The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-07-10
GOOD TIMES FOR THE FARMER
From the Kansas City Journal

| EToln the haISds lily journal
Mr.. c. Wood Davis, of Kansas, is the
author of number of exceedingly inter-
estlng papers concerning the outlook for
the agricultural interests of this country,
with special reference to the probable de-
mand for and supply of wheat. He con-
| tends that within the near future. not to
exceed four years at the latest, this coun-
try will consume all the wheat 1t pro-
| duces, and by series of exhaustive sta
tlstics he proves that the worlds produc-
| ton of wheat is not increasing in the
same ratio as the demand. His articles
have been characterized by thorough
ness and lucidity of treatment that have
attracted for them universal attention.
| and in Europe even they have been the
subject of very general comment. OF
course his ideas have not met with uni
versal acceptance, but among those who
have given the subject the most careful
study, there is very general disposition
to accord them a favorable considera-
ton.
1t is probably no exaggeration to say
that there are few men in America who
possess broader knowledge of the gen.
eral business problems of the day than
does Mr.. Erastus Wimans. He is to a
remarkable degree acquainted with all
the details of American industrial life,
amp his many contributions to the lead
ing periodicals of the country on subjects
of this character have always command
ed widespread consideration. The more
interest will for this reason attach to his
article in the North American Review
for July, in confirmation Of the theories
advanced by Mr.. Davis.
Mr.. Wiman, however, does not con-
fine his attention to the grain question
alone, but takes into consideration food
products in general, the production of
which, he affirms, does not keep pace
with the demand. He shows that while
the increase in population during the
last decade amounted to over 26 per
cent, that of the rural population in
creased only "A, while that of the towns
increased by 40 per cent. This is signifi-
cant in view of the fact that the latter
are not food producers but food con-
sumerS.
He reaffirms the statement made by
Mr.. Davis that practically all the arabic
land of the country has been taken up
and that no more good wheat land re-
mains unoccupied For the fourteen
years ending with 1885 the population of
the United States increased only a per
cent. while the cultivated area increased
112 per cent. There has, however, been
a decided change in this matter since
that time, for the population is now in
creasing at the rate of 12t per cent. while
the area of new land taken up increases
less than Z per cent and what is Of
especial significance it is yearly becOm-
ing much less.
Thus in the five years ending with 1875
the number of acres of land in staple
crops amounted to 123,000,0 600, the in
crease for that time having been 30 per
cent At the close of the next five years
ending in 1880 there were 165, 000,0
acres in cultivation, the increase having
amounted to 81 per cent. In 1885 the
number of acres had increased to 1877
000. 900, but the rate of increase had fall
len to 10 per cent. while in 1890, although
the acreage had increased to 211 900 coo,
the rate of increase had declined to Z per
cent. There is a significance to these
figures that does not admit of any mis-
Interpretation.
Mr.. Winan by no merns restricts his
researches to this country. He shows
that during the last decade the wheat
areas of the world increased only about
5000, 600 acres as compared with 22,000,-
900 for the previous decade, while con-
has increased II per cent. The
six principal nations of Europe have
during the past five years, increased in
about 20,000,000, while in
India it is asserted that the population is
increasing nearly three times as fast as
fast as the areas of cultivated land. The
writer estimates that even with an av-
erage yield, the worlds crop of wheat
and rye is about 10000, 900 bushels less
than the wants of consumption and he
makes the startling statement that each
year witnesses an increase of |
at least %, 600, 900 bushels to tina deficit. |
There are many other interesting facts |
in the article that space forbids men
ton of here, but they ali point to the
fact, as the writer claims, that the far
mer is ION top" and that a period of |
great prosperity in the near future |
awaits the agricultural industry.