New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-12
THE SUPPLY OF CORN.

Tho ouestion whether the yield Of corn VIII DC
annie for the home supply this year becomes In
,erostinc because of the diversity Of opinion anu
the conflicting reports regarding the prospect.
The Government repot about Z'o"'ooo'''"
bushels. promises enough. Those VINO es'iih"'c
the yield at about 1,sOO.000.O0O bushels beiieVe
that II will suffice for home needs ana exports,
though the foreign demand cannot De esuiha'e"
with any confidence Mt this time IN the season
As recent crops have been large ana nave iei'
n big surplus for export, the shipment OF quar-
titles ranging from 100000 to 21Oooo'""
bushels is scarcely evidence whether foreign
demand will he reduced below 1OOOoooo D'sh-
els or not for the consumption OF the American
product in foreign countries. both Tor human
food and for feeding animals. has In recent
years materially. and perhaps permanently III
creased Other elements Of the problem may
be examined with a little more light.
The consumption Of corn In feeding animals
required more than 300 900 bushels IN 1857
when an investigation by the Department WAS
made the basis Of a statement In the census
volume on agriculture that ISOOOO"oo DusheiS
were consumed in feeding meat-produclng am
mails and 520.00000O bushels in feeding WORK
ing animals. 15OOOO0OO bushels in human 1000
and about 167 100000 million bushels In Seed
spirIts and exports This concerned the nls-
trbution Of crop Of 1.617.OOO,OOO bushels, OF
which less than AZ OOOOO0 bushels was export
ed and 1875 900 900 bushels retained. The pop
ulation was then about 52.5O0.000. and Is now
about "a 800 600. and II the consumption as 1oou
has increased in the same ratio, AZ per cent
It would now require 2430000O0 bushels. Inc
quantities used in dstilng and for seed chI-
not be accurately measured. but have largely
Increased The number of horses has Increased
about 40 per cent since 1882; the number or
mules. much smaller item. about IL per cent
and the number Of oxen practically not az all
As the working oxen are few. In 1850 only apout
900 600 the consumption for working animals
NAV he safely estimated at rather less than the
increase in horses, or perhaps 80 per cent. max
Ing the present requirements for that purpose
about 67O.OOO,000 bushels.
The number of mich cows has Increased
ahout q per cent, and the number OF other
cattle over 30 per cent while the number OF
sheen and swine has slightly decreased AS
the cattle and COWS numbered only 34'OOO,OoO,
AGAINST $4,000 600 sheep and 44.0OO0o0 hogs In
1892 It would seem hardly safe to reckon upon
much increase in feeding animals II there were
needed no increase In their number. But
large increase Is necessary in sheep and hogs, NJ
least equal to the Increase in population. There
shonld he provided for the food Of animals fully
40 per cent more than in 1852. and unless the
supply Increases even more the number OF sheep
and swine must be dsadvantageously restrict
ed But with only 30 per cent increase there
would be required over 10000OOOOO bushels
for meat.producing animals. which. with the
GO 900 bushels for working animals and
243 600 900 bushels for human food. would more
than exhaust a crop Of 1,s00,OOO,000 bushels,
leaving nothing for export.
While no such estimates can be expected to
no nartjculnrly accurate. 1t seems safe to say
that the country really needs for its own con-
sumptior and for seed more than 1,s00,0OO.OOO
bushels of corn this year. and In recent years
it has actually consumed more than that guam
tItv. even though the number Of sheep and hogs
has been reduced II there proves to be n def
Gent supply for export 1t is reasonable to ex-
pect that the price will be strong. and 1t has, In
fact been higher than It is now every time the
Weld. with surplus Of old corn, has fallen be-
low 900 600 900 bushels during the last ten
wears. Taking Department figures, the yield
In the last three years has been 1888 100000
bushels. Considering that the foreign consump-
ton will not readily abate greatly after some
years Of extraordinary increase it does not
seem probable that prices not higher than have
recently been paid can rule throughout the crop
wear unless the yield IS found to he consid-
crably larger than the late commercial est-
mates. But II the Department estimate proves
substantially correct. the yield will he large
enough for all home needs, with n moderate.
though not n large. surplus for export. and cur
rent prices might be found high enough for the
year.