The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-08-02
Wheat the Least Profitable.

These figures show that both relatively
and intrins:cally wheat is the cheapest
and least profitable of all our farm pro-
duets. 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 conline 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, 10 insinuate and charge that our
farmers receive much less for their wheat
here than the foreign markets warrant,
aud that q 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 III 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, 1898, and May and
June, 1a94-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 S0.60S4
per bushel at Duluth and $0.7646 per
bushel at Liverpool-a gross difference of
S0.1562 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 so. 104 per bushel This thorough
ly explodes the old campaign falsehood of
q margin of from Is to 20 cents per bushcl
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, 1898, and
May and June, 1894, together with elevator
charges, insurance, lake and canal and
ocean rates from Duluth to Liverpool:
Average price of hid. at Duluth. s. 064
Elevat r and other charges at Duluth. :. 80
La rate, insurance and elevator
charges at Buffalo. ..................... .G3.67
Canal rate, Buffalo to New York ...... .0S.S5
Insurance, weig. ling aud towing at
New York. ....................... OO.5O
Elevator transfer to steamer at New
1OrH .......... .Oi.uJ
Ccas rate, New York to Liverpool. 800. :. 3.51
Marine insurance, N. Y. to Liverpool. -. 20 80
Cost C. !. f. at Liverpool. .S.75.42
Price paid for No. Hid. at Livs rpool
during same period. .7646
Profit to exporter. ......................S.0 Lon
In 1898 the United states exported $780,
OO0,000 of wheat; Argentine, 81, 100000
bushels; India, $4,000, COO bushels; Austria
liza, 100000 bushels; Chill, 4,C00, COO
bushels, and Canada, 5,50O,000 bushels
Total, 203, 000, COO bushels.
Farming Must BE Diversified.
Nearly all of this wheat was shipped to
Western. Europe, and there it came in