The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-09-10
THE PRICE OF WHEAT,

a country correspondent writes the
Astorian asking It's aid in the decision
OF disputed point in relation to the
per cent OF increase in wheat in this
country for period dating back
twenty or twenty-five years,
II have no reliable statistics at
hand" he says, but claim that the
per cent increase in population has
been much less than the increase in
the amount OF wheat raised, wish
that you would give me the exact hg-
ures, II you can, So that | can see
which is right--my opponent or myself
as | claim that the low price OF
wheat is mainly attributable to an in
crease in production and the facility
in distributing it among the markets
OF the world, while he claims 1t all re-
suits from the decentralization OF silver
in IS, Which is right"
We cheerfuny comply with our cor
respondents request but It seems 10
us that something must be wrong with
the system OF distributing campaign
literature in this county when the av-
erage intelligent voter lacks the ref
erences necessary to disprove an error
SO commonplace as the populist con-
tention that the crime " 1873 has
anything to do with the Law OF supply
and demand for wheat.
The population OF this country in
1870 was IS, 5OO,O00 We then produced
in round numbers sSS,O0O,OOO bushels
OF wheat. In 1855, with population Of
$500. .oOo, We produced 455,OOO,OOO bush
els Of wheat, In 1891, with a popula-
tion OF about 6&,OO0oO0,, We produced
6l2, 01O, 0O0 bushels OF wheat The pro-
ductiOn OF other agricultural products
has Increased in about the same prO-
portion; but it is not merely the in
crease in the growth OF wheat in the
United States that has made L surplus
OF food commodities, as il has been in
creasing with Astonishing rapidity in
other countries Of the world.
South America alone has nearly
trebled her production OF wheat in the |
period here named. Russia has quite |
doubled her product Of wheat, ana the
increase in India has been nearly rs
great Taken altogether. the govern
ment reports show that food products
raised ON the farms OF this country |
have increased in excess Of the popula-
iion during the last generation over 20
per cent, and ii is this increase, with
he paralysis Of industry and trade
existing throughout the country that
greatly lessons the consumption of the
higher classes OF food. which causes
he present low price OF wheat and
,ther farm products. and il is the re-
iult of no other cause or effect. The
in the consumption of whest
,er head in this country is as much
Is one bushel per capita. depending
lpon the ability Of the industrial pop
Ilation to purchase it.
AucIt arr NllGANlulNs tNu NauSSS lON
ombined to reduce the price Of wheat.
)ne is the largest production the
world has ever known, greatly out
stripping the growth Of population,
md second, the general inability OF
he poorer people TO purchase it for
The jaw work Of the
lass Of demagogues who have abused
he leniency Of our laws for the past
ew years has stopped the labor Of the
ands Of thousands Of our working
len. with the consequence that they
re compelled TO live on cheaper COM
lodities, and thus do not so literally :
onsume the products Of the farm as I
hey once used to do. We trust these L
,cts and figures will suffice TO silence n
he ignorant bray Of our correspond a
lt's disputant Z