Evening journal., 1897-10-16
THE WHEAT STATE.
Those That win Reap Dement'S from
Dollar Wheat.

Dollar Wheat.
, tatisticians have been estimating
at $500. .0o0,o 900 the increased revenue TO
American farmers from the enhanced
price Of wheat. This cereal last crossed
the dollar line in 1891, and since then
the grade of prices has been between
4s and "a cents, the difference being
represented TO some extent, of course,
by the various grades of wheat. An es-
innate which was put forth year ago
by a government authority gave the
value Of the wheat crop of the United
States last year as S250,000,000, and
wh,n the fact is taken into consl lera-
tion that many of the farmers sold
their product this year before the in
creased prices became current, and that
No. 2 wheat was sold last year for "a
cents, IL is extremely doubtful whether
the gain to the farmers over what they
received for their wheat last year, com
pared with what they are receiving this
year, Is more than S100,000,000; but
such as the gain is, oe It $10O,O0o,000 or
S2OO,OOo,OOO. it comes most opportune-
ly to the farmers of the United States.
Wheat is one Of the big crops of the
United States and has bounded ahead
with great rapidity as the agricultural
interests of the United States have de-
veloped. In 1850 there was a wheat
crop of 100,0OO,O00 bushels; in 1860, a
crop Of 175,00O,O 900 bushels; in 1870, one
of 200.0O0,O0O bushels; in 1880, one of
450,OOO,0O0 bushels, and in 1891, one of
G10,000,O00 bushels. About 400, 0,00O,000is
the average crop, and the United States
produces in ordinary years about one
fifth Of the wheat grown in the world.
IL stands at the head of all countries
in respect Of wheat products, France
and Russia being second and third, and
India fourth, until the recent famine
in that country following the plague
reduced the available supply for home
consumption and prevented the expor-
tation of wheat in large amounts. Hun
gary, in which the crop is notvery good
this year, Is the fifth Of the wheat-pro-
ducing countries of the world, the total
OF the others being 10y comparison in
significant. at least for export pur-
poses.
In the United States the wheat states
are those of the northwest, aRd first
among them, in an ordinary year, with
an average product of 65,ooo,oo0 bush
els, is Minnesota. Then comes North
Dakota, adjacent, with a product of
6O,COO,O0O, and South Dakota, with 30,-
600, 900. The average of Kansas is about
100000, and of Nebraska 16,000,000.
These are the group OF wheat states,
but they are not the only ones, CalifoT-
MIA producing in ordinary years wheat
to the amount OF 100000 bushels, and
Ohio having an average crop Of 55,0oO,-
600. Wisconsin, which adjoins Mime
sofa, produces relatively very little
wheat, but Michigan has, when the
farming conditions are good, large
yield Oregon has been increasing its
wheat acreage considerably. Among
the wheat states of the east Pennsylva-
MIA stands first, with an average crop
OF 20,0OO,O0O bushels, Maryland follow
ing with 100000 and New York with
100000. There is comparatively little
wheat raised in New England and
scarcely any in the gulf states. Mis-
souri, is n large wheat-growing state,
exceeding either Indiana or Illinois,
but Arkansas, south of it, yields very
little wheat-N. Y. Sun.