Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 March 1881 — Americas Wheat in France. [ARTICLE]

Americas Wheat in France.

A Paris dispsft-'-h, dated February 15, to the London Standard says; The second portion of M. Pouyer Quertier’s report on the customs tariff, Just laid before the senate, is of almost as great interest to Englishmen as to the French. It is entitled “American Industry and Agriculture!.” It appears from this document that France was threatened with a veritable invasion which would result in the dosing of factories and the abandoning of farms. The reporter states that in America the number of acres cleared within the last three years is equal to half the arable land in France. DuAng the last thirty years on the other aide of the Atlantic the total agricultural products have increased 6,000,000.000 francs. What, however, according to M. Pouyer Quertier, constitutes the greatest danger is the cost of production, upon which point there has been much difference of opinion. It would seem that the cost price of wheat at the railway stations in the far west is 7 francs 16 centimes pa- hectoliter, or two and three-quarter bushels; that its carriage to New York averages 2 francs 60 centimes, aad that its shipment across the Atlantic does not entail an outlay of more than 5 francs 50 centimes per hectoliter.

M. Peris, senator for the department of the Pas de Calais, states in his special report on the subject that the price of American wheat imported to Europe does not, exceed 15 francs 35 eeßtimes. Mr. Read and Mr. Pell, of the house of commons, however, estimated it at 17 francs, 93 centimes, and the Duke of Beabfort at 14 francs. It may, however, be well to lav aside all these hypotheses, and establish by reference to official statistics that what has been styled the “ invasion of American corn ” has been the signal for a rise in the price of wheat on the Freneh market. Taking the. Journal de l'Agriculture, which is a trustworthy authority, it will be seen that the price of wheat ia France during the fourth week o< December in the last seven years has averaged per quintal, of 220)4 pounds, in 1874, 25 francs 58 centimes; in 1875, 26 francs 45 centimes; in 1876, 28 Irancs 20 centimes; in 1877, 30 francs, 57 centimes; in 1878,25 francs 65 centimes ; in 1879, 31 francs 96 centiines, and in 1880, 28 francs 12 centimes. During the gwater portion of the year 1878 the wheat imported into France came principally from Russia, but in 1879 Large quantities of corn came from America. This was also the case during the greater part of last year. Prices, however, aid not fall. Taking the price of wheat in Paris and Havre, it will be discovered that at the end of December, 1879, it was worth 32 francs at the French capital, whereas at Havre it costs 33 francs 50 centimes, which fact certainly does not go to prove that American competition is so very disastrous. What is now sadi upon the subject was asserted in 1851. The cost of production was computed thus: It was contended that between the Volga and the Danube wheat cost but 5 francs the hectoliter. Its carriage to Odessa, it was urged, only added 3 francs to its value, and ft could be transported from that town to Marseilles for 2 francs. It was demonstrated that inferior wheat could be sold in that port for 11 francs per hectoliter, and that the best quality should not cost more than 13 francs, whereas fanners in France would be ruined if they had to sell under 20 francs. This, in fact, is what M. Thiers asserted during the memorable debate on free trade in the legislative assembly. Commenting on this the Repuotiqxie Francaiee Kints out that M. Thiers was blinded _ most respectable patriotic fears, but that in reality Russian wheat only served to save France from exaggeratedly high prices without in any way proving injurious to home agriculture, ana it maintains, the present much-talked-of “invasion of American wheat” will have no other effect.