The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-10-12
a GREAT FACTOR
III tho European Wheat Market = The
United States Cannot Compete Success


United States Cannot Compete Success
fully.
Bo1OH Commercial Bulletin.
The opening OF the trans.Siberian rail-
road from TskeIjabinsk to Omsk, 743
versts, carries the railroad system OF
Russia into tho heart Of Western ST.
IBERIA and opens up vast territory ca
puble Of raising immense quantities Of
wheat, and which will do so, now there
Is a method OF getting the grain TO mar
ket. This is oil significant import TO
the American farmer, for the capacity
OF the countries OF Western Europe to
consume wheat is OF no very great OK
pahsion, and the supply Is at present
moro than adequate to the demand.
Now with Siberia becoming an i'm
portant competitor, the prospects OF tho
wheat grower OF the United States, II he
relics upon Europe to consume his sur
plus, arc not roseate, Low prices will
prevail. lie has no other means Of OBJ.
tanning remuherative returns than in
cultivating the home market. The Nc.
kinley protection has been slightly re.
duced by the German bill, but the pres
ent duty OF 20 per cent 10 sufficient TO
keep out foreign supplies aud prevent
the landing OF River Platte wheat in
New York which otherwise would BIO a
contingency.
On this basis, he can illallord to listen
to tho siren songs OF tariff reformcrs.
We can tell him unrescrvedly that tho
statement that he vii. got clothing,
tools, furniture and other supplies lower
to any noticeable degree are false, be-
cause what small difference there may
be in first hands is substantially lost by
the time distributing expenses and re-
tail profits are figured on.
But tho effect OF tariff reform is to
reduce tho wage earning capacity OF the
eastern mill operative and artisan
through the forcing down OF the labor
cost OF goods TO meet European compe.
tition. This means that the ability OF
the people to consume the farmers
product is diminished by the Gripping
OF their purchasing power. They will
not buy so much flour, the great staple
OF food, because they cannot afford
cake and pastry as they did before, and
the demand for meat is curtailed and
a marked diminution is seen in the con-
sumption Of fruits. vegetables, butter
and milk. 1t is the demand for these
latter articles that enables the farmer to
diversity his crops and it is from these
products that no obtains tho most pro.
fit. 1t isn't for his interest to destroy
his best market.
II the farmer cannot raise wheat in
competition with tho Argentine. Aus.
tralia and Siberia, he must turn more
aud more to other products, and for
their profitable sale he must rely on tho
homo market. Tho more money that
the people OF the manufacturing dis.
tricts OF New England, tho middle and
central states can earn, the higher their
wages, tho more extensive consumers
will they be OF the farmers products,
particularly OF the finer kinds. Tho
turner's market is in those states, not
in LIVERPOOL, rs his false friends assert.
Tariff reform has crippled tho purchas-
ing power OF tho community Its fur.
Their extension will diminish 1t still
more.
Tho price OF wheat would not have
been so low had the people been earn.
ing what they did before the change OF
administration. Tariff reform is charge
able with that aa with tho other ills
which have befalen the industrial and
commercial classes in the last eighteen
months. Tho farmer is the last ono
who can afford continuance OF this
policy. His market is tho home mar
ket aud on tho prosperity OF the con.
suning classes rests his hope.