The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-07-14
Our CEREALS ABROAD.
Agricultural Department Re-
ports on Possibilities Of
Extending Our Foreign
Markets.

WASHINGTON, July "A, 1897-Some i'm
portant data as to the possibilities of the
material extension of the foreign mar
kets for our cereals is given in a report
of the Agricultural Department on Unit
ed States wheat for Eastern Asia. Ow-
ing to the rapid recent development Of
new wheat producing areas IN other
parts of the world and the increasing
competition the United States is compelL
ed to meet in European markets the fu-
ture disposal of our surplus wheat has
become an important question. 1t has
been suggested that the changes now
taking place in the civilization of Japan
and China may result in opening there
of markets for our wheat that viii to
some extent compensate US for losses
that may be incurred through the In
coming competition of other countries IN
the European markets that this country
formerly was able to control The report
says that chief among the indications of
the plausbility Of the suggestion is the
remarkable increase in our expectations
of wheat TO Eastern Asia during the
decade just closing. Most of this wheat
is shipped in the form of flour, exports
of grain being comparatively small
The total amount of wheat flour shipped
to Japan and China during the entire fiscal
year 1897, just closed, should reach, it is
stated above a million barrels, eQuiva-
lent to more than 4500,000 bushels of
wheat The major portion of American
flour sent across the Pacific goes to Hong
Kong and is thence distributed to other
Chinese ports. Exports of flour to Japan,
while considerably smaller than to China,
show an increase during the last few
years proportionately even greater than
to China. 1t is estimated that the total
exports of wheat flour from this country
to Japan during the fiscal year just end
ed amounted to 100000 barrels The ex-
ports of wheat in the grain have been
chiefly to Japan. American wheat also
is sent to Eastern Asia in the form of
bread and biscuits, but not in very large
quantities. Official statistics indicate
that the capacity of Japan for wheat
production has not increased commen-
surately with the growth in population,
showing constantly increasing dependence
upon the wheat fields of other countries
for its supply. There is abundant sta
tistical evidence, it is cited, to show that
the amount of wheat consumed per in
habitant in Japan is steadily increasing.
AS the years go by the Japanese Diet
doubtless will become gradually changed
to accord with American and European
customs, and this means larger wheat
consumption Wheat consumption in
China also is increasing. When that great
nation of 4O0,O0Ooo0 people is once fairly
opened to foreign influences the depart
ment believes the possibilities of the sit
uation that may result can hardly be
over-estimated The report concludes
Clearly, then, these Oriental countries
are well worth the attention of the AM
erican wheat grower. especially now that
Russia, Argentina and other great wheat
producing countries are competing with
us so strongly for the European mar
ket 1t may be that in the future East
ern Asia will afford field enough for the
disposal of our surplus wheat to Offset
all possible losses in the markets of
F,lrOpe''