The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-29
CORN AND CORN PRODUCTS.

The New York Sun makes the following
statement which is of special interest to the
farmers In the corn belt
On the 1st of March, 1892, farm granaries
were said to contain $50, 100000 bushels of
corn. Since that time two crops have been
harvested from a total of 142,60000O acres,
Swing an aggregate yield OF 3,2iS,OO0,000
stocks in farmers hands had been reduced
to 59O,0OO,0OO bushels This shows that the
ceeded production to the amount Of no.
100000 bushels, Notwithstanding that dur
ing each of these years the pigs fed have
numbered about 100000 less than the aver
age number fed during the four preceding
years. and that during the last two years
at least %, 100000 bushels more OF wheat
have been used for feed than in any two
previous years.
The Sun finds in the foregoing figures 'ev-
idence of the gradual diminution of the
cially corn and the products of corn in the
form of meat and lard The Sun proceeds:
While the corn consumed since March.
1892, in excess of the quantity harvested,
added to the wheat fed, represents average
yields of corn from 100000 acres. this
does not indicate the whole deficit of the
corn area. The decrease of 100000 in the
annual reduction of something more than
120.000,0G0 bushels in the corn consumed in
DOTk pTOQuCllOD OF the equivalent Oh the
product, annually. of 900 average acres.
Hence ii appears that to be able to export
corn In primary and secondary forms in
the same proportion to that consumed in
the same forms at home as during the four
years ending with 1892, at least 11OOO.O0O
now available in existing cornfelds. and
100000 acres must be added annually to
meet the requirements of each years addi-
ton to the domestic population and 10 main
tain the ratio of exports.
While tho fo1rras ood tho ooncluSiopa r 2
the Sun cannot be disputed. the decrease in
the stock of corn has not been attended
with advance in prices, but, on the con-
trary. the prices of corn and it's products
are lower now than two years ago. 1t is
not the matter of supply and price which
has caused the falling off in the export of
corn and meat products the past two years,
but the indisposition. or more likely the
inability of Europeans to purchase. 1t is
probable that the low price of wheat has
had something to do in checking the export
of corn the past two years Another fact
which should be taken into consideration is
that Europe cannot be depended on for
market for corn and its secondary products
at prices which would be profitable 20 farm
ers. 1t is only the reciprocal arrangements
such the Harrison administration made
with Germany, by which lower duties are
accorded US than to others, that prod
ucts can be disposed of at remunerative
prices in foreign markets. The means Of
the masses who would purchase corn and
corn products in Europe are so limited that
they purchase only when prices are low.
The home market, with protected home in
dustries. giving the mass of people the
means to purchase corn products, is the
great dependence of the farmers of the
corn belt.
Unlike the wheat lands those upon which
corn can be profitably produced are limited
to the corn belt of the United States The
corn belt is already taken up. Better cul-
tivation may produce more to the acre,
but the area cannot be much widened. For
that reason the lands of the real corn belt
are the most permanently and increasingly
valuable in the world