The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-08
HARVEST FOR FARMERS
THEY WILL HAVE THE CREAM OF
THE PROSPERITY WAVE.
Secretary Wilson Says They VIII Reap
Enormous Crops and BE Enriched
Millions by Gains in Prices.

NEW YORK, Aug. 1.-THE increase dur
ing the last year in the price of farm prod
ucts, wheat and other cereals, vegetables
and cattle for dairy use and slaughter. has
amounted to hundreds of millions of dollars,
and may be as great as $500, O00, 900, as has
been roughly estimated says James VIII
son, secretary of agriculture, in an inter-
view published in the Manufacturers Rec
ord, referring to the condition of American
farm interests. The increase in the value
of the wheat crop alone is estimated at
from $l5,O to $1,000 600 or more, as COM
pared with last year. He says: There has
been " general increase all along the line,
and just as the food of live stock has in
creased in value so have beef, sheep, hogs
and other stock furnishing US our meat
Secretary Wilson says that at the urgent
request of President Mckinley he will make
early in the fall, a trip through the entire
South and give a thorough study to the
agricultural conditions of that region, with
a view to seeing if he can offer any sug-
g~estions as to improvement in markets or
Investigation of crops. "One general need
of the Southwest he says, lis a close re-
lation and a more rapid communication
with the European markets With this OBJ
ject in view l have already placed myself
in correspondence with several ocean steam
ship companies to induce them to establish
lines direct between the ports of the Gulf
Of Mexico and those of Europe, the steam
ships to be provided with refrigerators. so
that the fruits, vegetables, dairy products
and other perishabIe farm products can be
shipped eXpeditiously to all the markets
of Europe"
country should be just now the happiest
people IN the world, because they are the
most prosperous He believes that the
the fullest in this new era of prosperity.
Speaking of his Southern trip the secre-
tary says: Il am sent by President McKin-
ley, and | shall go upon his urgent request.
l am not going as a high commis-
sioner, or special ambassador, or special en-
voy, or anything of that style. l shall not
go IN a special car, viewing the country
from d car window while travelling at the
rate of forty miles an hour. l shall go as
a plain American citizen. 1 want facts,
in his shirt sleeves, not the politician with
his high sounding and plausible theories. l
can get all OF these want right here in
Washington.
President Mckinley was much impressed
by his brief trip through a portion of the
South during his visit to the Nashville ex-
position. He has as much interest, and he
has told me so himself, in the South as in
his W State of Ohio, and is willing to do
as much for its development. Before my re-
turn L shall again visit the exposition at
Nashville. My other visit was far too brief
70 permit as thorough inspection and inVeS-
tigation of the South's resources as L should
like
In speaking of the general condition of
agriculture Mr.. Wilson says: Our statis-
tics show that the wheat acreage in 1896
was "a, 61S, SAG, the yield 427, 1884, BAG bushels ana
the value 1910, 602, 539. OF this crop about .
per cent. remains. The average price was
1915 cents "a bushel, the highest since 1891,
when it was 1873 cents a bushel.
Already spot wheat is selling at
an advance, and how much higher
it will go l do not know. The increase in
price and yield should amount to at least
have no figures bearing on the yield for
1897 and l make no predictions as to fuc-
t%uations in prices.
Wheat is only one article. Take corn.
OF course, the crop has not yet been har-
vested. The prospects are, however, for an
abundant crop, and, as it's price is regulated
to some extent by that of wheat, good
prices should be realized. There has been
a falling off in the acreage of about 1000, 0U0
as compared with 1896. The total number or
acres standing is so, 095, 05l. 1t is impossible
product and the price. 1t is equally impos-
sible, for the same reasons, to estimate the
average prices and increases in values, il
any, of vegetables, hay. dairy PRODUCTS,
poultry, etc. All We know is that there has
been a general increase in the average All
along the line.
Just as the food of live stock has in
creased in value, so have beef cattle, sheep,
hogs and other stock furnishing us our
horses and mules. The demand for them
has fallen off because of overproduction in
past years, increase of steam and electric
w and of bicycleS.'