Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1894-08-16

Corn ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 36 81
1lnOtHy hay........ 30 8 g.
VIA nay. ....................5 o. 58,
HOSS.. ........................,t.S 4 81
CatLlo IL 3 81
'oHeep... ..........u.......,.,..n.J u 2 AZ
Wheat the Least Profitable.
These figures show that both relativel,
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 these Sections of the state where
our Turner's confine 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 oul
farmers receive much less for their wheat
here than the foreign markets warrant,
and that large and unreasonable margin
of profit is absorbed by the middle man o,
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 hand
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
cost of transportation and the profits of
the middle man or exporter From the
following statement, compiled from the
bulletins issued by the board for the
months of November, 1893, and May and
June, 1894-months when water trans
portation was open and available and
when the greatest volume of wheat was
moving-lt appears that the average price
of wheat during these months was sO.6OS4
per bushel at Duluth and $O7646 per
bushel at Liverpool-a gross difference of
80. 1862 between the foreign and domestic
market, and that the exporter, after pay
ing insurance, transportation rates and
elevator charges, had net margin of
profit of 50. 14 per bushel This thorough
ly explodes the old campaign falsehood of
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
for the months of November, 1893, and
May and June, 1894, together with elevator
charges, insurance, lake and canal and
ocean rates from Duluth to Liyerpool
Average price of hid. at Duluth. .S.6O64
Elevator and other charges at Duluth. ;. .Ol. 80
La;e rate, insurance and elevator
charges at Buffalo. Observation-Disclosures. O3.67
Canal rate, Buffalo to New York ... .W.s
Insurance, weighing and towing at
new YORK. ......................... .G0.5J
Elevator transfer to steamer at New
YORK. Observation-Disclosures. ......... .Ol.0
Ocean rate, New York to Liverpo j ...... 3.5l
Marine insurance. N. Y. to Liverpool. 20 SO
Cost c. j. t. at Liverpool. S.7;42
Price paid for No. HID. at Liverpool
during same period. .76.4i
Profit to exporter. Observation-Disclosures GlO4
In 1893 the United states exported $780,
100000 Of wheat; Argentine, 81, 500 900
bushels; India, $1,000 900 bushels; Austria
liza, 100000 bushels; Chill, 4,OOO, COO
bushels, ard Canada, 5,5OO,OOO bushels.
Total, 2O3, 900 bushels.
Farming Must he Diversified.
Nearly all of this wheat was shipped to !
Western Europe, and there it came in |
competition with 15O,OOO,OOO bushels of !
surplus wheat exported from Hungary,
Russia and the Balkan states. These |
figures serve to show how the American i
wheat farmers, with their surplus of |
IN, 10000 bushels, have to contend in the |
markets OF Europe with surplus of |
23O, OK, 600 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 |
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 homely sugges-
lions. am aware that the new style of |
reformer, who affects to fluid nothing good |
in the record or principles of either of the !
two great parties of the country, has other
and perhaps more scientific remedies to l
propose as relief or cure for the indus
trial stagnation and depression which is
affecting not only the farmers, but all I
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 1. 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 q venture SO extensive and
expensive. Besides, it is far from certain,
in the light of the recent strike,
whether 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 popular vote, on a
narrow majority, as good ones. There are
many constitutional provisions through
out the land which have been ratified BY a
popular vote that experience has proved
unwise and impracticable. Good laws
live; bad laws are easily and promptly re-
pealed. To turn the state into a saloon
keeper would not diminish drunkenness,
would not relieve the taxpayer and would
be placing another weapon in the hands
OF the hummer element and the ward
heelerss How it could afford us any re-