The Washington herald., 1907-08-02

the worlds supply, and the continent OF
North America is destined to remain the
greatest wheat producer on the globe.
From January. when the harvest beings
in South America. until December. when
it ends in Burmah, 100000 persons are
engaged for part of the year in the
worlds wheat fields. The universal yield
annually amounts to more than Two
bushels for each man, woman, and child
on earth. To the inventive genius OF
Americans IS due the present immensely
OF the wheat crop. Steam transportation
and harvesting machinery have been the
great factors in expanding the produc-
ing area for the grain, yet the great
problem at present is not that of grow
ing more. but to distribute what is al
ready grown. There have been times
when Russia exported a surplus of wheat
from some sections while famine stalked
abroad in other portions of the empire
so remote from railroads that it was I'm
possible TO get relief to the sufferers.
When all countries are gridTOned by
railroads famine may be prevented, but
there must be a great extension Of trans
portation facilities before that end viii
be possible.
Since the development OF the United
States began the center Of wheat pro-
ductiOn has moved steadily westward,
and the transportation companies have
been kept busy trying TO handle the
crops Of wheat resulting from the open
ing up Of new lands. For a long time
after II was known that the plains would
produce wheat as good as any from the
soil Of the Atlantic seabOard States the
western fields remained uuplowed for
the reason that ii was impossible 10
market crops grown IN the central part
OF great continent remote from naYi-
gable waterways. The States bordering
upon the Mississippi raised wheat when
that stream was first navigated by steam
ers and barges and crops were shipped
70 New Orleans and thence to Europe.
But 1t was not until railroads constructed
their lines into the plains country that
the great wheat crops of the West came
into existence. and Montana, Minnesota.
and the Dakotas becams ceaters OF grain
production.
With the further development Of trans
portatton facilities, western Canada has
become an important factor as a wheat
country With millions OF acres of land
stin unsettled the fields of western
Canada are now producing more than
100000 bushels Of wheat, which is all
the more remarkable when it is consid-
cred that only a few years ago this
whole section was thought TO be barren.
It IS now asserted that the present. gem
Grafton viii see 100000 acres Of wheat
growing in the western provinces. and il
the prophecy is fulfilled the product at
twenty bushels an acre, will equal more
than One-fOUrth Of the worlds present
crop. Canada is striving in every manner
10 induce immigration to her wheat
fields. She is pushing railroad construc-
ton and spending large sums upon ca
mails, harbOr improvements, and steam
ships. At present she has 5000 miles
Of railroads and ranks eighth in point OF
mileage.
In the more progressive countries mod
ern methods of cultivation have in
creased the acreage production Of wheat
and decreased the cost until It seems
that the limit Of improvement has been
approached. The dream Of capitalists
now is an all-water route from the West
10 the Atlantic for the relief OF traffic
that has chafed for fifty years at the
barriers between the Lakes. II the
dream is ever realized, and grain in
bulk can be shipped 20 Europe without
breaking cargo. a revolution in market
ing wheat will be worked. An impor-
tant project on the part of Canada is the
proposed Georgian Bay ship canal from
Georgian Bay 10 Ottawa. This will cost
100000 and viii provide a new route
from the Northwest for both Canadian
and United States growers, reducing the
distance by water from Chicago to the
St, Lawrence by cutting Lake Erie out
entirely
Because Of their situation on the sea-
coast, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Uru-
quay enjoy easy transportation facilities
and do a good export business. But for
the fact that light traffic from European
ports to South America causes grain ships
TO return empty. thus causing a high
freight rate, they would have a great adj
vantage over Western North America in
export trade. A great need Of the United
States is the development OF q trade in
wheat with the Orient. to make an outlet
for the far West But in view OF the fact
that the increased home demand has
caused our exports to fall or from 154 S56.-
102 10 S4.S7S291 bushels in five years, this
need Of a trade with the Orient Is not as
keenly felt Just now as It would be II our
home demand were less
The falling on IN the exports from this
country IS not caused by lack Of demand
for the American product but to the
great increase in wheat consumption in
the United States. This is due in part to
an increase in population much more
rapid than the increase IN the wheat-pro-
duclng area, and in part 10 the great
prosperity Of this country. Although many
discriminating persons, to whom the price
is not factor, prefer corn dodgers to
wheat bread, q decided increase in the
demand for -four has resulted recently
from the prosperity OF the working classes
IN the South.
The change from the old-fashioned era
die to the modern machine that cuts.
thrashes and sacks wheat has served to
reduce the price OF production. America
has not only led in the invention and use
Of machinery, but our manufacturers have
sent agents all over the world m the
effort 10 introduce the most modern ma
chinery into all countries Some of the
wheat countries are still far behind.
While the average net profit upon the
American crop is between S. and So an
acre, that OF the whole world IS but 81 o.
In Italy and India wheat is often pro-
duced at a loss and is cultivated only be-
cause q greater loss is entailed in import
ing bTeadstuffs.
The United States IS divided into eight
great wheat districts, each possessing
characteristics quite different from the
others. They are the soft wheat dis
trict including New England and the