The indicator., 1897-08-21
GOODCROPSAN
PROSPERITY RAPIDLY RETURN
ING TO THE LAND.
Talk with Distinguished Statesman
and Agricultural Expert II. W. Snow
Has Some Interesting; Views on Con-
dltions and Prospects.

Is Ditsseu Win SuCn an ABUNDANCE as
this year. In no section is there re-
ported no crops" Illinois has
pehaps the poorest wheat yield
but her corn crop is magnificent ard
the small losses from winter killed
wheat sections do not amount to any
thing in the grand total yield.
Mr.. b. w Snow. the cx-asslstant sta
ilstician of the department of agricul-
ture, who is still making specially
OF agricultural statistics, said, IN
speaking of the great agricultural
werlth of the country at this time:
III the bountiful crops throughout
tue United States not in prospect but
actually in hand, with increased and
increasing consumption at home and
a larger foreign demand for American
products and with prices on the up
grade even while the crops are still
on the farms. this year of 1897 VIII
he remembered rs a year of great agrI-
cultural prosperity and plenty,
Harvesting Is so far advanced, Mi.
Snow, that it is no longer matter oil
estimate and conjecture as to the yiela'
but in many cases you have the actual
approximate fgures?
Yes. The crop season is now so far
advanced that the final results can be
safely promised. Nevertheless thu re-
suit is no less pleasing than the carrier
prospective hopes of the 1est obt2-
mistic. In no line of agricultural Tfo-
duction is it light year and Ill most
the yields are heavy. Hay has rarely
nourished as it has this year. The
abundant rains have given us very
unusual crop and hay is more I'M
portant crop than usually thought.
The rates of the new tariff law thor
oughly protsc. our farmers in this re
spect The years wheat crop is the
second largest in the history of the
country, running upwards of 5OO.OoO,-
600 bushels AID well distributed over
the country. The corn crop promises
to DC a very large one. The oat crop is
also well above the average. All the
minor crops are in promising form. The
fruit crop generally promises good re
suits. But these facts of large yield
and good promise do not tell the whole
story of prosperity. Prolific crops have
cases, have for want of consumption
and demand. proven burden rather
than a blessing. II was common
saying that the farmer would rather
have small crops with good prices than
large crops and no prices. But this
year come the abundant crops and high
prices. rare combination and one
calculated to warm the cookies of the
heart of the thrifty farmer. Prices
are high and inclining upward. There
is no reason to fear a reaction and
slump because of the actual conditions
of the worlds crops. The United
States holds the key to prices. The
wheat crop of the world is known to
be about 1O00OO,OO0 bushels short.
Argentina. India and Australia have
no surplus and Russia practically none.
Great Britain. France and Germany
are far short in their production of
their home demand, There was an
American surplus of last years crop
OF 100000 bushels and the fortunate
thing is that this is in the hands OF
the farmer. The advanced position OF
wheat developed before the farmer had
disposed OF his wheat to buyers and
now he will reap the full benefit of the
advance"
is not the present crop larger than
was expected sometime ago Mi.
snow"
1T is, and the quality is of the fin
est. In winter killed sections the
3 wheat braeed up wonderfully. Fields
I in Illinois whose blowing under was
contemplated early in the season have
made very fair yields and others with
supposed small yield have shown by
the thresher enormous returng The
actual increase in money in the hands
of the farmers through their wheat
holdings throughout the country is an
enormous sum. Wheat is worth now
about 20 cents Il bushel more than tho
crop last year and the advance for
this year has just begun. The market
will continue to rise. The increased
value of the wheat crop of Kansas
alone this year in comparison with last
amounts to nearly or quite S25 900. 900,
while the increased value of the coun
try's crop at present prices is in ex-
cess of 500, 900, 900 over that of last
year
What are the corn outlooks, Mr.
Snow?'
Most gratifying Although the sea-
son started late the yield will he
large. 1000 100000 bushels is fair
estimate rs the acreage is tho largest
ever planted. Every indication points
to advancing prices in corn. Last
wear at this time prices were sbrinl,ipo