The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-15


  speculation upon a gigantic scale, hoping to monopolize the cotton market are now earning scanty living in a humble way.
 A Great Lesson
 In 1896 the country learned lesson Which wise men will never forget. It had been asserted that the price of wheat then very low was due to the deprecia- ton or silver. There was harvested in the Tall of that year an excellent wheat crop While in Europe the crop was a par tlal failure. There came then a demand Tor American wheat to which the price speedily responded until at last a few weeks before the presidential election, wheat touched, $1 a bushel. while the de- preciation of silver continued.
 The present price of wheat and the prices which will prevail for some time are occasioned by the demand from other parts of the world. Had not the wheat harvest been record making with respect to amount, the price would have been stlii higher, for We should not have had as large a surplus as we do possess with which to meet the demand of the foreign markets. The farmers may not get the highest market price for their wheat. That is to say. their own sales may not be on level with the highest market price. But they are to receive an enor- nous amount of money and are now re- ceiving vast sums. which go far to ex- piain why business conditions in some parts of the west are better than they are In the east and south The south Is to De all right with respect to business as soon as the movement Of cotton reaches the stupendous figure which it is bound to assume speedily.
 Within few weeks wheat from Ar gent1na will be on it's way to Europe. for the farmers of the Argentine Republic are now beginning to harvest their crop So. aiso' little later, great stores of wheat that were harvested in southern Russia are likely to find their way through the Dardanelles to Europe, and these two factors will undoubtedly tend to depre- ciate the price of American wheat. Prob apiy before that time, however, the greater part of our surplus wheat will nave been sold and either delivered or be on It's way to delivery in Europe.
 An Economic Question
 Some years ago James J. Hill pointed out, in one of his addresses the danger which threatened the United States of a shortage in meat products. So also, Howard Elliott, when president of the Northern Pacific railroad, urged the peo- pie to whom his railroad afforded trans- portation and distributing facilities so to diversity their work as to increase the amount of animal products instead of giving almost exclusive attention to the raising of wheat.
 NOW comes information from those who are qualified to speak that the warnings given by MT. Hill MT. Elliott and others Fave not been generally needed The united States is producing less and less meat products, especially beef. The beef lnoustry can be restored and can so be restored as to make possible reasona ble pronts to the farmers and also lower prices to consumers. Some of those who are keenly interested in American pros- perity are inclined to think that this prob- rem or restoring the beef industry Is as important as any which the American people must consider if they are to main tain prosperity. There will be steadily maintained, possibly increased the high prices Tor beef until the supply, as in former days, is equal to the demand and suHlcient to provide surplus for ex- port. one of the best authorities Ina q recently said that the farmer must re- ceive practical encouragement-and bv practical is meant not ideal statements or generalization, but clear demonstra- tion or what he may secure for himself III ehO way oI reasonable returnS-if he devotes more and more of his land to the raising of beef and especially if he con ducts his farming business in such man. ner that the crops and the cattle will fairly balance so that the disposition will be strong to push each of these industries 10 the utmost. While we are exporting wheat ill enormous quantities, there is blank space left opposite the words beef export"
 
 Thirty-five years ago Samuel J Tilden. l after his return from Europe, which he visited immediately after Rutherford E. | Hayes was inaugurated as president 1 stated in an address that our people ought to teach the people of continental ! Europe the value of Indian corn for food l Tor human beings, showing to them the attractive ways in which 1t can be cooked. Governor Tilden asserted that if l Ehis were done we should in a few years have a great market for this corn made into meal. Now word comes from Eurone that the emergencies of the war have made 1t possible for americans who knou, how to cook Indian corn meal so that if | can make many palatable dishes. to teach the people of war-stricken countries cook ing Of this kind. with the results which have been gratifying and which promise ultimately as large a use relatively of | Indian corn meal for food for men l women and children in Europe as is the