Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-24

They had also done much to expose fraudu-
lent claims for prepared fertilizers. They
had done much to remove obstacles to ag-
ricultural industries.
They had made it possible for the farmer
to get rid of injurious insects. The Depart
ment of Agriculture had also done much
along these same lines.
In various other ways the stations had
helped the farmer and had aided in the de-
velopment of industries for him. In Louis
lana they had helped to improve the char
acter of the sugar cane raised there. The
quality of the Connecticut wrapping tobac-
co had been improved and made to COM
mand higher price than it formerly
brought. They had by experiment shown
the advantage of certain forage plants. and
the Mississippi station had been especially
helpful to that state by the experiments
that had been carried on.
Some Farmers Disappointed.
There had been some Disappointment on
the part Of some farmers, because the ex-
perimantal stations did not go more ex-
tensively in farming and show the practical
benefit of good farming. The fact was the
law authorizing these stations provided
especially for-scientific work and not for
model farms. They were for the purpose
of developing the scientific part of farming
and in order to do that it was necessary
that those in charge of these stations
should devote their time to such work
There was also a difficulty from the fact
that there has been some political interfar-
ence Win the stations ana that was not
conducive to securing good results. There
had also been trouble from the changing Of
methods too frequently and from the lack
OF efficient men to carry on the work
Every year these stations able to i'm
prove the character of the men who run
them, and the work is being mora and
more generally divided up among experts
The general work for the Improvement of
agriculture carried on by the stations
had given this country a large body of
! trained men for work in the future. They
also had given the country purely Amer
lean literature agricultural subjects,
which did not exist few years ago, when
it was necessary TO go to England for such
literature Fifty books had been published
by men connected with the stations. The
literature circulated had been an educa-
tional factor for the farmers of the country
at large. They had demonstrated that
agriculture is progressive, and that pro-
gressive farming is the kind that pays.
Statistician Holmes the Stand.
Prof Geo. K. Holmes, assistant statisti-
clan of the Agricultural Department, went
before the commission after recess. He be-
gan by stating that the agricultural ele-
ment is the largest in our population, $780,
600 persons. being employed in 1890 in gain
full agricultural occupations out of ~, 49,
600 persons employed in all gainful occupa-
tons; 5,J00,oO0 were farmers, constituting
the proprietor class not only as owners,
but proprietor tenants, and 5000 We're agri-
cultural laborers working for wages. The
statistics of wages rates the Agricultural
Department collected since 1856 had been
brought down to 1885 In the latter year
the agricultural laborer received aver
age of S1169 a month without board, a de-
cline of s1.49 from 1893. In the eastern
stat ties in 1895 the average wage without
board was SO; in the middle states, S23. So
in southern states, s12.71; in the mountain
states, $30.G4, and in the Pacific states,
$31.6S In the year 1885 the average allow
ance for board was S567 per month.
Here are 100000 of workers." read
prrf IInlr s11n,
how many dependents upon them in their
families, but very likely 5000, 900 to 10000
o0o, who are receiving but SIZE per month
without board, and then only when actual
ly employed, and 1 could hardly use figures
or other statements better to show how
low is and must be the social and economic
condition of this large population group
Lowest Paid of All Occupations
Continuing. Prof. Holmes stated that he
had been able to compute the actual earn
ngs of these agricultural laborers, but TAX
ing from the last census the average time
they were out of employment for the year
1880, and subtracting it from one year in
order to find time for employment and
found the actual earnings of the agricul-
tural laborers in 1890 amounted to $645, 00J,-
900, or an average of only SID per indi-
vidual.
This is the lowest paid labor of all the
great occupation groups in this country
he said, and the income would hardly
seem Sulfclent TO provide subsistence for
family"
Prof. Holmes went at length into the
subject of the farmers themselves, who do
not work for wages In the last census
year he had found the agricultural product
of the country amounted to 1898 for each
farmer and farm laborer. The lowest per
capita was in the south Atlantic states,
$1I1; the highest in the western, 1913.
Prices of Farm Products Falling.
The prices of most agricultural products
are and have been fer years declining. The
reduction of freight rates had given the
farmers a new problem 20 solve, as it had
made them competitors with another,
which is almost of as great Importance as
the fact that foreign competitors nave been
created. The eastern farmer in competition
with the west had TO change his agriculture
materially. The gradual extension of the
area of competition had largely been the
cause of the falling prices of products.
AT any rate, said the professor, the aver
age farmer in ordinary years finds his
Lrodu US of wealth a limited enc in COM
parison with the product of persons in most
other occupations. He called attention to
the fact that farmers We're living better
ard expending more on their homes and
their tables, and that they often fail to be
farmers of this country are too much dis
posed to rely on one crop. diversfication
of crops would make the farmer more in
dependent.
Farming Trusts.