The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-10
A NEW MARKET.

Formerly the man who brought into
being a new product was hailed as
benefactor. In these times, when un-
wise and artificial adjustments Of in
dustry have produced the disturbance
which we call "overproduction," the
greatest boon is new market. To en-
large the demand upon our supplies,
and above all the demand for food
products, thereby giving support to ag-
riculture and enhancing the prices Of
farm produce, Is to confer a substan-
tial benefit upon the whole people. A
notable instance of this, accomplished
so silently that the people had not
noticed 1t, Is found in the facts related
in a letter Of Mr.. J. J. Hill which was
given out by the Associated Press yes
terday. 1t appears from this that an
export trade in wheat and -four to
Asia has been virtually created by re-
cent commercial arrangements and the
establishment Of a cheap transporta-
ton service; and the effect upon the
industry of the United States has al
ready been noticeable and is destined
to become even more pronounced.
After careful investigation of the pos
sible demand Of China and japan had
American wheat could be laid down on
the other side Of the Pacific at prices
which the Asiatic would pay, the new
line of business was developed energeti-
cally. The result is the expectation of
$4,000, 900 bushels of wheat, or it's equiv
alent in flour, from the Pacific ports
Of this country for Oriental consump-
ton. This is a new demand and a
new market; as absolutely the creation
Of American enterprise as If it had
sprung from the earth or fallen from
the sky. These peoples have not only
never bought from US before, but they
have not been consumers of wheat
products. They are rice-eaters, to
whom it is necessary to supply wheat
flour on such conditions that It can
compete with and GUST their native and
accustomed article of food. The sur
prising success that has attended the
scheme is shown in the great volume of
the exports. And this is but the be-
ginning. With this trade firmly estab-
lished, this change begun among an
adaptive and initiative people, and the
doors flung wide open, it is not easy
to set a limit to the possible demand
of Asia for the yield Of the American
farm. Certain it is that there appears
in sight possible consumption, out
side Of the European trade, for the en-
ton of the continent.
The relief and the advantage expert
enced by the farmers are Immediate
and great. The supply available for
European consumption being thus ma
terially lessened, while demand remains
steady, the necessary consequence is an
advance Of prices. The wheat market
of the North Pacific coast felt the i'm
petus of the new trade during the last
season; while it is estimated by some
that, of the increase in wheat prices
this season the country over, possibly
Is cents a bushel could be credited to
the opening of the Asiatic market to
our trade. With the teeming millions
of the empires of China and Japan
ready to become customers on so large
a scale for American wheat and -four,
the horizon brightens once more for
the farmer, whose markets have been
so long uncertain and depressed This
is not a result of the legislation upon
which SO many of our people have come
to rely foolishly for their advance in
prosperity, but a product of business
enterprise and the shrewd adaptation
of existing conditions to our own needs
and the needs Of others. We have
dWelt much upon the possibility of fur
Their enlargement of the European mar
ket for our farm products, and looked
with some apprehension upon possible
Asiatic competition with our manufac-
lures. But here enters upon the scene
a new market for us, whose POSSIBLE
tiles promise to surpass anything that
we have dreamed of and to hold out
hope of a new era Of good times for the
agriculturiStS of the West