Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-02-25
.FIVE-CENT-LOAF FOR TEN CENTS WOULD
COST UNITED STATES Sl,375,OOO,OOO
Rise the Price of Wheat Lays Tax the People of This
Country Which Makes the War Tax Look SmaI-Increased
Demand for Other Cereals Causes Rise in Their Price,
TOO-MeanS Glover for the AgrcuItuTist.

New York-The rise in the price OF
wheat is laying tax on the people OF
the United States which makes the
war tax" of $100,00O,000 look small
The standard five cent loaf" has gone
to six and even seven cents in many
cities, and predictions of ten cent
loaf are numerous in responsible quar-.
tiers.
What does this mean to the Ameri.
can housewife?
George s. Ward, member of a great
bread-making concern, figures that
Americans consume on the average a
barrel of wheat flour a year. From
each barrel 275 standard five cent
loaves of bread can be baked. For each
rise of one cent in the price of the loaf
every American must pay $2.75 a year
The census department figures that
the population of the United States
passed the 100,000,000 mark some time
in January. So each one cent rise in
the price of the loaf means a tax on
the country of $275, 100000. A rise
from to 10 cents will cost US $1,375,.
100000
But this will not be the total cost
With the rise in the price of wheat
there is an increased demand for
other cereals-barley, rye, oats and
cortland these rise in price, too. A
further tax is laid on the consumers of
rye bread who are very poor; and it
costs more to eat corn pone" also.
The hogs are fed mostly on corn, and
If the farmers corn Is worth more,
they will get more for pork and meat
prices will rise in consequence. So
we are in for an era of high prices;
what those who were of mature age in
1S61-1S65 will remember as the war
prices"
For the farmer it will be Glover"
We raised S91 100000 bushels of wheat
this year and a larger area will be
seeded next year. When wheat rises
from 81 to $3.50 the farmers of the
country get $445, 100000 more without
any extra effort, and if prices rise 81
the vast sum of $S9100O.O00 will drift
into the farmers stockings.
SOOA iANS A0l Nj ditis
In addition, the farmer is getting
most gratifying prices for corn, oats
and barley-in fact, almost everything
except apples, which are plentiful and
cheap. This $445, 100000 which a so
cent wheat rise brings will buy more
than a million substantial automobiles.
No wonder the agriculturist breathes
an atmosphere of gasoline.
The high prices for wheat are based
more on expectation of shortage than
actual shortage. Well informed men
say that if the European war were
speedily terminated it would take at
least two years for Europe to get on
its old wheat production basis. And
there appears no prospect Of peace.
Here are the figures showing there
Is no actual wheat shortage. Exports
at the present rate of 100000 bushels
a week can continue practically up to
the time of harvesting the 1915 crop
without depicting the adequate supply
of wheat IN THIS country The United
States department of agriculture fig,
ures there is an increase of 100000
acres in the amount of winter wheat
planted for harvesting this year. The
weather has been good for winter
wheat and last years enormous yield
of 10 bushels an acre may we'll be ex-
ceeded. Figuring conseryatively on a
Is bushel yield. however, 81 800, 600 ad-
ditional bushels of winter wheat alone
should be harvested this year. Crop
experts say that with average good
fortune the spring wheat yield should
be increased 10000, 900 bushels. The
total for 1915 should be 100000, 600
bushels, or 100000 more than last
years record crop. This is enough to
supply America ard furnish a surplus
of about 100000 bushels for export.
Government computations show last
years crop was S91,017,0O0 bushels,
which. with a surplus of 100000