The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-16

900 more than in either of the depressed
years noted This Is an average Of 81
per cent compared in values with the
low point"
These statement are made by the
American Agriculturalist for March.
contains an elaborate review OF the agri-
cultural situation from financial and
industrial standpoint The livestock of
the country is said to be worth $780, 000. 000
more than during the hard times, or a
gain of IS per cent. Staple crops are
worth s4O0, 1000 more than then, while
other crops show an increase of $500, 900
600 in value, or a gain Of % per cent COM
vared with the depression OF 1Ss4-s5-s6
The produce Of livestock, such as meats,
dairy products, calves, mutton. sheep
and lambs hides and pelts, colts, mules,
etc, are said TO show a gain Of $50. 200,
or 20 per cent above the low point.
The review says: Live stock itself has
advanced nearly or qnite as much and
now exceeds the high point Of the rise
that reached its highest point in 1883.
Even horses are one-third higher than
four years ago. The total value of cat
tie on farms is now Al per cent more than
five years ago, while the average value
of cattle has advanced Is per cent above
the low point of 1895. Mich cows are
worth 45 per cent more than in 1892, and
their total value is So per cerft greater
than in 1896. Sheep are higher than for
tenty years; worth about double on the
farm what they were five years ago, and
are fully % per cent higher than during
the early sos. The total value Of sheep
in the country is $40 per cent greater
than in 1896. Hogs have occasionally
been worth more than now, but are sell
ing at a high range, especially compar-
ed with cheap corn. The number Of hogs
is small compared with the increase Of
population and growth Of export trade.
Farm real estate deprecated sharply
during the hard times but has more than
recovered in value and is now estimated
TO be worth 81, 30 900 more than in 1896.
The total investment in American agri-
culture is now placed at ST, So, 100000, a
gain of nearly 10 per cent over the com
paratively high basis OF values Of 1889
All these figures look large, but when the
errors in the last agricultural census are
understood, and when it is remembered
that the sales Of poultry and eggs in the
United States amount to over $500, 900 900
a year, the conservative nature of these
statistics can be better understood
The American Agriculturist estimates
that the number Of farms in the United
States has increased by some 100000 dur
ing the past ten years, against a gain OF
nearly 100000 in the previous decade and
OF 100000 from 1870 to 1850, and affirms
that a larger proportion Of these farms
go per cent? are occupied by their own
ers now than then, while the number Of
farms under mortgage that are occupied
by their owners is no greater than in 1880.
AS far as this can get it, the amount Of
mortgages on farms occupied by their
owners is about s3o0000.0O0 less than at
the beginning of the decade. Mortgages
now average only about q per cent of
the farms they are on The rate of in
terest has declined and the great bulk of
mortgages now in force were incurred TO
buy the farm or improve it,