The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-10
GRA|N. TRADE HISTORY
Interesting Figures by Uncle
Sans Arithmetic Man.
PRODUCTION AND EXPORT
Eternal Strife Between Land
and Water Routes.
PRODUCTION AND EXPORT

Washington March s.-'sThe Grain
Trade of the United States Is the title
of a monograph Just published by the
treasury bureau of 'stitistics as the first
OF a series Of studies upon the produc-
ton and transportation OF the great sta
pies and upon the international conn
merce of the country. The present ar
ticle points out the immense increase IN
the agricultural production of the coun-
try the rapid and continuous westward
the changes in the routes by which west
ern grain reached the eastern consumer
and the European markets. The devel
opment of the grain production and trade
is traced from colonial times to the OPP
ening of the Mississippi route by the
purchase of Louisiana, when the shallow
barges, and later the steamboats,, de-
scended the Mississippi. and New Or
leans shipped grain to New York and
Boston. After the completion OF the
Erie canal in 1S25a nd the settling Of the
Lake Michigan territory. the great bulk
OF the western grain traffic moved east
ward over the lake and the canal, and
New York became the grain shipping
port of the country. The discussion
shows how from Chicago a network of
railways radiated to all points and act
ed as tributaries to the lake, and later
how the unified and amalgamated raj
ways competed with the lakes for the
eastbound traffic. The traffic in corn
and -four was diverted from the lakes TO
the railroads. and while the lake re-
gained part of their lot traffic later, the
Erie canal was unable 70 compete with
the railroads from Buffalo, and grain
which formerly reached tidewater at
New York is now largely diverted to
Philadelphia, Baltimore and more south
erly ports. The struggles of the rail-
roads and of the ports among themselves
are described and the history of the ex-
listing rate differentials is given, but the
report confines itself to history and does
not discuss policy or forecast future de-
velopnrents.
Tho monograph also presents what ap-
pear as the two most recent develop
ments of the grain trade of the United
States: Firstly, the partial diversion of
the wheat and flour trade from Lake
Michigan to Lake Superior ports and the
rise OF a great milling industry at Min
neapolis and Duluth Superior; secondly,
the increased movement Of grain, and
notably of corn, to the gulf ports, partly
by river, to a greater extent by rail from
st. Louis and nearby points, and to an
ever growing extent 10y direct rail routes
from cities in the southwestern corn
belt.
The report, which is quite comprehen-
sive, contains a series of table dealing
with the rise and development OF the
grain trade at various collecting and dis
trfbuting points, the efforts of the sew
eraI railroads to control and effect the
ever-increasing transportation of grain,
and the distribution OF the traffic among
the various routes. A great amount of
information is furnished about rail, ca
nal and ocean freight rates; about the
production, distribution and consumption
OF cereals, and a special para graph is
devoted to the subject OF the foreign
market for American grain. The mono
graph includes a number Of tables re-
garding acreage, production, imports. ex-
ports, consumption, prices and rates OF
duty for wheat in all the principal coun-
tries ofthe earth, as well as map show /
ing in general outline the present wheat
area of the world.
The statistics contained in this report
throw light upon the present grain, and /
more especially wheat, situation OF the /
United States. They show that the ex-
portation of grain is increasing with /
great rapidity, that both the production !
and expectation of corn are assuming a
greater volume, and that a constantly /
growing portion of our wheat IS export
ed in the form of -four. During the last /
80 years the amount OF corn produced /
has increased from s6S . 1924 millions 4
Of bushels an increase Of 1922 per cent.
while the exports Of this cereal in
creased from Is to III millions Of bush
els, or over 1000 per cent. During the
same period our production of wheat
increased from 152 TO GO millions o.
bushels, a gain of 344 per cent, while our
exports increased from 12-e TO 222-6 mil
lions OF bushels. or almost IS fold, and
our net exports OF this grain icrease at
a still more rapid rate.
From this report. it also appears that
since 1873, and notably since $50. an
ever-increasing proportion OF our wheat
exports has been in the form OF -four.
and that in this important branch of
Americans have been abe
70 compete with European miEers even
in the face Of adverse legislation abroad.
In 800 only BOO per cent OF our wheat
was exported in the form OF the manu-
featured product -four. while fl 1873 the
export was 81. 90. and IN 1895 g 90 per cent.
In 1876 less than four million barrels OF
-four, in 1899 over eighteen million barrels
were exported from this country.
The year Isss shows the United States
to Re easily the first whest-p-odllcing
c5c-try % the word, our production
au3u ting 20 Go milton bushels. or near
y ore arth ga Pc cent? OF that OF
the whole world. Russia Goth Euro
pean and Asl1tic) is second wita 17-3 per
cent: then france with i2s per cent:
British India with 50 yer cent. and Al
stria-FEungary with IS per cent Or
precedence n wheat pgo3u- fIon = large .
IS de 20 our immense tracts q avzilab3s
fertile land. our admirable t-Snsportstioa
facilities, the remarka5.e system % !
banking The grain, both physically and
and the s1ceeslngiy leE
freight rates which obtain o. cur Tsl-
roads and lakes.