The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-02-21
POPULATION AuowHsAr.
The Problem Of Failure supply LIKELY
60 increase Lend Values.
(Boston TranscriptO

phase Of popular economies, SAYS the
Providence Journal II relates to the
outlook for the production Of wheat nj n
profit for the next decade or longer. II
the population OF the United States IN.
creases as rapidly MS In the past, 1t should
not DO very long before the consumption
Of this cereal rises TO 200, 600, 600 bushels
per annum. A slight acquaintance with
the statistics CT production for the last
such supply Ia demanded year after year,
ID will DO difficult to find large stocks of
the grain or even comparatively small
one for export. There Is reason to be-
lievs that over 400 600, 600 bushels of the
1898 crop will be taken for domestic con-
sumption. In 1885. 1890 and 1899 the
amount required for this purpose was
over $50. 900, 00oibusheis. Those were years
of plenty following lean harvests. Under
the circumstances II seems fair 10 assume
that for tho first time the great increase
In the population since the last census
has been responsible for record break
ing demand for wheat in the home mar
ket.
II the population during the years
when the home requirement reached
$50, 600, 900 bushels Is roundly estimated
at an average OF 90. 0Oo. 900 It is evident
that the per capita consumption OF those
crops exceeded six bushels In ordinary
wears the quantity has been less than i've
bu shells. But II the population OF the
United States Is now 5000. 600, or will
be when the census is taken. even the
smaller per capita demani will amount In
the aggregate TO 375, 0Jn, 600 bushels. Yet
the general consumption OF wheat Is
steadily increasing, hundreds of thou
sands of bushels being taken for new
forms of breakfast foods, biscuits and
even bread. IL allowance Is made for this
developing and expanding use OF the ce-
real irrespective of the want Of bread for
new mouths in the population, there IL
promise of n demand for at least six
bushels for each person. At such rate
Of consumption the total amount which
the country will demand OF the farmers
On such study of future requirements
as this Il cannot he extiayagant to as
sumo that couple of years hence the
country will be pinched for shipments
abroad provided the crop does not attain
large proportions, say at least oUo,OUo,oOo
bushels. Even tntu bnt hiuount tuab
could be spared would be small
But, as the experts of the Agricultural
Department said of Professor Crookes's
predictions of scarcity, there is much land
in this country which can be added at
any time to the wheat acreage. The area
sown with wheat in 1925, for example,
was "a, 6is, GAG acres, and that under cul-
tivstion last year was about 42,ooo,ooo
acres, Admit, then, that the acreage
can be increased TO 10000. 600 acres. A
Yield of twelve bushels per acre will then
give crop of 720. 000. 900 bushels Yet
some years have brought yield of only
eleven bushels. On that basis an acreage
OF 90, 600, 600 acres would provide crop
no larger than last years. Still, II the
consumption did not rise above 400. 00O, 900
or $50, 600, 0)0 bushels, there would be
plenty of this cereal for export. But sup
posing the demand for consumption
should become as large per capita AS that
of France, where over eight bushels are
reuuiredy In that case one guesses that
the requirements of the American people
would be not less than Coz. zoe, COO bushels
when the population is 20. 600 900. But
probably by 1910 the number of inhabi-
tants will reach a0.000,000 oistin-
guished British scientist, not Professor
Crookes by the way, has recently esti-
mated that before 1910 the United States
will want all It's own wheat even on the
present basis of consumption. That is
farther than it Is perhaps wise to carry
ones deductions. Yet 1t may be doubted
II In the course OF the next seven or
eight years the population of the United
States will not have occasion to feel the
effects of expOr tation on prices OF Hour,
and that without any artificial stimulus
impaired to the demand by such specu-
lator as Joseph Letter.
1t Is instructive to consider this sub
ject because the American farmer, while
at present prosperous, owing TO two years
of good prices, may regard the future as
ominous. When he Looks back decade
he can discover two periods Of good prices,
and a long interval of very low ones. IL
should be encouraging to him that not
only Professor Crookes but the statistics
relating to production and consumption
promise no very dubious returns from hi S
Industry. 1t Is not safe TO predict that
wheat lands will be at h premium by
1905, but certainly the prospect Is that
they will be in demand by thrifty persons
who are looking for means Of gaining
q livelihood AS they were in the eighties
and up to 1893. 1t would be a grand thing
for the country II as a result of the aug
with our increase in population the bust :
ness of farming on the Western plains
should again assume the income which
invited so many into agriculture before
there was u question of losses. 1t would
be better still In every way for the nation
Ii this should be brought about by u firm
and steady demand for all the grain
which could be produced year In and year
out, and that Is "A condition to which the
facts aiduced seem TO point.
1880 -. 49,, :. :. =. -.