334 WHEAT-EXPORTING POWER OF THE 



Two facts will, I think, satisfy the reader on this 

 point. 



First. The estimate of the total produce of wheat 

 in 1847 was 114,000,000 of bushels. This sum was 

 obtained by adding together a series of numbers repre 

 senting the estimated produce of each State. Now, 

 among these numbers, the State of Michigan is set down 

 as producing 8,000,000 of bushels, while the report of 

 the authorities of that State make the produce in 1848 

 only 3,700,000 bushels! I infer, therefore, that the 

 total estimated produce of 114,000,000 bushels for the 

 whole Union in the year 1847, and of 127,000,000 in 

 1848, are of the nature of rude guesses as our own are 

 at home rather than trustworthy data upon which we 

 can build safe conclusions, and that both these yearly 

 estimates err very considerably in excess. 



But if the total produce be taken too high, the sur 

 plus said to remain for exportation, whether calculated 

 according to my allowance of 5 bushels, or to the allow 

 ance of 3 bushels, as the consumption of the people per 

 head, is too large also. 



Second. The total export of bread-stuffs of all kinds 

 from the United States, up to 1846, had only once (in 

 1840) exceeded in value 18,000,000 dollars. In the 

 three succeeding famine years, when so much Indian 

 corn was sent to this country, it rose very much higher. 

 For the four years from 1845 it was 



1845, .... 16,743,421 dollars. 



1846, .... 27,701,121 



1847, . . . . 68,701,921 



1848, 37,472,751 



Now if, for the sake of simplicity, we take wheat at 



population of 21,000,000, allowing 3^ bushels to each free person, and 

 none to the slaves, or 3 bushels to each individual of the population. 

 This left an exportable quantity of 52,000,000 of bushels for that year. 

 They suppose that each individual consumes 5 bushels of Indian corn, 

 in addition to his 3 bushels of wheat. 



