The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-09-01

of wheat in the northwestern states
and that at present from 80 to 100
million bushels of winter wheat are
used in these mills because they can
not get hard wheat, It is pretty clear
that there will be a very large mar
ket for u Canadian grades south
Of the line. There would be an excep-
tionally brisk demand this season,
because the hard wheat crop of Min
nesota and the Dakotas is reported
to be fifty million bushels less than
last year.
It is certain that. once the bars are
taken down, there will be an immedi-
ate market in the United States for
forty or fifty million bushels Of wheat.
This Is likely to, grow. The elaborate
calculations made use of by Mr.. Bor-
den to show that there Is unlimited
capacity In the United States are Of
no practical value. Already the Unit
ed States does not grow enough hard
spring wheat for her own uses; and
no expansion is probable excepting
under the stimulus Of a%rtilcially high
prices by the operation of a high
protective tariff. Those who talk glib
ly of the United States wheat supply
growing to keep pace with the home
demand will be interested in this
statement by Senator McCumber of
North Dakota, in his anti-reciprocity
speech to the senate on June Il, 1911:
In a few years we will probably
reach q stationary period In the pro-
duction Of wheat. Our best Stats
ticians and those who have given the
matter very great study believe that
we cannot, under present methods Of
farming. raise on an average more
than about 700, 000, 900 bushels Of
wheat per annum. We will, of course,
walton. but old lands which have
heretofore been used for wheat rats
ing must necessarily be used for 9TH
er purposes.
"0ur per capita consumption of
wheat is now about 6 1-2 bushels. If
our maximum production of wheat 10
700, 000, 900 bushels 1t would supply
the needs of 107, 000, 900 people, in
round numbers. In other words, when
our population is 0 100000 wheat
production and consumption will be
equal. How long will that be? At the
present rate of increase In population
and with an increase in our wheat
production up to an average Of N0,-
00O. 900, consumption and production
will equal each other in 1918, or seven
years hence"
Thus the United States will now
become an importing country, so far
as hard wheat is concerned II the duty
is taken off; and in q few years time
1t will cease even to export winter
wheat and the softer varieties which
now find q market in Europe.
There is undoubtedly a certain and
immediate market for a large pro-
portion of our wheat in the United
States. This market will undoubted-
ly grow. The hard wheat area is
steadily diminishing in the United
States, and, under reciprocity. this
process would be accelerated, incfeas-
ing reliance being placed upon the
wheat fields of western Canada.
Wheat Prices Under Reciprocity.
What price will the Canadian wheat
when sold to the United States mill
ers, bring? Will u growers get the
premium paid for hard wheat in the
United States Or will thu price in the
United States fall to the Canadian
level which ia fixed by the Liverpool
market?
Upon this point there il q sharp
conflict of opinion. The vigorous fight
against reciprocity made on behalf OF
the farmers of Minnesota and the Da.
kotas, by their congressman In the
house of representatives, their sena.
tors in the senate, and by delegates
who gave evidence before the senate
committee. was based upon the con
tention that the opening of the Amer.
lean market to Canadian grain would
result in putting the price of hard
wheat in both the United States and
Canada upon an export basis. Thia