Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-09-18
PRICES FOR CORN.

q { - II
Iowa farmers will be interested in Il
circular issued by Henry ID. Baker az 10
corn being the barometer Of prosperitv.
1t is he claims. the special gold stani-
ard for the measurement year by Yea s
by which the country measures its
prosperity. He says that the price
WhichSthis distinctively American prod
uct brings is always Immediately and
vitality connected with the rela tive we'll
being and happiness of the American
people. Al: appreciation Of 9 cents a
b BUS on crop Of 1000, 100000 bushels
means the vast gain of $500, 100000 to
me farmers Who have produced 1t.
MIR. Baker cites the fact that the price
OF corn at the beginning of September
this year was twice its value at the be-
ginning of September. 1S96-or about 40
cents a bushel now as against 20 cents
bushel four years ago.
He goes into the causes Of former low
prices of corn. and gives these reasons:
First. The closing OF the mills to.
American labor and the panic breeding
talk of opening up the minis for the
free coinage Of silver curtailed in some
instances and almost destroyed In 9TH
ers the consumptive demand for some
fifty or more products derived from
corn. y
Second. The tigktness of money due
to the boarding of gold. because OF the
fear of free silver, made 1t next to I'm
possible for either the farmer to hold
corn In his granaries or for the "bull',5
Spectator in Chicago to hold 1t in ele-;
vatcrs for any length OF time after 1t,
was harvested. The corn had to be
dumped" on the markG for spot cash,
as soon as ii was grown and such earn.
est competition of sellers only increased
the sluggishness OF buyers. caused by
the heavy slackenine in the demand for!
.corn's derivative products.
The same writer goes into statistics
and says that in the year 1899 the corn
crop Of the United States was less by
205.17Sl. 232 bushels than it was in 1896. In
1899 the total crop being 07S,143,833
bushels, and in 1895 1883. s75, 165 bushels.
Despite this decrease OF ZOE. 731 1892 BUSH
els the total value OF The 1899 crop was
greater by $13s.203l43 than the value OF
the 1886 crop, the value OF the crop OF
1888 being Sb29,2lO11O. and that OF 1886
S491, 00G 1867.
In his circular Mr.. Baker calls atten-
zion to the fact that during the last six!
months of 1899. after there had been.
three years OF steady Improvement in.
conditions under republican rule, the
price OF corn at it's lowest, 3O9k cents per
bushel, was higher than the high record
for the last six months OF 1895, while
the highest quotation for the last half
OF 1899. at 81 cents per bustel, was about
10 cents higher than the high record for
the last half Of 1895
The feeding of hogs and cattle with
corn. OF the conversion Of corn into hoy
and cattle flesh. has developed remark
ably in the last three years as a feature
nf farming. and It is responsible for a
large share Of the increased consunp-
tion of corn. The Individual stimuiat-.
Ing cause has been the cheapeninE Of
money due to the sound money victory
OF 1896 (. sss
The facts produced by Mr.. Baker
show that the only hope OF the farmer
lies in the protection given him by the
republican party. When the democratic
party was in power corn was raised at q
loss, but immediately after the passage
cf the Dingley bill profits began to loom,
up. and aimee then have steadily In.
creased. The Republican asks the
farmers to study these facts. Is