The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-08-15
o. IIaa lhIa Lncreaao been espeeIalIy

rapid since 1877
A-The increase Ia grain-growing
area IN this period. especially In North
America, south America. and Asia has
mover been approached In any equal
period In the history of the world
Q.-How do we Judge Of actual com
petition In the sale Of wheat?
A.--By the supplies thrown annually
on the worlds great distributing mar
kets.
Q.--what market In particular
A-EnglRnd. where most u the buy
ing nations go 60 purchase their grain.
Q--what are the hgures7
A.--Aa recently aH 1850 Great Britain
imported. for consumption and re-ex-
oprt. 55.25i.s2I hundred weight OF
wheat--a large increase over the pre-
ceding annual average. In 1895 II i'm
ported si.7ls.S55 hundred weight
Q.-what has made possible this re-
markable increase In wheat produc-
uon7
A.-The exceedingly rapid develop
mcnt Of transportation facilities In
newly cultivated grain countries.
among them India. Russia, and the Ar
gentine Republic.
Q-Has there been an increase in
the United states7
Am enormous increase.
Q.-How large?
Ain 1875 there were 2s.3sl.5l2 acres
OF wheat cultivated in this country: in
1921 there were 3o.Ois.Ss7. an Increase OF
20 per cent. The yield in 1875 was 2s2.-
10000 bushels. heavy increase over
preceding years In 1891 the yield was
Gil. 10000. Even last year. with a great
iy reduced acreage and a partial crop
failure. the yield wEs lsT.lOoOOO bushels.
o.-HAs the Yield Of other crops In
creased eorrespondinslyf
Alt has.
Q.-0iVe instances
A-The cultivated area OF corn in
the United States in 1871 was Jl.0sI,-
isT acres; in 1891 II was 1904. SIS; in
crease. l2i per cent. The yield OF corn
last year was more than double that
OF any year prior to 1875. Both the
acreage and the average annual yield
Of oats have doubled since 1871. Our
cotton crop in 1894 was 80 per cent
greater than in any year prior to 1857.
Q.-was a decline in grain and cot
ton prices, under such conditions inev-
itablsT
AIS inevitable as a decline in the
price OF clothing. or furniture. or books.
or steel rails. or pens. when competition
In their manufacture has extended
enormously.
o.-would free coinage help the pro-
ducers Of grain TO a larger profit. under
such eonditions1
A.-Not In the least
A.-why not?
A.-Because II the nominal prive OF
grain were to rise through imitation Of
the currency, the price OF everything
else would rise also. and the farmer
would be relatively no better OF than
he was before.
o.-Do the free coinage advocates
use in their speeches these statistical
facts which We have examined?
A.-They do not.
o.--Can the subject be understood
Without examining them?
Alt cannot; the whole question
rests on these facts regarding money
and production.
o.-why do the free-coinage speakers
not use these facts and figures?
A.-Because the facts and figures are
against them.
Q.-Is there any dispute over the
ruth of the figures quoted in these an
Iwers7
A.-They are undisputed even by free
'oinage men. They are taken from
he reports Of the United States treas
iry OF the department OF agriculture,
4 the director of the United States
mint. nof the United States bureau, of
and OF the British board of
rade; all of them. in their respective
pheres, the highest known authority.