The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-08-25
WHEAT.

farmers, but there is no evadlng the
fact that the outlook for wheat is any
hing but promising. A variety of
causes conspire to depress the market
at present and make early improve
ment highly improbable. To certain
extent, so far at least as the foreign
demand goes, there is some overpro'
duction. Not in this country, but in
competitive countries. The wheat area
is steadily expanding, particularly in
South America. This is notably true
of Argentina, which in 1890 had for ex-
port only 100000 bushels; in 1893,
IS COO. 900, and in 1894 has increased to
IS 100000. The average expectations
of the United States is 100000
hence in 1890 Argentina exported onl!
s per cent. as much as this country did
in 1893, it exported nearly % per cent
as mnch as this country did, and III
1894. it has for export more than 3 per
cent. of our average. 1t will thus be
seen that the pampas of South Amer
lea are rapidly becoming the most dan
gerous competitor of our prairie states
in the worlds market. Great Britain
takes more than one half of the sur
plus wheat, and has heretofore been
the principal market for the United
States. The requirements OF the
United Kingdom are abont 100000
bushels annually. AS Buenos Ayres is
commercially nearer Liverpool than
the great wheat centsrs OF this coun-
try, it clearly follows that the southern
republic will before long absorb the
English market. At present, Russia is
something of a rival producer, but
nothing to what she will be when mod
ern methods of farming are adopted
Progress in improved agriculture is
making rapidly and but a few years
can elapse before Russia's supply for
export will largely exceed the present
product of Argentina. Up to the pres
ent time, India has also been a consid-
cradle exporter, but prices have fallen
so low, that the natives have taken to
eating wheat bread and will probably
contract habit which they will not
readily give up. 1t is our judgment,
that on account of the cheapness of
living and labor, extent and richness OF
soil, and other advantageous condi-
lions, Argentina and Russia will soon
be the principal rivals of the United
States in the production of wheat for
export; and as either of those coun-
tries is able to produce an actual sur
plus equal to the worlds shortage, we
can see no very hopeful outlook for the
wheat producers Of the United States
SO long as they depend on foreign
markets. Indeed, a more serious dan
ger threatens, and that is that the
United States itself will be invaded
and overrun by the wheat product OF
Russia and Argentina, resulting in re-
ducing our farmers to the degraded
condition of the serfs and Indians of
those countries. However this may be-
it is plain that those countries threaten
the wheat growers of the United States
with competition such as they never
before experienced. No doubt, other
causes operate powerfully in producing
the existing depression, and they are OF
such character that immediate relief
can hardly be expected. The purchas.
ing power of the dollar having in,
creased, wheat prices have shrunk cor.
respondingly. More money, produced
by the free coinage of silver, would
materially advance prices, but relief
from that direction can not come until
gold and silver are at a parity. Many
contend that gambling in wheat stocks
is highly damaging to prices. Indeed
there are any number of depressing
causes, either of which would be suffici.
ent to make the outlook unpromising
and combined are truly discouraging
The only hope of our farmers seems ia
be in systematic reduction of wheat
production adequate to the demands OF
home consumption, and large increase
OF diversified farming. Ultimately, the
only market available to the farmers OF
the United states will be their home
market and even its maintenance, SO
far as wheat is concerned, will soon be.
come a matter of serious difficulty. In
diversity Of products and diversity OF
industries lies the only certain promise