Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1893-07-13
Cheerful for the Farmer.

Tariff reform has seen the light of
day in the shape of the draft OF bill
prepared by the tariff committee OF
the Reform club. This committee
proposes to make provisions free of
duty, breadstutfs are mostly to be
made free, while potatoes are left sub
ject to a duty OF 10 per cent. 1t is OF
interest to look into this proposal
from the farmers standpoint.
A very exhaustive report has lust
been published by the department OF
agriculture, dealing with the principal
agricultural products of the world.
From this official source it appears
that wheat, in seasons of average
crops, is imported to any extent only
by the United Kingdom, Belgium,
France, Germany and Italy, and prac-
tically the wheat markets of the world,
for which all producing countries are
striving, are limited to the United
Kingdom and Belgium, whose aggre-
gate net imports did not exceed 125,-
100000 bushels of wheat annually
over a period OF ten years.
Excluding these two countries, the
report shows that Europe is practi-
cally self-supporting, the excess in the
eastern countries being sufficient to
meet the deficiencies in the western
nations" In order to supply the Eu-
ropean deficiency OF 100000
| bushels of wheat, the fields of India,
Australia, New Zealand, the Argen-
tine, Canada, Chill and the United
States are drawn upon.
| Last year the crop OF the United
States alone was SIG, 200, 900 bushels,
while our requirements for consump-
tion and seed are given in the March
report OF the depart ment OF agrIcui-
| ture at 35S ,OOO. 900 bushels, thus
leaving IA surplus of los, ,OOO,OuO
bushels alone for our last years crop,
which would more than supply the
European demand OF l25 900, 900
bushels, without calling upon the sur
plus OF India, Canada, South America
or Australasia.
Hitherto our farmers have been pro-
tected against the surplus 81 heat crops
OF other countries, but II the Reform
club committed idra of making bread
stuffs free be applied to wheat, then
our farmers must compete with the
cheap labor surplus from India and
elsewhere, which exceeds $4,000, 900
bushels, besides our own surplus, for
all OF which there Is no market avail
able in seasons OF ordinary good crops.
Evidently American farmers Will have
to turn their attention to some other
crop than wheat. The farmers out
west were tired of protection and
wanted a change. They will get it.
Take the case OF potatoes, which,
we learn, are to be subject to "a duty
OF 10 per cent, the present duty be-
ing 80 cents per bushel. Our produc-
ton OF potatoes is comparatively
l.. -. Aa 4
I is considered. The United States
grows on an average 17O,OOo,00o
bushels OF potatoes yearly, while that
of all Europe is about :, 100000 OOO
f. bushels. Germany alonegrowing1 L. ,OOO,-
600, 900 bushels in good seasons.
Every year We import more or less
potatoes from Europe, and this sea
son We have been very heavy import
: ers, although the duty is % cents pei
bushel. With a 10 per cent. duty
[ equal to 2 cents per bushel, when po
tatoes are worth only 80 cents, it Is
I easy to imagine how our markets
D would be flooded with European and
7 Canadian potatoes. They are now
i worth dollar in open market, and
at this price the European shipper:
net so cents after deducting freight
duty and other charges. What har
vest they would have with duty o
r 5 cents per bushel. The market woulC
e be in the hands of the foreigners il
{ such seasons as our last one, the con
e sumer would have to pay a dolla
II just the same, the European shipper
n would net 20 cents instead OF 50cents
our revenue would be lessened by y
cents on each bushel, and the Euro
pean potato growers and shipper
would wax fat at the expense of Amer
.e ican consumers. Potato culture woHl
is flourish abroad, as the Europea
N farmers would receive the amour
" that is now given to American farmer
E. by q protective tarif.-America
Economist.