The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-27
Wheat Versus Corn.

In recent number the Post-Intelli-
gencer called attention to what 1t con-
sidered an error of judgment, in the
devoting of a portion OF the money to
be devoted to the American exhibit
at the Paris exposition to the purpose
of exploiting American corn as food
stun, In the hope of eniarging the Euro.
pean demand for It, The position taken
stuffs is relatively fixed quantity,
all of the corn used In Europe neces-
sarily will displace that much wheat:
and that 1t is not sound economic pol
icy to endeavor to substitute for the
more costly grain a cheaper one; that
IL corn ever seriously competed with
wheat, the annual debt of Europe to
this country would be reduced to a
large extent: and that as far as the in
terests of the whole country are con-
cerned. 1t would be better to market our
corn abroad in the shape OF meat rather
than to try and GUST wheat with It, To
this position the Oregonian takes ex-
ception, and endeavors. in a rather in
coherent way, to answer these argu-
ments. It's position, so far as can
be gathered from the article. IL, first,
that it is not likely that the exhibit
win have any effect in making converts
to corn-eating, and consequently that
no Injury can arise. II there is no pros
pect Of success. 1t would seem, then,
that the money to be used IN the corn
kitchen might well be devoted to some
purpose from which beneficial results
could be expected.
The Oregonian argues further that
soon or late the Pacific coast crop OF
wheat VIII be marketed in the Orient
and that. consequently. the wheat grow
ers OF this section of the country will
have no interest in the European mar
ket. While II may be true that at some
future day the Orient will be the market
for all the surplus Pacific coast wheat
1t does not follow that even under such
circumstances its price will not be regu-
lated. as 1t Is at present, by the Liver
pool market. Wheat In the hands OF
the farmers of this coast Is worth the
English price. less the costs OF trans
portation and handling. and this will be
the regulating factor in prices for many
years to come. As further argument
the oregonian adds that with an en-
larsed demand for corn, large portion
OF the area devoted to wheat will be
seeded TO the cheaper grain.
These various arguments simply ig-
more the point which the Post-Inteili-
gencer made In regard to the relative
advantages of wheat and corn as fac
tors in adding to the wealth of the
country. Wheat is worth In dollars and
cents nearly twice as much as corn.
taking the average OF prices In the ex-
port markets: sales OF wheat abroad re-
turn nearly twice as much money per
bushel as would sales OF corn; there
fore, Ia II not an economic error for
this country to endeavor TO replace
wheat with corn in the worlds mar
kets? This IL the question which the
oregonlau utterly fails 70 answer. II
IL not a question affecting the wheat
raisers and the corn raisers alone; II il
one in which the whole country has an
interest. because Il with affect vitality the
balance OF trade between the United
states ana Europe. No one can blame
the corn raiscrs they seek TO do all
in their power 10 create larger market
for their product. The point Is, should
The federal government lend lts aid to-
ward carrying on, project which.
while Il may slightly benent one class
Of producers would work actual injury
to the country as whoie-
The fact that corn is not raised 70
any great extent on the Pacific coast,
and that consequently the people here
have a direct interest against any at
tempt 20 replace wheat with corn IN
the European markets. does not datract
from the strength Of the argument. ~
the oregunian seems ia think.
In about i've weeks they will be hold
ings elections for mayor In the cities