The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-08-08
FACES Alb SMILES
THIS is THE YEAR WHEN THE
FARMER HAS HIS BIG
LAUGH,
MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. 7-secrs-
tary of Agriculture Wilson estimates
that the increased price of farm pro-
ducts the past year will amount to $780,
100000. The increase. in the value of
the wheat crop alone is estimated at
from $75,000000 to 10000, 900, as COM
pared with last year.
At the urgent request of President
Mckinley, Secretary Wilson will make
trip through the South and South
west to give a thorough study to the
agricultural conditions of that region,
with a view to seeing If he can offer
any suggestions as to improvements in
markets. or diYegsifica of, crops, e,s, a,
lone general;needYof the Southwest"
he. says, SIS a closer relation and more
rapid communication with the, Euro
peon markets, and with this object in
view have already placed myself in
correspondence with several ocean
steamship companies to induce them to
establish lines direct between the ports
of the Gulf of Mexico and those of
Europe; the steamships to be provided
with refrigerators, so that the fruits,
vegetables, dairy products, and other
perishable farm products can be ship
ped expeditiously to all the markets
of Europe.
1.-The farmers of this country should
be just now the happiest people in the
world, because they are the most pros
porous
Speaking of his Southern trip the
secretary says: RS
81 am sent by President Mckinley,
and 1 shall go upon his urgent request.
1 am not going as a high commissioner
or special ambassador or special en-
vcy, or anything of that style. I shall
not go in a special car, viewing the
country from a car window while
travelling at the rate of forty miles an
hour. I shall go as a plain American
citizen .o
81 want facts and facts only 1 want
to see the farmer in his shirtsleeves,
not the politician with his high-sound-
ing and plausible theories. l can get
all of these want right here in Wash
ington. President Mckinley was much
impressed by his brief trip through a
portion of the South during his visit
to the Nashville exposition. He has
as much interest. and he told me so
himself, in the South as in his own
state of Ohio, and is willing to do as
much for its development
In speaking of the general condition
of agriculture Mr.. Wilson says:
Our statistics show that the wheat
acreage in 1896 was 34,61S646, the yield
427, ga, 346 bushels, and the value $780,
COZ. 539 Of this crop about 5 per cent
remains. The average price was 1875
cents per bushel, the highest since 1891,
when it was 1873 cents per bushel. AL
ready spot wheat is selling at an adj
vance, and how much higher it will
go I do not know. The increase in
price and yield should amount to at
least $75, 900, 900 if not 100000, 900. OF
course, have no figures bearing on
the yield for 1897. and I make no pre-
dictions as to f1uctua tons in price.
Wheat is only one article Take
corn. OF course, the crop has not been
harvested. 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 falling off in the
acreage of about 100000 as compared
with 1896 The total number of acres
standing is S0,095, 051. It is impossible,
with no figures at hand, to estimate
the average prices and increases in
values, if any. of vegetables. hay, dairy
products. poultry, tetc. - All we know
is that there has BEEN a general in
crease in the average all along the
line. ~
Just as the food offlive stock has
increased in value so have cattle,
sheep. hogs and other stock furnishing
us our meat 1t does mot apply to
draught or driving, horses and mules
The demand for them has fallen off
because of overprodpction in past years,
and increase of steam and electric rail-
ways, and of bicycles