Smyrna times., 1883-08-15

AGRICULTURAL GROWTH.-Ihe pros
perity of agricultural pursuits was
never more marked than at this time.
The evidences of this is manifest on all
sides, and locally no better proof is
needed than the demand on our car
riage shops. A young farmer is better
equipped in two years now than they
were forty years ago in ten years. The
outlay for fine horses, carriages,
wagons, harvesting machines and other
farm appliances is enormous now as
compared with the former times. Our
condition may fairly be taken as
type of the country at large. An ex-
change in speaking of our agricultural
interests says;
agricultural industry is the funda-
mental industry of the United States,
without which the other industries
would for the most part not exist at all.
The rate of its growth during the last
decade is indicated by the fact that in
1880 the aggregate number of fafms in
the United States was 4,00S, ,907, where
as in 1870 the number was 1853, ,985,
which is an increase of about fifty-one
per cent. between the two periods.
The increase in the Northern, Western
and Pacific States is due to the rapid
settlement of these States by a farming
population. The increase at the South,
especially in the cotton states. is ex-
planned in part by the subdivision of
large plantations and other changes in
the habits of the people brought about
by the war and the abolition of slavery
Texas, Arkansas and Florida have re.
ceived large immigration within the
past ten years; and this has contribu
ted to the rapid multiplication o
farms.
This increase in the number O
farms has called for corresponding
increase in the number of establish
ments engaged in the manufacture o
agricultural implements, In 1880 ther
were in the United States 1913 sucl
establishments, with an invested capi
tai Of $62, ,109,6 ,68S, giving employment
TO IS, $50 persons, whose wages amount
ed to $l5, 1855, $40; and the total valu
of the materials used in such manufac
turing was $31, ,531, ,17e.
Zone of the characteristic features {
American farms is the live stock therf
on. The last census gives the follow
ing figures for $780, Horses, 10, ,957 ,98l
showing an increase of As per cen
since 1870; mules and asses, 1872 2,93.
an increase of 81 per cent; workin
oxen, 993, 1910, an increase of 25 pc
cent; milch cows, 12,443y y593, an il
crease of 80 per cent. other meat ca
tie, 22,48S, $50, an increase of &c pt
cent; sheep, 35, ,l91 ,656, an increase (
"a per cent; swine, Al, ,6S3 3,931, an Il
crease 80 per cent. This does NJ
include ranch stock nor horses, mule
COWS and swine ia cities or elsewhe
belonging to persons not owning or o
cupying farms. 1t simply applies
the live stock raised on farms for Il
purpose of food, or used in conductii
the operations of farming.
THE slaughteFing and packing c
adjustments of the United States, n
including those for retail purposes,
1880, were 872, with an invested capt.
of $40, ,419,213, giving employment
1897 persons, whose wages amount
to $10, ,508 $50. The value of the al
mails slaughtered was $267, ,73S ,S02; a
bAAO N0AnO VI pAOauCto WnCh
for market was 1903 ,562, ,413.
,z 1.-THE increase in the production
cereals and hay has kept pace with I
increase in the number of farms. A
this same increase in farms and
their products may go on for a 10
series of decades to come withC
reaching the ultimate limit of the la
capacities of the United States. I
population may double again, and kt
doubling; and while, of course, it v
RI. become more and more dense with
increase, the territory of the Uni
States is amply sufficient to sust
and feed an indefinite growth. /
difficult to fix limit to its capacity
this respect. Developed and broG
into a high state of culture, it co
give subsistence and employment
population equal to the present po
iafion of the globe"