Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1891-07-18


nineteen millions. In the decade
from 1880 to 1890 the wheat areas of
the worln increased only five mill
lions Of acres, to which the United
States contributed not an acre.
Meanwhile the population Of
the bread>eating world ino
creased II per cent, and goes on in
creasing irrespective of the fact that
the land which can grow grain at
previous prices is well nigh exhaust
ed so far as relative increase is con-
cerned. Take, for instance, the popu-
lation of India. 1t is said to be in
creasing three times as fast as its Gull
tivable area, and although its exports
rose in seventeen years from 100000
bushels to Al 100000 bushels in 1887,
the increase, it is believed, has reach
ed its limit.
Grouping the increase in the eight
leading countries in the old world
shows an addition of over 10000, 0OO
of lives to be sustained by food got
from the ground without anything
like corresponding increase in either
cultivable area or in its productive
ness.
1t is plain that the possibility Of
prices remaining at low ebb is past
1t is clear, therefore, that the farmer
hereafter will realize a fair product
upon his operations. The extent o
his loss by low prices and the extern
of his gain by high prices may bt
judged by the advance to be realized
in these different conditions. Thus
in 1875 the average price in gold o
English grown wheat in the market
of Great Britain was Sl,64 per bushel
During the five years ending will
1889 1t was % cents per bushel. Ii
other words, there was difference
of 60 cents, equal to decline of T.
per cent in the income Of ever,
wheat producer. 1t is true that thi
difference may not be immediatel,
made up, but all the signs are in ia
vor of dollar wheat at the farm and
if anything, above that sum.
AS wheat rises or falls all othe
food products increase or decline, an,
if a gain of forty per cent in the ris
of wheat is promised to the farmer
may be relied upon that this relativ
gain is likely to pervade all his crop;
An increase equal to forty per cent i
the paying power of the farmer {
North America will make a create
economic revolution than has eve
yet been witnessed. The change wi
put the American farmer on top.
will make him, of all classes in tn
world, the most prosperous. He wi
be the most independent, most int
ligent and most prosperous produce
of his period, and by organizatio
and a reasonable control of polite
he will probably dictate hefscal pc
icy of the nation. Having attaine
, prosperity by the operation of natuI
al laws, he will abandon the absur
theories under which, in the days (
his depression, some of his represel
tatives sought relief; and it will NJ
} be surprising if he reaches the cOncll
sion that the least interference wit
/ trade, the least taxation, and ii
/; least legislation will be the popul,
+ movement, setting in as a reaction
: airy sentiment from that which hi
? hitherto prevailed.
But with the improved conditio
: of the farmer, a larger demand wi
/ exist for all classes of goods. Ever
t farmers wife will be able to afford
' silk dress; every farmers daught
f will have an elaborate troussea
| Flom ploughs to pianos, from bu
= gies to books, the range will incluC
4 all articles for farm life for which
/ new demand will be stimulated by
: new ability to buy and to pa
t There will, doubtless, therefore,
# felt throughout the country a ne
thrill ofindustrial activlty,as the ne
S essary reflection of the enhanc
: prosperity of the greatest and me
IS worthy group of growers that t
n world has ever seen.
Why Farming Doesn't Pay.