St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1897-09-11
GOOD TIMES AND WHEAT.
AT Variance with the Logic of Tari1
Makers.

4 ts5S.855 h1U IkerH.
People may differ as to the relation
the passage of the Dingley tariff bill
may have to the evident indications OF
The revival of business and the return
| of prosperity, but no one has doubt
that wheat is the most important ele-
ment among the many that are bring
ing about a frightened outlook and
preparing the way for good times"
The settlements of the tariff agitation
for at least four years will give the
markets an opportunity to adjust them-
selves to stable conditions-a thing
most desirable In the business world.
But this stability is largely egative
factor, while the big crop in the United
States, and especially the big crop of
| wheat, is a positive factor that Is maxi
ing its influence felt more strongly
every day. A record crop Of wheabin in
this country. coupled with short crops
in most of the other grain producing
countries Of the world. is a conjunction
of circumstances that cannot fail to
be advantageous to American farmers.
While the shortage in Russia, the AR
gentine Republic, Australia. India and
other countries is now said TO amount
to about one-tenth of the worlds crop,
the United States wheat growers, who
fortunately oyerplanted their probable
market by about rs ,oo0, 600 bushels, will
profit greatly by this extra demand.
The department of agriculture esti-
mates the total wheat crop of the
United States this year at ACC. 900
bushels, or 32,o0o,oo0 bushels In excess
Of thatof last year.sA big surplus wheat
crop and an advancing price IS the con4
dition that is now making glad tho
American farmer from the Alleghenies
to the Pacific coast.
Throughout the grain belt of the
United States the crop OF wheat is not
only the largest since 1891, but is now
safe, while the European crop, On the
contrary, is the smallest since sol. Ex-
pert statisticians estimate that the ex-
portable surplus In the United States
this year is 1s5 100000 bushels, as cu4n-
pared with $4,000, 900 bushels lastye
q balance Of 10000 900 bushels over last
year to aid IN bringing good times.
Compared with the millions Of dollars
the wheat crop wild bring to America
this year, the riches thus far takeI.
from the Klondyke mines are insignifi-
cant. Kansas, Texas, Nebraska and
Colorado and the west generallya al
ready beginning to feel the good re-,
suits Of q most satisfactory year in ag.
reculture. Nebraska is said to have
paid off from $4,000, 900 to $30, 100000
of its mortgage Indebtedness owing to
the good crops. and nriees q re last .s--,y -
roads, to merchants and all classes o.
business. Doubtless Mfr. Ongley wln
look upon the big wheat crop in tne
United States as an indication that
providence IS on the side OF protecs
tion. In fact, most high protection Pc.
pers are already pointing to the ms
doubted improvement of business con
difions as a result Of the new farliI
law. The coincidence of big crops ana
foreion demand for our cereals villa !
Inc enac trnent Of a tariff whose average
duty rate as compared with that OF the Y
wilson law is as 54.6e to 4o.1o is at least
fortunate for the country, even though
81 IS unfortunate for the logic OF farif5-
makers who claim that ali blessings
flow from prot lection. hicago Recoro
find \ a5 &