Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-11-16
MEMBER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS.
an2;|$5z''
WHEAT AND THE TARIFF.

WHEAT AND THE TARIFF.
In his address on the tariff at
Grand Forks last week, Senator NC
Cumber had something to say to those
critics in the state who have stated
that the farmers needed; no duty on
wheat. He said:
asked, and put through the SEN
ate. an amendment fixing the duty
on wheat at 80 cents per bushel.:
Those papers representing the milling
interest began TRADE Of assault and
ridicule. Those papers of our own
state whose preJuo ices are stronger
than their interest in the real well
fare of the state, with great glee
rehashed the publications Of those
papers which were and always have
been hostile to our interests. 0
They declared the tariff on grain
was useless and nonsensical. They
either did not know what they were
TALKING about or did not care. That
a protective tariff Is essential to
high prices for our wheat in the very
near future can be emonstrated with
Mathematical accuracy Let US see.
From 1880 to- 1908 we Increased our
wheat production about II per cent.
During the same time we increased
our population about $75 per cent,
oranearly three tunes as rapidly. II
takes six and one-half bushels OF
wheat per capita for bread. At the
same rate Of increase production and
consumption would be equal in few
years. Thereafter consumption will;
be- greater than production. and the.
price of grain win advance enormous
lyunless we open upa 1s1uice-way for
all O fthe Canadian product of the
northwest But we have already
reached about the limit Of wheat pro-
duction while the population will still
increase accelerated 50. speed, soR Re.
member that we only Increased our
seduction Of wheat ~ per cent when
w had practically all Of western
Minnesota. all of North Dakota, South
Dakota, Oklahoma and large sections
On Texas and Washington to put un-
der the plow. With all that vast
tract to open up we only increased
our production n Per cent. l.. Weznow
have no more North and South Dako-
Ia, Oklahomas, etc. Where we open
UP one new acre for wheat we will
probably have to take one and a half
acres of old for diversified farming
Iowa, once the banner wheat state,
has ceased to a great extent raising
wheat and has gone into corn and
dairy farming. So we may say that
about zoe. 900 900 bushels will be the
approximate production for several
years. With excellent crops it may
exceed this amount. And keep in
mind that our population will grow
right along. We raised this year
about TOO, 900 900 bushels. We shall
need for seed and bread about $780,
100000 bushels. That leaves for ex-
port 10000 900 bushels. Our popula-
ton increases about two and half
millions year. At 81 bushels per
capita, for bread. it will require six
teen and one-fourth millions more
bushels to feed our population next
year than it required this year.
Three years will about absorb this
surplus of 50,oO0,00O bushels. In
my argument in the senate, to be on
the absolutely safe side, / said that
in less than eight years we would not
be exporting wheat. Mr.. Hill says in
less than five years, ....,.,y .-..rs.-s.,, ...,
When that time arrives j expect to
see wheat not 81 but at least $3.50
per bushel. have known when
wheat in this country was So per
bnshel. History will repeat itself
unless we BIZ free trade In wheat shall
Invite the product OF all western Can
ada. s ..ss - .5 s5=555 #,.9 -, 81
Now let us look on the other side
the danger side Of this picture. In
1900 Canada raised, west Of the Red
river. II. 000, 900 bushels Of wheat.
In 1903, she raised In the same Sec
fion 5000 900 bushes. an increase
Of $50 per cent in eight years. Tray
el over this section from the Red
river Of the north to Edmonton, south