The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-02-26

fore them, can't. the American peo-
pie see and understand why it costs
them more to live now than ever be-
fore?
''The farmers occupation is the
first to exist in civilized state. 1t
is the basis of all other industry.
And only recently we began to real
ize that it is, or can be made, an
exact science. Not until it is prac-
ticed by larger proportion of our
farmers as an exact science will we
obtain relief from present conditions.
"It is as well assured as anything
can be that the population of the
United States will be 200,000,00O
by about the middle of the century,
or in less than so years.
"For the last three years our con-
sumption of wheat per capita has
been either slightly under or slightly
over seven bushels. Suppose it is
only six and half bushels per CAPT.
ia, which is certainly within the
mark. 1t will then require, unless
we are to fall to lower scale OF
living, a total product of 100000
900 bushels of wheat for our bread
supply if we do not export any. Twice
only in our history have we exceeded
the 700, 100000 bushel mark. 1t is
fair to say that 65O,OOO,Oo0 bushels
is our present average capacity.
Crops Will Be Immensely Short.
eve have no longer an unlimited
public domain awaiting the plow. On
the whole, it is more likely that the
wheat acreage will be reduced than
that it will be enlarged. We may
perhaps assume that a steady and
certain price of 81 or $1.25 per
bushel for wheat may raise our total
annual product to 90O,0OO,OO0 BUSH
els, which would be so per cent more
than it's present average. This Is
the extreme limit of probability.
"This country could, under present
methods, do no more unless it took
land just as necessary for other pur-
poses and devoted it to wheat-rais-
ing
Figuring on the present rate OF
consumption, we shall be left prac-
tically with a shortage of 100000
900 bushels in our wheat supply,
even supposing that we consume
every grain we raise. This amount
we should have to procure from some
other source.
eve must be prepared to send
abroad about 100000 worth OF
some commodity in payment for the
wheat we will need. We must also
make good the deficit occasioned by
the cessation of our exports OF bread
stuffs and provisions. In the year
ended June 80, 1908, we exported
wheat and wheat flour to the value
in round numbers Of $164 100000.
Tha. will be cut off, so we shall have
to find 100000 in all to pay
Our food BILL"
Would Show How to Grow More.
Mr.. Hill declares a similar cOndi-
ton exists in the coal and iron IN
dustries. His remedy for the condi-
lions and causes he describes is edu-
cational. He would enlarge the
functions of the agricultural colleges
throughout the country along the
general lines of university extension
work. Specifically he would have
each state make appropriations an
nually for the employment of agri-
cultural college graduates to go out
among the farmers at seeding time
and show them how to sow and till
the soil for the highest possible pro-
ductiveness.
This process, he admits, would be
slow in bringing about national
result, but he regards it as the most
feasible and as the surest way to
check the growth of the cost of liv-
ing in the United States. 1t would
also tend, he thinks, to relieve some
what the congestion in the large
cities, and thereby reduce poverty
and ohaolx tho cnraad Of SOnialism