Morris tribune., 1898-11-12

ing population in a geometrical ratio i
evidenced by the fact that the yearly
aggregates grow progressively larger
In the early seventies they rose 4, 800,
900 per annum, while in the eighties
they increased by more than 5000, O0C
per annum, necessitating annual add.
tions to the bread supply nearly one
half greater than sufflced 25 years ago.
To supply 5l6, 500, 600 bread eaters, il
each bread eating unit is to have his
usual ration, will require a total OF
Q, 1894, 900, 900 bushels for seed and food.
According to the best authorities the
total supplies from the 1878 harvest
are |, 921, 600, 900 bushels. The require
ments of the SIC, 500, 900 bread eaters
for seed and food are 1924, 900, 900
bushels. There is thus deficit of 403, !
900, 900 bushels, which has not been
urgently apparent owing to surplus of
800, 900, 900 bushels carried over from
the last harvest.
Respecting the prospects Of the har
vest year just beginning, it must be
borne in mind that there are no re-
mainders to bring over from last har-
vest. We start with deficit of 103,
900, 600 bushels and have $500, 900
more mouths to feed. The majority of
the wheat crops between 1882 and 1896
were in excess of current needs, and
thus considerable reserves of wheat were
available for supplementing small def
icits from the four deficient harvests
But bread eaters have almost eaten up
the reserves of wheat, and, the 1897 har-
vest being under average, the conditions
become serious That scarcity and high
prices have not prevailed in recent years
is due to the fact that since 1889 we
have had seven world crops of wheat
and six of rye abundantly in excess of
the average. These generous crops in
creased accommodations to such an extent
as to obscure the fact that the harvests
of 1895 and 1896 were each much be-
low current requirements. =
From this Sir William concluded that,
reserves being practically exhausted,
bread eaters must be fed from current
harvests. Even harvest equal to the
record one of i894'wouId yield less than
current needs.
Having drawn this gloomy picture of
the present, Sir William considered the
future prospects. First of all, he exam
ined the two chief wheat exporting
count tries of the world, the United
States and Russia, The former he de-
scribed as having been for 80 years the
dominant factor in the foreign supply
Of wheat, exporting no less than 49,
900, 600 bushels Thus the bread eating
world has depended and still depends
On the United States for the means of
But Sir William warns us
that the bread eating world cannot for
ong rely upon this supply. He says:
1.-THE entire worlds contributions to
The food bearing area, have averaged
out 4, 600, 900 acres yearly since 1869
1t is scarcely possible that such an aver
lge, under existing conditions, can be
doubled for the coming 20 years. Prac-
5ically there yemains no uncultiYated
prairie land in the United States suita-
Die for wheat growing. The virgin land
las been rapidly absorbed until at
present there is no land left for wheat |
without reducing the area for maize, |
lay and other necessary crops. 1t is al |
most certain that within generation
he ever increasing population of the I
United States will consume all the |
wheat grown within its borders and |
will be driven to import and, like our
elves, will scramble for a lions share I
# the wheat crop of the world The |
of 145. 900, 600 bushels will
ause serious gap in the food supply
f wheat importing countries, and unless
his deficit can be met by increased sup.
lies from other countries there will be
dearth for the rest of the world after
he British isles are sufficiently sup
lied. .
Even less comfort is to be found in
Il examination of the Russian supply
russia, with an annual export Of 95,
90, 900 bushels, is second to the United
states as a wheat provider, and, to
uote Sir William S words: Although
russia at present exports so lavishly
his excess is merely provisional and
recarious. The Russian peasant popu
alton increases more rapidly than any
Their in Europe. The yield per acre
yer European Russia is meager-not
lore than SO bushels to the acre,
7hile some authorities consider it as
wv as 4. 6 bushels The cost of produc.
ion is low-lower even than on the
irgin soils Of the United States. The
evelopment IF the fertile though
1mewhat overrated black earth,
,hioh extends across the southern por-
ion of the empire and beyond the Uralol
into Siberia, progresses rap
lily. But, as we have indicated, the
of bread in Russia has
cen reduced to the danger point The
easants starve and fall victims to hun
or typhus, while the wheat growers
xport grain that ought to be consumed
t home.
Considering Siberia as wheat
rover, climate is the first considera
on. Summers are short as they are i'll
Il regions with continental climates