The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-08-09
HOPE FAST FADING.

HOPE FAST FADING.
Farmerr, Spec llNts,r. rnl Railroad Men
Alarmed at tho Pr. spect.
The corn crop last year was worth
500, ,OO,O 900 on the farm-alncst three
times As much as the farmers got for
their wheat crop; and Ia t years crop
was q com aratively small one and the
average farm price was low, ~ cents.
In 1881 the corn crop wa worth $780,
OOO, coo to the farmers. The corn crop Is
always worth 10 the country as much
as al tho other grain crops put to-
gether: sometimes worth a good deal
more than all the others put together.
1t is no wonder, consequently, that,
suddenly changed tom one for full
corn yield to one for corn failure,
everyone is excited, grain speculator,
railroad maj ager. stock Spectator and
merchast.
The government report issued July
10 indicated a corn yield of more than
1000, OO',OOO bushels. The acreage was
put at 5000, OOJ; the condition. very
high. Only once was the acreage any
larger, in loSA. and that year saw the
record breaking yield, 2ll23OOO,OOO
bushels.
Up to the middle of July there
seemed nothing to mar tho promise of
the most important crop OF the cOun-
try. There had teen dry weather,
but drought can last long while
without creating any alarm. 1t is only
after one hope Tor rain after another
has been disappointed that the farmer
begins to worry, and only alter the
fo h told Of hio foo fnv. vuoolS
| or more that the speculator, railroader
| Or merchant begins to borrow trouble.
Semi-Panic Over the Com Crop.
But now every interest, from the
| first to the last, is in semi-panic over
| the corn crop which began with such
amazing promise and which has now
| apparently been almost Overtaken With
| disaster.
I'VE don't dare to say" said General
| Manager St John, of the Rock Island
Railroad, how bad We believe the corn
situation to be- Half which the great
granger roads haul takes it's origin FROM
the corn crop. There is the grain it.
| self, about 4V0, OOu,OOO Bushels, being
hauled by the roads; lOO,O,N,OOO bush.
els of it to Chicago alone in good years.
| There are the hogs and the cattle,
both dependent on the crop. II
is not any wonder that the railroad
officials are afraid to tell all
their fears; nor any wonder that
the shrewd ones in Wall street are
getting out OF their holdings of the
great corn roads. the Burlington, the
Rock Island and the others. The YES.
sell men get three-Quarters Of thoir
tonnage from Chicago from this crop.
The elevator owner knows it is the
| IN NH oh INT oil
! winter to pour out again in the spring
at the opening of navigation. The gen.
eral merchant is we'll aware that cur
tailment Of the important crop OF the
country, which feeds the live stock
and furnishes all the carriers the bulk
Of their tonnage, cannot be cut shoel
without cutting down the purchasing
power of that part OF the country
which makes good times or bad-thl
West"
Iowa Crops Nearly Ruined.
The drought has been severest 1,
Iowa and Nebraska, the two State
which raise usually about 400, OOO, OO'
bushels of corn. about One-fourth tn,
entire yiold. There has been dr.,
weather everywhere in Illinois, Mis-
souri,, Kansas, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa ani
Nebraska; but there has been partia
relief OF late except in the two bigges
States. Halt this crop Is made in tn,
seven states named and . quarter IL
the two States where the heat ant
dro light have been the hercest.
Nobody in Chicago" says Jane
> Windsor, the well-known Des Nome
!; porkpacker, appreciates the condition
} Of things in Iowa There is no saliva
ton left for the largest part OF tn
corn. It is dead. The heat an
: drought have been enough even to xii
} the hay. On my farm, where l ha'
tOo tons of hay last year. cut forty
five tons this year"
Rain would, OF course, relieve tn,
} situation everywhere. Even in low
and Nebraska there would BE- . rem
nant saved. possibly 200. OOO. 900 bush
, els, where 4 0, OO0, 900 was original
, promised. Illinois has had the mos
= rain and j. in the best condition. tn
, acreage in Kansas IL very large an
showers there have helped to reliev
, the ext <ency. But rain delayed no,
t every twenty-four hours means million
: more corn lost That is why the signs
, service map ia the center OF interes
early each morning, and why tn
3 weather predictions are scanned :
t eagerly each noon. and why special di.
: patches from the corn States are rea
! arss OF oil each morning.