Peat a mi CRP ie ita by 4 At Ne rea LOD ides eas Ve ad Toe aR oe ae * ‘g afi Th De CS a AES oP Oran My 
: Py [" re ee hl ss es bok t Wes De MAPS Nao 9, HOM <i sti Me «Ane Re We bY ty ae i %, ; * é Bir 
aah es a Pee ain Le” ad OEE Sag 8 ‘ 4 ; " e ME 7 ; ‘ i 2 n 
ey ere ‘ : , : Ag ae ROBY Nea. 
Ba ene | REPORT OF THE STATISTICIAN. ., BOG Rane 
4 ¥ vO ‘ | a a \ et 
ov “ 1 s ‘ » ; Ss * A, 
> 
4 
\ 
' The movement of wheat growing has been westward during this) ae 
eriod. The increase in absolute quantities on the Atlantic coast 
as been very slight, while the proportion has declined from 51.4 to 
12.2 per cent. Half of the crop was then produced on the Atlantic 
coast, the eastern slopes of the Alleghanies. In 1884 half of the crop ‘i 
_ was grown beyond the Mississippi, and only one-twentieth on the = ai 
Atlantic coast. This movement is shown in the following state- “5 
- ment: ite 
1849. 1859. 1869. 1879. ; 1884. i 
Bushels. Bushels. Bushels. Busiels. Bushels. a 
PPR EAITUNG | CORSE occa, ¢/S store do: aet oe eaierdiolaia a 51,674,390 | 53,306,897 | 54,996,610 | 58,711,603 | 62,703,000 We oa 
Meeripralibclt ess ese. eentiascs eS. 43/522, 646 | 94,438,609 | 143,360,613 | 2291265. 180 | 185/136, 000 
rans-Mississippi .......+....--0...--- 5,288,908 | 25,339,418 | 89,388,403 | 171,506,854 | 264; 926, 000 
SAR Yas ee ccnee Ae te 100, 485, 944 | 173, 104,924 | 287,745,626 | 459, 483, 187 | 512,765,000 - 
\ 
The percentages of each crop in the three subdivisions of territory 
are: ) 
1849. | 1859. | 1869. | 1879. | 1884. 
CAULTSSHO COLE'S BRR oO SOS? Bae SBIBOR EEO Cane CED DE SCs ec 51.4 | 30.8 19 12.8 1 2 
ete Pelee eke ce 43.3] 54.6 49.8 49.9 36.1 
FL PAMS-MASSISSPPI).., 6:0: - cheno ais are + he Aare d aersre hoa tene tee 5.3 | 14.6 31.1 37.3 Blot ; 
100 | 100 100 100 | 100 ae 
The acreage was not officially reported in the earlier periods, but — 
after such investigation as has been practicable, it is believed that 
the following statement approximates the breadth of wheat at each 
date: 
Acreage. Product. 
Acres. ' Bushels. 
8, 080, 000 | 100, 485, 944 
34,500, 000 | 173, 04, 924 
20, 000, 000 287, 745, 626 
35, 489,333 459,468, 137 
39, 475, 885 512,765, 000 
Diagram B presents to the eye the relative proportions of these 
figures, the breadth grown being indicated by the comparative sur- 
face of each field, and the quantity by comparative car capacity, 
typifying its movement toward consumption. 
Wheat growing was stimulated greatly between 1875 and 1880 by 
a series of crop failures in western Europe, causing 2 demand which 
never existed before, has not existed since, and. may never again, al- 
though the exigency is quite possible. Meantime the world’s pro- 
duction has kept up, with little change or diminution, depressing 
prices and furnishing cheap bread to consumers and. little profit to oe" 
roducers. And yet the inquiry is made, why are wheat prices so 
low? In view of these facts, the question needs no answer. It is 
utterly useless to pretend reduction of area, as some do, where there 
