The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-23

searches In this held, We have arrived &C
! the conclusion that such available area. In
Guiding that which may be irrigated from
existing water supplies. does not exceed
100 900, 900 acres, unless lands OF worry low
| fertility should be included. or this avail
able area probably not more than 35.O0O. 900
acres can be brought under che plough. tho
remaining 65,OOO.OOO being required for pas
turage and uses other than for the protuc-
ton Of staple crops.
II this is tho extent Of our available ara
bic lands. they will. at our present high
standard OF living, admit Of annual addi-
lions OF 100000 to the population during
less than eight years, provided only that
all this aroa can I've brought into cultivate on
during that time. This seems much more
than doubtful. To accomplish such a task
would require the opening yearly OF more
than twice as many acres as are now
brought under the plough. Assuming.
however. that all these available acres may
be reduced to cultivation as fast
rs required. then. with the acres
now producing food In excess OF do
mestio needs. wo shall have sufIl.
cient arabic land to enable us to add
to our population some 1I.OOO.OOo, or tho
additions OF say seven years. without
lowering our standard Of living. BY reduc-
ing tho proportion OF land in cotton, and
resortng to soils OF low fertility. which cun
be done only when prices become high. and
increasing the average product to the acre
by improved cultivation and fertilization.
which also implies high prices. we may still
be able for time to increase our popula-
ton without reducing materially the stand
ard Of food consumption: but such reduc-
ton seems likely to keep pace with the en-
HANGED cost Of food. unless other expenses
be reduced in measure eQualling that in
creased cost.
II the extent Of our available arabic lands
IL no greater than 1t now appears to be.
then the period during which We can con-
tinue to export food should be readily as
certainable. as should DO the coming Of
that period within which we must resort
dicated: we must either produce more food.
or We must consume less of it.
The area now devoted to wheat In the
United States is little less than 49,
100000 acres: in Europe. less than o.
100000 acres. and in the world. cx-
Guiding eastern Asia and Japan. some
182.00O.000 acres. Twonty years ago.
with population Of IS 600. 900. the United
States had some $4,000. 900 acres devoted to
the production Of staple food. forage. and
fibre crops. OF which 100000. or 20 per
cent. were In wheat. At that time the
wheat fields Of tho entire world. exclusive
OF eastern Asia and japan. were 153. 900. 900.
and for the nine years ending with 1874 the
average price OF wheat lin gold in Great
Britain had been $l.70 per bushe. with the
farmers. in all literally governed regions.
prosperous. and lands increasing in value.
About this time. 1870 began that enor.
mously excessive development OF the prai-
ries OF the rans-Mississippi regions.
synchronous with the development OF In
dian wheat exports--not Indian wheat area
and production. which remained the same
that In a brief fourteen years added lO4.-
100000 acres. or 1l2 per cent to the area
under staple crops. while our population
increased but A per cent. That is. we
doubled our wheat-producing acres: there
was added to tho worlds wheat-producing
area 26.00o.O0O acres: reduced the gold
price Of wheat in Britain to less than a
dollar. and everywhere greatly lessened
the value OF lands; destroyed the purchas-
ing power Of the cultivator and his depend
ents. aud caused the abandonment OF an
cestral acres in New England. From the
resulting impoverishment and discomfort
of the American farmers sprang the Alliance
and the creation Of q third party. and to the
destruction OF 80 much Of the purchas-
ing power Of the farmer. due to such an
excessive increase OF acres. is due largely
the StaGnatiOn of which we hear con tinuallv
In manufacturing and commercial circles.