Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1894-08-10

a.
.s1Au Hdy VI 3 u
11.oSS... % . 4 81
Cattle ....-...................3 IL 3 81
[ eneep.. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS "a 2 243
- Wheat the Least Profitable.
These figures show that both relatively
and intrinsically wheat is the cheapest
and least profitable of all our farm pro-
ducts. And this accounts for the fact,
we'll known to all, that in these portions
OF our state where little wheat is raised
and where dairy, diversified and mixed
Farming prevails, there is far higher de
gree of wealth and prosperity prevailing
than in those sections of the state where
our farmers confne themselves to wheat
raising. 1t has been the fashion of windy
and reckless reformers in the past, and
presume it is still the fashion among these
men, to insinuate and charge that our
farmers receive much less for their wheat
mere than the foreign markets warrant,
and that large and unreasonable margin
OF profit is absorbed by the middle man or
exporter, and hence comes the exceedingly
low price. Those who have at all been
versed in the subject, have known and al
ways maintained that these charges and
insinuations have been unfounded and
false. Fortunately, proof positive is now
at ha~ld.
The legislature of 1893 directed the
board. of railroad and warehouse COM
missioners to ascertain and compile, from
time to time, and to publish in weekly
bulletins the price of grain in foreign
markets and in our own, and the rates of
! transportation between snch markets, for
the purpose of ascertaining the difference
in price between here and abroad, the
icost of transportation and the profits of
I the middle man or exporter. From the
following statement, compiled from the
bulletins issued by the board for the
months of November, 1898, and May and
June, 1894-months when water trans
portation was open and available and
when the greatest volume Of wheat was
moving-it appears that the average price
OF wheat during these months was $0.6OS4
per bushel at Duluth and $O.7646 per
bushel at Iiverpool-a gross difference of
so. 1862 between the foreign and domestic
market, and that the exporter, after pay
ing insurance, transportation rates and
elevator charges, had a net margin of
: profit of SO. 104 per bushel. This thorough
ly explodes the old campaign falsehood of
a. margin of from Is to 20 cents per bushel
profit to the middleman or exporter The
statement referred to is in detail as fol-
lows:
Statement showing the average price of
No. hard wheat at Duluth and Liverpool
i for the months of November, 1893, and
May and June, 1884, together with elevator
Echarges, insurance, lake and canal and
Eocean rates from Duluth to Liverpool:
Fa4Eera9e price Of hd at Dul utf,. h. Z. 60 64
T s1levat s and other char ges at Duluth T. O13o
La se rate, insurance and elevator
cnafgeS at BuHalO. O....................... .U3.67
Canal rate, Buffalo to New York ........ .O3.s5
Insurance, weighing aud towing at
NEW YORK. ......................... .OO.5O
Elevator transfer to steamer at New
Ocean rate, New York to Liverpool. .... 3.51
! Marine insurance, n. Y. to Liverpool. 20 so
Cost c. i. f. at Liverpool. AZ
Price paid for No. l HID. at Liverpool
during same period. Observation-Disclosures. .76 46
Profit to exporter. sol .N
In 1898 the United states exported 120,-
100000 of wheat; Argentine, 31,500, 900
bushels; Indi', 32,000,000 bushels; Austria
liza, 100000 bushels; Chill, 4,00O, 900
bushels, and Canada, 5,500O0O bushels
Total, 2O3, 600, 900 bushels
Farming Must Be Diversified.
Nearly all of this wheat was shipped to
Western, Europe, and there it came in
competition with 150,OOO,O0O bushels of
surplus wheat exported from Hungary,
Russia and the Balkan states These
figures serve to show how the American
wheat farmers, with their surplus of
120,000,O0O bushels, have to contend in the
markets of Europe with surplus of
23O,O00,000 bushels from other countries
Manifestly, relief from this condition
must come mainly from two sources-in-
creased home demand and less production.
Less production must come from more
diversified farming, and increased home
demand through the maintenance of a
judicious protective tariff, whereby the
army of consumers may be enlarged and
equipped with ample means through
profitable employment. Capital must
furnish labor work, and both combined
must furnish the farmer his home market
But these are plain and honely sugges-
tlons [ am aware that the new style of
reformer, who affects to find nothing good
in the record or principles of either of the
y,
and perhaps more scientific remedies to
propose as a relief or cure for the indus
trial stagnation and depression which is
affecting not only the farmers, but all
other classes and interests in the commun-
ity. These remedies are principally the
referendum, the government ownership
and operation of railroads, female suff-
rage, the assumption of the liquor traffic
and saloon business by the state and the
free and unlimited coinage of silver at
the ratio of 16 to /. Government cannot
we'll build or buy railroads without money
acquired either by loan or taxation, and in
these hard times, when we all have our
hands full, it would embarrass us much
to embark into a venture so extensive and
expensive. Besides, it is far from certain,
especially in the light of the recent strike,
whether a government railroad would
give us cheaper or better service, or
whether it would afford better field of
labor for the workingman. AS to the
referendum, it may be said that bad laws
are, in the midst of great excitement, as
apt to be ratified by a popular vote, on a
narrow majority, as good ones. There are
many constitutional provisions through