The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-02-17

THE Department of Agriculture in
Washington has just issued a report
of the live stock on the farms in the
United States. A study of this re-
port is interesting and shows the in
crease and decrease of the different
kinds of stock, except hogs and
their value as compared with
other years. The report shows
that there has been a decrease
in the number Of horses from the last
year Of 127 1888; of mules, As, lS6,
and of cattle, other than mileh cows,
of 3S4,171 1t shows an increase OF
302.245 in mich COWS and 2,76S,6l2
in sheep. and total increase of the
kinds reported upon of 2.5l0,7l7.
From the report We learn that while
the horses, mules and cattle, other
than milch cows, have decreased in
number sll of them have increased in
value; the horses about one hundred
and ffty.one millions of dollars; the
mules about nineteen millions, and
the cattle about one hundred and
eighty-one millions. The increased
value Of mich COWS is one hundred
and forty.six millions, and that of
sheep ffty.six millions. The total in
creased value of farm stock for the
past three years is given as exceeding
FIVE hundred and seventy millions of
dollars. This is an immense increase
and shows that the farmers of this
great country are rapidly improving
their stock. The large increase in
the number Of sheep is noticeable
feature Of the report, and we have no
doubt If the profit derived from sheep
had been given, it would have been
almost beyond our conception. AS
an encouragement to our farmer
friends We give the average increase
of value per head of the different
kinds Of stock reported upon for the
last year. On horses, the increase
is So 81 per head; on mules, SIS 90;
on mich COWS, ST. 81; on cattle, s. Is,
and on sheep, eighteen cents. From
these figures we see that stock raising
is profitable, aud the farmer who, in
connection with his farming opera
tions, raises improved stock must
succeed and become independent.
In speaking on this subject the
Kansas City Journal says, taken in
the aggregate, the farmer is the big
gest and most numerous wealth
producer in the land. II the wage
Garner and other city people are pay
ing more for what are going on their
tables, somebody must be reaping
the profit aud prospering according
ly. Obviously, it is the man who
raises wheat and cattle and all man
ner Of provisions. This is not the
trust or the plutocrat."
The total increase in the market
value OF farm live stock in the
United States since 1896 is estimated
by the American Agriculturist at not
less than seven hundred millions of
dollars, and most of the gain
has been in the value of the
animals, and not in their number.
The Journal insists that it has
been in the "uplift Of the prices due
to good times" 1t says "the rate Of
increase in value has been no less
than thirty-seyen per cent. For
every three dollars represented by
farm animals four years ago, more
than another dollar has been added.
I'm the last year the gain in the value
of horses on farms was about twelve
per cent, in proportion tothe number.
Cows gained ten per cent. and other
cattle rose nineteen per cent. in mar.
ket value, not through any increase
in the number in the country, but in
the price relative to the size Of the
herds. Sheep rose eight per cent.
per head. and in swine the gain was
no less than nineteen per cent. The
average increase in market value fer
all kinds Of live stock on farms is
calculated to have been fifteen and
one-half per cent"
Senator Garter Glass, the brilliant |