Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1894-04-20
FACTS ABOUT WHEAT
Continued from First Page)

Aet uy fdihihS bne price TO the consumer
but the existence OF such a tax is not Of
recent origin and does not affect the
question Of the demand for wheat or the
decline in prices during the last decade.
The future of such impost ON heat in
Germany and France by which farmers
are favored at the expense o, the rest Of
the people, WHO are compelled thereby
to pay more for bread, may be learned
from the experience of England, where a
similar onerous tax was collected for
years but which was gradually lessened
and finally abolished altogether; also by
the recent action of the German Gov.
eminent looking to the admission OF
wheat into that country ON reduced rates
OF import duty.
These things being duly considered,
1t would seem that the theory OF over
production is not only not demonstrate
as regards the present, but that there is
no ground for the apprehension that the
what crop of the world will ever grow
beyond the actual commercial require
mant.
2. As to the decrease in cost of pro-
duction as influencing a decline ID wheat
prices: During the last ten years there
las been no considerable increase IN the
facilities Of cheaper IN ethods brought in
to use of production in the United States
Substantially the same implements fer
planting, cultivating and harvesting are
employed now that were used ten years
ago, but they have been somewhat re-
duced in price, 1t is stated that i'm
proved American farming implements
and machinery are coming more into use
in British North America, Australia and
the Argentine Republic. The results
thersfrom, if any, have not yet gener-
ally made themselves felt; what result
may follow may be reserved for future
consideration.
8. AS to the decrease in cost of hand
ling and transporting wheat to market,
there has been no conspicuous advance
ment during the time under considera-
ton in the United States, the most fav-
orable conditions in this respect having
been enjoyed by the farmer for yeare.
In India we haye seen that since 1881
1882, the time at which the seaports
having been brought into railway COM
munication with tho great wheat prov
inces of the Northwest and the Punjab,
the wheat industry reached it's highest
development, since which date no ap-
preciable progress has occurred. The
conditions of wheat growing have been
rendered less embarrassing to the farmer
in Russia; the remain the same in France
But, assume that the expense OF produc-
ticn or marketing has been less, does it
follow that the farmer is compelled to
accept less price for his grain? Not
necessarily, though under stress of com-
petition the tendency is naturally in
that direction. In case Of poor mar
ket, due to ovsrproduction or other
cause, the producer may ha no alter
native but TO sacrifice this margin in or.
der to find purchaser. Though, ordi-
narily, if he we're able to maintain him
self against mlddlemen and spectators,
he might secure and retain the benefits
OF portion of all of this increment. 1t
is sometimes held that wheat can be pro.
duced at much less cost in Russia-Po-
land, and especially so III India, than in
the United States, owing to the relative
cheapness OF labor in the former coun-
tries. In this country, however, the
item OF labor is of minor consequence in
wheat growing as compared with other
farming, as to large extent machinery
does the work of human hands in the
cultivation or immense wheat fields, A
significant test of the dreaded influence
OF the cheap wheat of India is the price
of this cereal before and after 1881 2,
when midas export reached its maxi
mum expansion. Reference to the prices
quoted will show that generally the de-
cline was as marked and as serious be-
fore that date as afterward.
A. AS to the alleged cause OF the de-
cline in wheat prices, to- wit, the depre-
citation OF silver with reference to gold as
the standard of value-the purchasin g
power of gold being increased as the
value of silver is diminished is
among the vexed financial questions of
the day on which it is difficult for econ