The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-23
THE FARMERS YEAR.

Special Correspondence of The Tribune.
Washington, Jan. 22.-The farmers of
the country have been the largest bene-
hciaries of the marvellous export trade
OF the year Just ended. More than eight
hundred and fifty million dollars worth
OF the years exports were the products
of the farm. Breadstuffs, cotton, proVis-
ions, live animals, tobacco and fruits sup
piled the great bulk of the eight hundred
and fifty million dollars worth of their
products which went abroad during the
year, breadstuffs being the largest in
value, cotton second, provisions third,
animals fourth, and tobacco ilfth. In
no earlier year in cur history has the ex-
portation of products of agriculture been
as large, the total for the year surpass-
ing by more than one hundred million dol
lars that of the great export years, 1891
and 1899. Both in quantities and prices
received the expectations of farm produc-
| tions have been unusually large, and this
| relates to nearly every class of articles
exported. OF breadstuffs alone the eX-
| ports of the year were siXtyfive million
| dollars greater than those of 1897, and
were more than double in value those of
1895. OF provisions, the years exports
were nearly twenty-five million dollars in
excess of last year. while cotton ex-
! ports were considerably in excess of those
of 1897, and 1895, but slightly below those
OF 1896.
Besides these great classes, the smaller
items of fruits and nuts, hay, hops, seeds,
| vegetables, oil cake and vegetable oils,
| eggs, feathers, and many other articles
| of this class added to the receipts for
| agricultural articles exported, bringing
| the grand total up to more than eight hun
| dred and fifty million dollars, against
| seven hundred and thirty million dollars
in 1897, six hundred and sixty-five million
/ n dnll nR- tn R1vA hNaa YAh Nah
forty-six million dollars in 1895. All the
articles of great agricultural expectation
| show a marked increase for the year,
compared with preceding years. Corn for
| the first time passes the two hundred mill
ion bushel line in the calendar years eX-
| portations. Oatmeal, in which the growth
| of our expectations has rapidly increased
| during the past few years, shows a total
| of eighty-fivc million pounds, an increase
| of more than 25 per cent, over last year.
| Wheat shows Il round total OF one hun
dred and fifty million bushels. against
one hundred and ten million bushels last
year, and eighty-five million bushels in
the preceding year. while the value ex-
ported in 1898 exceeds one hundred and
thirty million dollars against less than
| one hundred million dollars in 1897 and
less than sixty million dollars in 1896, thus
more than double those of 1896.
| Great Britain is the farmers largest
| foreign customer. despite the fact that
our purchases from her in the past year
| have greatly decreased. Notwithstanding
| the fact that we have reduced our pur-
chases from the United Kingdom nearly
third during 1898 as compared with
! 1891, our sales to that country have in
creased more than fifty million dollars,
and for the full year will exceed live hun
dred million dollars. OF the more than
two hundred million bushels of corn
which the farmers have sent abroad dur
ing the year. over seVenty-iive million
bushels have gone to the United King
dom. Wheat exports to the United King
dom increased nearly 20 per cent. and
formed so per cent. of the total exports
of wheat while -four exports to the
United Kingdom increased in IL like pro-
portion and formed more than 50 per
cent. of the total exports of that article.
Cotton exports TO the United Kingdom
have increased over 40 per cent. and those
of provisions and other farm products
likewise show a marked increase.
Germany has also increased her pur-
chases from the United States. despite
the frequently expressed belief of the
existence of adverse desires and regu-
lations in that country. Her purchases
OF corn from us in 1898 increased 20 per
cent. and her purchases of wheat ana
flour from US have more than doubled as
| compared with 1897. OF cotton, our sales
to Germany increased nearly - per cent,
oil cake and meal increased 50 per cent,
while even in provisions there was also
a marked increase, the sales of bacon
increasing more than 33 per cent, and
those of hams more than 100 per cent
, Lard exports to Germany increased more
than thirty million pounds, while eX-
ports of fresh pork to Germany in 1895
are more than five times those of 1891
or 1896
, The following table shows the exports
of agricultural proucts in each calenda!
wear during the past decade, the figures
for December, 1898, being estimated
C,Ion5,r Agricultural