The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-12-04
COOP TIMES AND WHEAT.
At Variance with the Logic OF Tarin
Makern.

IN. variance WMNM E4G AU8AG 0A ANEAAA
Makers.
People may differ as to the relation
the passage of the DingIey tariff bill
may have to the evident indications OF
the revival of business and the return
Of prosperity. but no one has a doubt
that wheat is the mos important ele-
ment among the many that are bring
Ing about a Frightened outlook and
preparing the way for good times"
The settlement Of the tariff agitation
for at least four years will give the
markets an opportunity to adjust them-
selves to stable conditions thing
most desirable in the business world.
But this stability is largely a negative
factor, while the big crop in the United
States, and especially the big crop Of
wheat. is q positive factor that is MAKE
ing its influence felt more strongly
every day. A record crop Of wheat 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 overplanted their probable
market by about IS, 1000. 900 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 4~60.000,O0o
bushels, or 32.0OO,O OO bushels in excess
of that of last year. Abig surplus wheat
crop and an advancing price is the con-
dition that is now making glad the
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 1891. Ex-
pert statisticians estimate that the ex-
portable surplus in the United States
this year is 49,. 900 bushels, as COM
pared with las, 900. 900 bushels last year.
a balance of 10000, 900 bushels over last
year to aid in bringing good times.
Compared with the millions of dollars
the wheat crop will bring to America
this year. the riches thus far taken
from the Klondyke mines are insignif-
cant. Kansas, Texas, Nebraska and
Colorado and the west generally are al
ready beginning to feel the good re-
suits of a most satisfactory year mag
reculture. Nebraska is said to have
paid off from $25, 100000 to $4,000, 900
of its mortgage Indebtedness owing to
the good crops and prices of last year
and this year. Kansas is also paying
of its mortgages, and the moving of
the great grain crop is giving more
| employment and profits to the rail-
roads, to merchants and all classes OF
business. Doubtless Mr.. Dingley wil
look upon the big wheat crop in the
United States as an indication that
Providence is on the side of protec'
tion. In fact. most high protection pa
pers are already pointing to the un-
doubted improvement of business con-
ditions as a result Of the new tariff
law. The coincidence of big crops and
foreign demand for our cereals with
the enactment of a tariff whose average
duty rate as compared with that of the
Wilson law is as 54.66 to 40.10 is atleast
| fortunate for the country. wen though
it is unfortunate for the logic Of tariff
makers who claim that all blessings
| flow from protection.-Chicago Record
Qnd.).