The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-14
INCREASED WHEAT ACREAGE
SEEMS TO BE TO DETRIMENT
OF OTHER CEREALS,
WHICH is TO BE REGRETTED.
GENERAL FREIGHT AGENT
MOORE'S MUSINGS ABOUT THE
LACK OF PROGRESS
MADE IN DIVERSIFIED FARMING
High Price of Wheat Results in the
Shipment of Young Cattle
From the State.

S. L. Moore, general freight agent Of
the Northern Pacific, thinks it mat
ter of regret that the average OF wheat
is on the increase, because figures show
that this increase is at the expense o.
other cereals.
1T will be of some general Interest
to those who are watching the pro-
gress of Minnesota, which is attract
ing the attention of visitors and intend
Ing settlers says Mr.. Moore, ito re-
view some of the conditions that pre-
vail in our state, and which, If con-
tinued any great length of time, are
sure sto- affect the farming interests
Very unfavorably. Before considering
that matter, however, let us look at
, some interesting and reliable statis-
tics:
+, First. in relation to wheat: If ask
ed to make a rough guess as to the
increased acreage sown to wheat In
Minnesota in the past fifteen years,
one would very naturally say that the
acreage had multiplied many times.
put the question today to a prom
,inent gentleman who for many years
held high office in the state, and
VINO has more or less to do with the
farmers; and he guessed that in 1898
the acreage was four times greater
than in 1879, whereas it was almost
precisely the same. Here are partial
figures for seventeen years:
1879 . .... A e., 81 1891 =. ... sss SO
1850 . ....2 1861, S42I 1895 ....2,79O, az
The state reports show that the
acreage fluctuated Slightly, reaching
the three million mark some years, but
Remained very close to the above
Throughout In the meantime our
population more than doubled; can
someone account for this? or Tor the
fact that the acreage increased again
, in 1896 to three millions?
From a close examination OF the
figures representing the growth OF our
iccrn industry, 1t will be seen that.
while in 1868 the acreage and crop was
barely worth accounting, there has
fbeen a rather steady gain from year
to year. Below is the corn acreage
and crops for nearly thirty years:
Year. Acreage. Crop, Bushels;
1S6S 49, ....''. a s s5s g sSe
hS7S ....... 324, ia. IL, 2o6 54o
1SS7 ca, An ............1 II, 234 422
1885 -. l. 041, 3H. 81 ,9l2 5l3
1896 80. / 16S 800. ........... 30 0O000o
NOW, the total Increase VI dill Gull
% rtivated lands in the State of Mime
sofa was so per cent in fifteen years,
about 70 per cent of which is accounted
for in corn as above, and the acreage
of oats as shown below:
Acres.l Acres.
1880 ~ 6S2, 520I1S95 :. ...... i, $50, 139
1880 80. 49,. / ,S39 1887
Ten per cent more Of the general
increase referred to was in barley. Note
the acreage reported for fifteen years:
Acres.I Acres.
1880 . ..... lis 4S0I1S95 go. ....... GA, COZ
1880 1890. .3ZS,2S1l
There was a gradual gain in the
acreage sown to fax from 1880 to 1895,
since which time it has fallen off some,
as shown below:
Acres.I Acres
1880 :. 40 004 1896 .395, IS5
1880 " ..... .4O9 al
Rye and buckwheat cut but small
figure in the cultivated acreage Of Min
nesota- Rye increased from $4,000 acres
in 1880 to 146, 900 acres in 1894. In Buck
wheat the increase in the acreage was
from 1000 in 1880 to 5000 acres in 1895
the acreage in 1879 having been the
greatest, reaching 1900 in that year,
but it dropped nearly so per cent dur
ing the last five years.
THE foregoing statements show that
while the population of Minnesota
doubled the cultivated acreage in
creased only so per cent, and that the
only notable increase was in corn and
oats; that while there was an increase
in barley, flax and other cereals, the
acreage of each class cut very small
figure in the total acreage.
Perhaps the most unfortunate condi-
ton is indicated in our recent crop re-
ports, which show decrease of acre
age in corn, oats and barley, and an
increase in wheat. l say unfortunate
because it is anything but gratifying
hot ir7nr in g
1.-THE detriment of the other cereals. Il
lwould seem that all our efforts during
the last half a dozen years to advertise
. and extend the system Of diversified
Z farming, are without lasting benefits.
1t is true that the cultivation of corn,
oats. barley and hay has been increas
I ing, but the advance in the price Of
wheat has caused the farmers to turn
their attention to that cereal, and, &C
cording to reports from the northern
part of the state, greatly to the detri-
ment of fax, barley and corn. This is
sure to injure the live stock industry
of out state. Feed has been so scarce
in the past that our small farmers have
disposed of their yearlings and two
wear - for feeders to buyers from
other states This has been a great
loss to Minnesota, also to the railroads
The young stock has been disposed OF
for, comparatively, a song. The same
washington, and a newspaper out
there commenting on the fact, states
{ that the high price Of wheat and other
2 cereals has driven the COW and pig
Ito the wall 1t is to be regretted that
so many. young cattle are shipped away
} from Minnesota, instead of being
finished off here, and the increased
value paid to the farmers, instead Of
to the feeders living elsewhere. Fully
$4,000 head-principally of one and two
iyear-old stock-have been shipped out
fof the state via the Northern Pacific
railway during the past sixty days.
! The average price per head paid to the
farmers was about SIS. Now, suppose
the producers had raised some feed and
fattered the cattle; let US see how
4 much more they would have received.
and how great the loss is to the state
i in consequence Of the shortage of food
products. The state experimental col
4 flege demonstrated during the winter
4 lust passed that cattle can be finished
n for market on Minnesota food products
4 ond with great profit. The ration fed to
Il cattle at the state farm between the
Twin Cities was one-third bran, one
z third barley, and one-third ground
corn, fed with hay for five months.
Three-year-old were thus advanced in
value to $65 per head. Suppose w,
make an allowance Of SIS per head for
/ contingencies, and say that the farmers