Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-08-14
VALUE OF FARMSMALL SENSATION
CENSUS SHOWS RAPID ADVANCE
IN WASHINGTON.
Total Area in Farms Now Twenty
three Times Greater Than LIZ
Was Thirty Years Ago--Remarh-
able Increase IN All Farming
Property.

Seattle. Aug. I1-The returns from
the twelfth census shows that Washing
ton il advancing with rapid STRIDES -
an AGRICULTURAL state. The total area
in farms il more than 90 times a. great
az il was 80 years ago, ai.c more than
double that OF 1880. For the past ~
wears there has been steady increase
in the average size Of tarZ2s. which ls
largely the result 81 additions 10 ranges
recently taken iron the public domain
and enumerated a. farm lands FOR the
first time in the last census. There has
been remarkable increase in tie value
OF every form Of farming property dur
ing the past 10 years. In tie last &C.
cade the gain in the total value Of iarn4-
ing lands reached the enormous amount
OF s43,3l5.5.7
The number Of farms increased IN tie
last decade in all coUntie- except
Columbia and Garfield. In over one
half OF the counties more than twice az
many farms were reported. kItsap
county alone reports decrease IA IL
total farm area. all others showing sub
s.antial gains since 1890. The average
size OF farms for the state il 256 acres,
and varies from 65.3 acres in k.tsap
county 70 .66i.7 acres in Franklin
county The average size 0! farms /.
largest in the Easter. counties. where
cereals and stock raising are the lead
ing agricultural pursuits. T~o-thIrds
OF the counties report al increase III the
value OF farms IL The last ten years.
OF the counties reporting oecre&ses
only one is situated in the Eastern par,
OF the state Tie average value OF
farms for the state i 1882.
Marked increases are reported joy all
counties except kitsap il The value Of
implements and machinery. and de-
creases in the value Q: livestock are re-
ported for only the three Eastern coun-
ties OF Columbia. GARFIELD and Spokane.
In the livestock and cereal co4nties the
average was, a. 3 rule. much higher
than in the western counties, where
diversified farming prevails. The total
number of farms increased 26.6.3. or
40S.5 per cent. i'll the las. TWO decades.
The total expenditure for labor on
farms in 1899. including the value OF
board furnished. was $3.50. 100. an
average OF $50 per farm. Fertilizers
purchased in lsaa cost only s2o. los, al
average OF less than s 90 yer farm. but
almost three times the amount expenG-
ed in 1899.
OF the 80. 202 farms OF the state.
1913, or l0.6 per cent. were irrigated
in 1899. OF the total improved acre
age, SO per cent. was irrigated. Alial-
ia, vegetables and fruits are generally
relied upon to give the highes, returns
where water is available. Irrigation in
Eastern Washington has greatly IN.
creased land values. In counties where
irrigation is parcticed. the farm vaiI,es
steadily increase in proportion 10 the
extent TO which irrigation is carried on
The value OF all live stock on farms
and ranges. June !. 1900. was s22 .l5e.-
207.
Each decade since 1850 showed
marked increase il the amour, o; wool
grown. More than three times as much
wool was reported in 1900 as in 1890.
The value OF all cese.a bles produced
in the state in 1899. including potatoes.
sweet potatoes. and onions, was So
ass S6t