The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-06-21
AS TO WHEAT PRODUCT AND THE
:SOUTH'S NEGLECT.

When we read in a northern leading
paper that the south is becoming NOR,
and more a buyer of wheat and fioul
we confess we are distressed and amaz.
ed. 1t is stated tina his increase is
caused by the growth of ma%nufactur.
ing. If true then in so far as manu-
featuring Is responsible for the change
it is hurtful. With such vast fields
such great productiveness and capa-
bilitfes. for the south to buy a piece OF
bread or a peck of wheat or corn il
most ce~nsurable. most lamentable. II
can. if it would, feed a half dozen New
Englands with its surplus. And to
think of buying bread from sections
not half so we'll equipped and blessed
as is this fair southland, is a reproach
and a shame. 1t is shameful subser-
viency and q confession of stupidity
and 1aziness.
Wheat'is widening in its influence.
The great west produces it in huge
quantities. The wheat crop Of Kansas
alone is placed at 60, 900, 900 bushels for
this year. The west because Of it's great
bread productiveness is of Importance
to the trading north. The New York
Tribune notes that "in recent years the
agricultural population has taken free
Iy of manufactured goods as well as
stapIe articles. and any misfortune on
the farms is quickly reflected in COM
mercial channels" But the south
when it buys western wheat is throw
ing away opportunities of it's own, mis-
applying it's hard earned money, and
making itself more dependent and
helpless.
The Tribune notes another instruc-
tive point IN connection with the wheat
of the west. 1t says: Railway earn
ings, which have of late steadily shown
large gains over previous years, are
greatly dependent on this factor, and
the stock market owed much of its
strength to the prospective business of
railroads. either directly or indirectly
due to the wheat crop" You see from
this what an important. strong factor
is agriculture when faithfully, intelli-
gently, successfully pursued. 1t keeps
the money market solid and great rail-
ways prosperous. He is a very stupid
bluEderer who would Cypress the farm
ers and do aught to cause decay and
elimination Of products.
Europe is buying more. of northern
wheat. 1t would buy southern wheat
is it would make it. The Tribune re-
ports. and we feel sorrowful: Cont
mental FIIroDe has become a. greater
wheat consumer. d%iscarding rye and
the cheaper grains whenever condi-
tions have improved sufficiently to
make this possible, while the Far
East and south are also buying more
freely"
In ten months the export Of wheat
to foreign countries bought 1872, 5O5.59,
or % per cent of the entire foreign COM
merce of the whole country. The agri-
cultural department estimates that the
wheat yield for 1901. will equal 10000
00O bushels, equal to any crop hereto
fore grown. h Tribune thinks that
during the last four weeks the Amer
lean visible supply has decreased TO-
- 469, 900 bushels, and it looks as though
the new crop year would open with
only about thirty million bushels in
sight"
The south needs a change. Make less
cotton by 1,5OO. 900 to $500, 900 bales and
grow a vast deal more of wheat. AS
Sam Jones would say, Quit your fool
.ishness."