Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-10-01

numerous collateral issues, but for
the sake of simplicity We may here
consider only the matter of bread.
Where and how are we to obtain
loaves enough to feed these coming
millions.
The average yearly consumption
of wheat per capita varies considera-
bly, with seasons and prices, but it
rises steadily with our constantly ad-
vancing standard of comfort. For the
last three years it has been either
slightly under or slightly over seven
bushels for bread and seed. Suppose
that it is six and one-half bushels
the mark. 1t will then require, unless
we are to fall to a lower scale of liV-
ing a total product of 1900, 100000
bushels Of wheat for our bread supply,
if we did not export any. From 1880
to 1906 inclusive, our crop averaged
21.738,0O0 bushels annually. Twice
only in our history have we exceeded
the 700,000,000 bushels mark 1t is
fair to say that $50 0000 900 bushels is
our present average capacity. Of
course, with increasing population
may come a somewhat increased total
production, though it will not advance
as rapidly as many suppose. We
Il grew 5O4,185,470 bushels in 1882,
when our population was a little over
81 100000 and 634,087 900 bushels in
LOTT he in
crease in wheat yield, during these
Years when much of the new lands of
the West was being brought under
| the pillow was a little over rs per
cent, while population increased 49,
| 900 600, or over sc per cent. Obvi-
ously supply and demand for bread
will not keep pace through the work
| ing of any law of nature.
Moreover, the increase of possible
wheat yield by increasing acreage is
limited We have no longer an I'M
limited public domain awaiting the
pillow. There will be some grown up
! on reclaimed arid land, though this
| is mostly devoted to the raising of
fruit and fodder plants. There will be
some land drained, and there are a
few acres Of public lands left where
wheat may be raised But a denser
population makes new demands upon
the soil; and it is more likely on the
whole that the wheat acreage will be
reduced, for raising all the other com
modities consumed by two hundred
million people, than that it will be en-
Iarged Nothing but a material rise
| in price could accomplish this; and
| we may, perhaps assume that a
Isteady and certain price Of one dol
lar or a dollar and a quarter per
| bushel for wheat may raise our total
annual product to 9OO,O00,0O0 bushels,
which would be fifty per cent more
than its present average This is the
extreme limit of probability. The
country could under present methods
do no more unless it took land just
| as necessary for other purposes and
devoted it to wheat raising. In that
case it would only initiate the man
who tried TO make the legs of his
| trousers longer by cutting strips off
| the bottom and sewing them around
ally, with a shortage of 400 100000
| bushels in our wheat supply, even
supposing that we consume every
grain that we raise. This amount
We should have to procure from some
other source. Where are we to get
it, and how is it to be paid for?
Canada can send us something. but
not much BY that time her own
population will have grown, and her
needs with it. and so will the demand
! of all the rest of the world. Russia
/ and India and Argentina and Austria
| liza together are scarcely keeping up
! with the worlds present necessities.
/ Wheat bread and high civilization
$50 together; and as labor conditions
! everywhere improve. more and more
people who once lived on black bread
! or rice vii have the white loaf But
iif we grant that the additional 400
600 GOO bushels of wheat will be sup
Iplied from some now undetermined
+ source. wherewith shall the bill be
paid? We may assume that. by that
time. an average price of a dollar and
a quarter per bushel will prevail.
I This will leave US debtor TO somebody
lin international trade to the amount
of $500 100000 We must be pre-
Ipared TO send abroad that amount Of
Isome commodity 10 foot the bill. We
must also make good the deficit oc-
/ Casioned by the cessation Of our eX-
tpoTts of breadstuffs and provisions,
In the year ending June so, 1908, We
teNporled wheat and wheat -four TO the
value in round numbers of S164,-
I 100000 That will he cut Of. So we
shall have TO find nearly 100000 000
in all to pay our food bill, That IS
one-third OF the value of our entire
/ eXports in the wear 1908
We cannot raise this vast amount
annually by increasing exports. Al
] ready the products of the soil the
m nerals and OILS aiken from tn
earth and such raw materials a,
leather and lumber, drawn immedl-
ately from earth's products. constituta
two thirds of our entire export trade
The whole of our exports OF manu-
featured goods o her than products o
the farm amounted to $3.50. 5000 In