16 OUR EXPORTS OF WHEAT. 



premium on gold might be. Our farmers obtained the full benefit 

 of the high prices at which they sold their produce. 



Besides, the farmer to-day is able to pocket a larger proportion 

 of the current price for wheat than he did in the years before the 

 war. Then a very considerable portion of the grain sent to Chi 

 cago arrived by wagon or by canal. The cost of getting to market 

 ate a large hole in the farmer s profits, and sometimes left none at 

 all. Now the facilities for transportation are much more numerous, 

 much more extensive, and much cheaper. This lessened cost of 

 conveyance adds value to the price of wheat at the farm, and such 

 increase is realized by the producer. Moreover, this solid benefit 

 is an outgrowth of the policy of Protection, which gave, as part of 

 the general stimulus to domestic industry, a powerful impulse to 

 the construction of railroads, accompanied by large improvements 

 in rolling stock, road-beds, bridges, station-buildings, and acces 

 sories for the cheap handling of grain. 



Taking wheat as an example, we think we have conclusively 

 shown that Western farmers are not repressively or injuriously 

 acted upon by the policy of Protection, but have received from it 

 some very important and substantial benefits. Then why should 

 not farmers favor Protection to home industry? 



