The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-11
ELOQUENT FIGURES.
Great Increase in Trade, Agriculture
and Bank Savings.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, March 10.-In reply to
the question how far the Improvement
which has taken place during the last
twelve months in trade and agriculture
was capable of statistical demonstration
Statistician Hyde, of the Department of
Agriculture, stated to-day that nothing
could be more significant than the official
statistics bearing on this subject which had
recently become available 1t could not be
questioned, he said, that the farmers of
the United States have received for their
cereal crops of 1897 something like $3.50 Co.,
600 more than for those of 1885, and $50 000,
900 more than for those of any preceding
year since 1892. The hay crop, notwith-
standing that it was the largest with one
exception ever raised, commanded an in
creased price per ton; wool is higher and
considerably higher than at any time since
1898, and cotton is the only important
product with regard to which there is not
a substantial improvement over the condi-
tions prevailing a year ago.
Still more significant are the statistics
Of farm animals, which show that during
the year 1897 the farm horses of the coun-
try increased in value over $25, OO,0O0, the
mules over Sc, 100000 cows over, $65, COO, 900,
other cattle over $1O4,0O0,OOO sheep over $685.
900 000 and swine over s., 900 O00--a total in
crease of value during the year of over
1926, COO, 0C0. This remarkable increase in
value is we'll distributed, there being not a
single State or Territory in the Union that
does not report an increase in the average
farm price per head of cattle and sheep,
and but few where an equally satisfactory
report is not made as regards all other
~<-t.,
of farm animals increased during 1897 3d.
COO 600; in Pennsylvania, nearly $1,000 900; in
Ohio, over coo; in Kansas, over $780,
900 600, and in Nebraska over 81, OOO, 600, the
increase in Kansas and Nebraska being "a
and Al per cent, respectively. Taking the
products of the soil and the various prod
ucts of the animal industry together, there
is not the least doubt that the farmers of
the United States received at least $500 &c.,
600 more in 1897 than in 1896. This is a con-
sentative estimate and well within the ac-
tual facts
The public has been pretty well familiar
ICED. Mr.. Hyde said. with the large increase
that has taken place in our export trade,
but it will 90 no harm to repeat that the
total value of our exports in 1897 exceeded
that of 1886 by over 500 coo, 600, and that of
this large increase the increase in agricul-
tural products represented more than two
thirds.
There is scarcely a better index to bust
ness conditions, he continued, than is af-
forded by transportation receipts. re-
Gently published statement of the traffic
through the canals at Sault Ste. Marie
showed an Increase of no less than IL per
cent. in freight tonnage over the preceding
year. This not due to the large wheat
crop, Tor the shipments of wheat via the
great lakes were somewhat less than in
the preceding year. 1t was made up largely
of an increase Of "a per cent. in the tom
mage of iron ore, and there also an in
crease OF 50 per cent in the amount of
hard coal and of Is per cent. in the amount
of lumber transported, the total tonnage
transported being greatly in excess of that
of any previous year.
While Mr.. Hyde was not in possession OF
recent statistics of railroad earnings
comparison of the prices of railroad stocks
on March / with those of the correspond
ing date last year showed most remark
able increase. not only in the granger
roads but in the most stable railroad prop
critics of the Eastern States.
Taking the latest national bank statistics
available Mr.. Hyde called attention to an
increase of over $25l. 100000 in the total
amount of individual deposits and OF over
$174,000 900 in the total amount of
loans and discounts, as an indi-
cation of restored confidence and of the ex-
tent TO which money was once more flow
ing back into the various channels of trade
and Industry. The receipts OF the Postoflce
they have been published show an increase
Of about 81 Oc0. 600, or per cent. over those
for the corresponding period OF the preced~