The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-18
India and tho Worlds Wheat Supply.

India Is most interesting country. and
especially interesting to Americans. as 1t Is
tho ono important competitor in supplying
tho world with cotton. and our sharpest
competitor, after Russia, for the worlds
wheat market: hence 1t behooves Ameri-
cans against whom the balance OF trade Is
running by reason OF the exceptionally low
price at which enormous quantities OF wheat.
as well as OF cotton. have been exported. to
know what is Indias wheat-exporting
power. and whether it is likely to increase
or decline in the near future.
The opinion Is general that the people OF
India live exclusively upon rice: but speak
Ing broadly. tho food Of the 900. 900. 300 inhab-
iting British India and the fcudatory States
is neither rice nor wheat. but millet. Only
in Bengal. Burmah. and some isolated dis
tricts. is rice the staple food. and while the
more opulent classes OF the upper Gangetic
plain eat much unleavened wheaton bread.
yet even in the wheat-grOwing districts. SO
great is tho poverty OF the masses. that
there are provinces where but four per cent.
of tho population consume wheat. Millet Is
the principal food crop from Tanjore In the
south to the Punjab in tho north. and tho
dietary Of the Hindu has not changed since
the days OF STRADo other than by additions
OF small proportions Of maize and potatoes.
Although wheat culture may not have
originated In India. yet that country has.
with its teeming population. fertile soils.
and favoring climate. held first rank among
wheat-growing countries until near the
middle Of this century, and now yields pre-
cedence only to America. France. and Rus
II. lAlI Id ,lo
porter But for the extreme and increasing
poverty OF the Indian cultivators the IA per
cent. Of the crop now exported would be
consumed at homo by population much
the greater part of whom rarely or never
have sufficient food.
Indian expectation OF wheat upon any
considerable scale began about twenty
years since. upon the abrogation OF IN ex-
port duty, concurrent extension OF Indian
railways. aud the diversion Of the 1ndo-Eu-
ropean trade to the Suez Canal. Although 1t
followed the opening Of these highways. 1t
was by no means principally due thereto.
but to the imperative necessity forcing tho
ryot. or cultlvator. to part with such prod
ucts as would bring the silver required by
the tax gatherer. That such has been tho
cause impelling the expectation OF food ro-
quired by the rapidly augmenting popula-
ton hardly admits of doubt. as tho popua-
| ton. exclusive Of the additions made by tho
| annexation OF upper Burmah and other dis
tricts. has increased 3iOO00O0. or 1875 per
cent. since 1881. while tho area under food
crops (also exclusive OF the annexed dis
| tlicts) has increased less than four per cent.
The popular belief Is that England has
| caused the construction OF Indian railways
| for the express purpose OF extending the
culture OF wheat and cotton in order to
meet British requirements and to render the
| United Kingdom independent OF foreign
sources OF supply; but while tho effect OF
| such construction may have been In this
| direction. it was not one Of the proximate
motives. these having been tho improve
ment OF the economic condition OF India. an
enhancement OF the revenue. and the ability
| to bettcr meet the recurring famlnes; the
primary object being strategic and political
| and with almost sole regard to India.
The Hon. Mr.. DEAKIN. Minister OF Water
| Supply for the colony OF Victoria. tells US.
| In " Irrigated India !" london. 1888:
almost every year witnesses stre" OF want in one
more parts OF the peninsula. and It Is fortunate
when this can DO COPIED with out OF the superaOun'
dance obtained In more favored districts. IT'S undel
this horrible pressure OF human suffering that the
English Government In India adopted tho policy OF
constructing irrigation and railways with loan
money. Tho nrst provides food with certainty every
year. while the railways enable their surplus TO be
| conveyed TO the starving"
| Indian wheat exports do not result from
| the production OF u surplus. but rather from
tho necessities OF the ryot, as was indi'
| Gated by Lord LAWRENCE, tho Governor.
| General. when he said this:
| India IL really very poor countrT The aetuA
y condition Of the masses OF the people 10 . bare