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The Spring-Wheat Farmer in a Maturing Economy 1870–1920

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 February 2011

Theodore Saloutos
Theodore Saloutos
Affiliation:
University of California at Los Angeles
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Extract

The spring-wheat region, stretching from central Minnesota across the X Dakotas and into Montana, has been the seat of much unrest owing to its unbalanced development from 1870 to 1920. It was colonized by seekers of the proverbial “free home” and fabulous profits to be had by raising wheat. As a result many farmers assumed burdensome economic ties and fell victims to over-optimism. Their difficulties were due to a variety of complex factors, some within and others outside their control; yet, one trend stood out noticeably: the grain growers persisted in a ruinous, anarchistic form competition, whereas among the merchants and their powerful allies competition was closely regulated.

Type
Articles
Information
The Journal of Economic History , Volume 6 , Issue 2 , November 1946 , pp. 173 - 190
Copyright
Copyright © The Economic History Association 1946

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