Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-08-03
GOOD FOR FARMERS.
PRESENT SEASON ONE OF GREAT
AGRICULTURAL PLENTY.
ALL CROPS ARE GOOD TO HEAVY
WHEAT YIELD MUCH HEAVIER
THAN WAS EXPECTED.
General Prospect for Corn IL Most
PrOnisIBR-GoOd Crops AccOmpa-
MED by Good PrIces-Com-
ParIsOn Between 1896
and 1897 Prices.

Washington. Aug. 2.-tspecislJ The
newspapers these days are filed with re-
ports and cartoons indicating the greatest
agricultural plenty which the country has
seen for many years. II is seldom that the
entire country Is blessed with an abuud-
snce. but IN 70 section IS there reported
no crops Illinois probably has the poor
est wheat yield. but her corn crop is mag
nifcent. and the small losses from winter
killed wheat sections do not amount to
much IN the grand total yield.
Mr.. b. ". Snow. the ex-asslstant statis-
ticisn OF the department OF agriculture
who is stin making a speciality OF agri-
cultural statistics. said, in speaking Of the
great agricultural wealth OF the country at
this time: With the bOuntiful crops
throughout the United States. not in pros
peCt, but actually in hand. with increased
and increasing consumption al home and
a larger foreign demand for American
products and with prices on the upgrade.
even while the crops are still on ths
farms, this year Of 1897 will be remembered
as year Of great agricultural prosperity
and plenty.
The crop season is EOw 80 far advanced
that the final results can be safely prom
istd. Nevertheless, the result Is no less
pleasing than the earlier prospective hopes
of the most optimistic. In no line OF agri-
cultural production is II light year. and
in most the yields are heavy. Hay has
rarely hOurished as it has this year. The
abundant rains have given US a very unus-
uaI crop. and hay is a more important crop
than usually thought. The rates Of the new
tariff law thoroughly protect our farmers
in this respect The years wheat crop is
the second largest in the history OF the
country, running upwards OF 500,000Oo0
bY1abeIg and well al oxrpr fha pnuu-
try. The corn crop promises a very large
one. The oat crop is also well above the
average. All the minor crops are IA prom
ising form. The fruit crop generally prom
ises good results.
But these facts Of large Yield and good
promise do not tell the whole story Of pros
perity- Prolific crops have been harvested
before. but, in some cases. have for want
Of consumption and demand proven bur-
den rather than a blessing.
1t was common saying that the farmer
would rather have small crops with good
prices than large crops and no prices. But
this year come abundant crops and high
prices, a rare combination, and ole calcu-
lated TO warm the cookies or the heart o.
the thrifty farmer Prices are high and
fear reaction and slump because OF the
actual condition OF the worlds crops The
onlted states holas the Key 70 pIlces- ne
wheat crop for the world is known to be
about 100 90. 600 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
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 viii
reap the full benefit OF the advance.
rs not the present crop larger than was
III is and the qualify Is Of the finest. In
winter-kuled sections the wheat braced up
wonderfully. Fields in Illinois whose plow-
ing under was contemplated early in the
season have made very fair yields and
others with supposed small yield have
shown by the thresher enormous returns.
The actual increase in money in the hands
Of the farmers through their wheat hold
ings throughout the country is an enor-
nous sum. Wheat is worth now about p .
cents a bushel more than the 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 pearly or quite x5.m0.O9o.
while the increased value Of the eountry,s
crop at present prices Is in excess Of 800
QO0.O00 over that Of last year.
What are the corn outlooks. Mr.. Snow
Most gratifying. Although the season
started late the Weld will be large: 10000
600 bushels is a fair estimate, as the acreage
Is the largest ever planted. Every indica-
tion points to advancing prices in corn
Last year at this time prices were shrink
ing at the prospect OF a large crop: this
year the tendency is upward. Millions OF
bushels OF old corn now lie in the Cribs Ia
the West and with rising prices for this as
well as the new crop. there can be but one
result.
"All along the line Of agricultural pro-
ductiOn. including all live stock. there Is
a general and steady increase. Large new
fiocks of sheep are contemplated as "A re-
suit of the wool tariff. and the demand has
increased the value of the sheep holdings
OF the country Si0OO0.000
But the finest point in all these in
creases is the fact that they come at a
time when the farmer holds his products
and that he individually will reap the fun
benefit. I have little table here prepared
the improvement in cash values of leading
farm products. They are recent Chicago
quotations for 1887 in comparison with
those exactly one year ago.