The Global Ambitions of American Maize
A visiting correspondent argues that American corn could be the key to capturing European markets and feeding a continent.
C. Frank Dewey, a long-time European correspondent for prominent American newspapers, suggests that the United States is at the threshold of a major economic opportunity in Europe. As populations rise and industrial stagnation sets in abroad, the potential to export American grain—specifically Indian corn—is massive. Dewey notes that while Europe initially clung to traditional crops like rye, the shifting political landscape and the economic need for affordable nutrition make corn an ideal substitute. He argues that the U.S. should deploy commissioners to educate European dealers and bakers on the benefits of American flour and corn products, specifically targeting the working-class peasantry who need strong, affordable sustenance.
“The Germans, like the Austrians, Swiss, and in fact all but the English, are very sociable and agreeable to reason, and particularly when addressed in their own vernacular, 'Wie gehts?'”
This 1892 report highlights the long history of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest's reliance on global trade infrastructure. Just as exporters in the 1890s looked to push American grain into European markets to bypass local trade wars, Seattle's current economy remains tethered to the complexities of international trade and supply chain dynamics.
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