ont of his win
dow in Kansas and see the logic of his sta
tistical argument in support of wheat i'm
portation by 1895 disappear before the
record of Kansas crops for 1891. The wheat
crop of the country is at least 1856 600, 0oC
bushels greater than last wear, and our
wheat acreage is probably from 5000, 0OC
TO 100000 acres. If this great yield had
found Europe with good harvest wheat
would be low today. The great crops o!
lSS0-s4 reduced the average price of export
90 two-thirds the rate in previous years.
ana for five wears the price has not re-
covered. Europe, outside of Russia, in av.
erage years needs about 80. 600, 600 bushels
years furnishes about 100000 bushels,
India about $4,000. 900 bushels and the
United States on the average about Ia.
10000 bushels; but Russia's export is
nothing this year: France needs 50, OO0, 900
bushels more than in average years of
export, so that the demands of Europe
this year, exclusive of Russia, are $50. 900. :
600 bushels, the supply of which must
come from the United States, India and
smaller exporting countries. Last year
we exported los. ooO, 900 bushels of wheat.
The whole probable demand of Europe
will not be less than S50.0O0,000 bushels
and not more than 400, oo0, 900 bushels. To
meet this demand the United States, after
supplying Spanish America, will probably
have an export of 1s0, 10000 bushels; In.
dis can supply perhaps, on = stretch.
10000, 600 bushels, while Canada and the
rest of the world can probably supply as
much more. The loss of rye crops in Eu-
rope shifts demand on wheat, which is
the only way We get any benefit from the
failure of European rye, as the United
States raises comparatively little rye. Last
year our wheat export was worth $685.
100000; this year il viii be worth probably
s225, 0o0,0oo