The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-22
NEW GRAIN REGIONS.
Siberia and South Africa Compete
With America in Supplying Food
for World.

One Of the most interesting fea.
lures Connected with the opening of ST.
IBERIA lies in the future Of the food
supply of the world, In which the
enormous areas Of virgin soil In its
western section are destined TO play
an important part. With the present
rapid settlement and development of
the vast Khirgis steppes, with the ex.
pected construction of railways as
suring the outlet Of SHERMAN wheat
to Russia's northern. western and
southern ports, the last named beirg
assured Of cheap and easy transit
when the establishment OF water COM
munication between the basins of the
Volga and Don has been accomplish
ed. the steadily increasing production
of wheat from Siberia will find ready
access to Western Europe.
Available statistics show that ev-
cry family of settlers has, on an aver
age, twenty-five acres, under wheat at
the end Of the third year. The av-
erage harvest per acre is equal to
about 800 quarters. of which about
eighty quarters go for the consump-
ton OF the family. the remainder be-
ing available for the market. There
are now over $4,000 households In
this position. On the basis of these
calculations II Is estimated that the
present annual surplus is about L.
100000 quarters. But this amount Is
only a fraction Of the estimated sur
plus during the ensuing years. since
the number Of households settled In
Western Siberia during the years
1sos-0Tos exceeds 15o,0ee. or. five
times the number previously settled.
One of the most serious drawbacks
to the investment Of capital in indus
trial enterprises in Siberia lies In the
fact that all the land remains the
property of the State or the Crown,
with the exception Of townlands. The
emigrants do not become freeholders,
| but only have the usufruct Of the land
allotted to them. The difficulty of ac-
| quiring land raises a serious obstacle
to the development of industries. It's
removal can not be long deferred.
| AS regards mining, Siberia also suf-
fers from restrictions which do not
prevail in European Russia. For in
stance, In the A.tai region, which is
notoriously rich in mineral wealth,
the right of mining is hampered by
the necessity Of obtaining a special
permission from the Altai mining au-
thorities In each case. Many of the
iron deposits in the Altai are geologi-
cally related to the Ural. Copper, lead
and silver are also met with In great
abundance, but the chief wealth of
the Altai lies In it's coal deposits,
which will no doubt be worked on a
large scale as soon as the present re-
strictions on mining are removed.
| London, Sept. 11.-This year South
Africa has astOnished the commercial
world by suddenly becoming a factor
Of Importance in the maze trade. 1t
Is not long since South Africa farm
ers began to realize the possibilities
OF their land for the purpose of
maize growing and the great value of
this grain In the markets of Europe.
Experts on this continent declared
that South African maize was of the
very finest quality, and agriculturists
found that the South African climate
and soil were peculiarly favorable to
the growth Of the grain.
More than two years ago the Natal
government approached the South
African steamship lines with view
of getting especially low infant trade.
AT that time the charge for maize
wos S3.75 ton. and the late Sir Don
aid Currie agreed to reduce this to
c:.C0 ton for ships loading In the
course Of ordinary call, the arrange
ment being for two years. Owing to
this and the inducement OF high
prices the trade grew apace.
This year there was not onlS n spe-
cially large harvest, but owing to the
fact that the natives had grown large
quantities of amabele, or Kaffir corn,
they were not such extensive buyers
of maize as In former years. AS a
result there was very large guam
tity Of the grain available for ship
ment; the latest estimate is 100000
tons.