The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-02-07
Copper ScOreSG Greatest In
crease in Production.
THE PROGRESS IN AGRICULTURE
Steady Decline in Our Mer-
chant Marine Announced.
IMPROVEMENT IN SOUTH
Farms Left in wrecked Condition
al Close Of War Now Looking Up
and Prices Advancing.

The final report Of the Industrial Com
mission has been made public. II is an
interesting and comprehensive document.
The progress Of the nation is shown.
says the report, in the remarkable growth
OF industries which has taken place with
in recent years. The greatest increase
in production has occurred in copper.
The largest increase in any particular
crop is shown in potatoes. the amount
raised in 1895 being nearly double that
Of lS79-'SS- Next 70 potatoes the largest
increase in agricultural production is
shown in cotton. the article. adds The re
port, which leads all others in our ex-
port trade.
Wheat shows Strong.
Next TO cotton. wheat shows the great
est increase. the largest crop being
harvested in 1898, which was 5O.4 per cent
larger than The average for lS79-SS. The
shortest crop within the past ten years
was in 1898
The corn crop" says the report.
which is the largest single product in
the country, shows the highest index in
1886"
In live stock less violent changes are
noted The number Of cattle in this
country reached the highest point in 1882.
The production OF crude steel increased
gradually until 1898, and after that with
great rapidity. until 1899. when an in
crease Of $50 per cent above the aver
age was reached
\ remarkable expansion Of the South
ern cotton industry is shown The re-
port also states that the production of
fermented liquors and OF cigars shows a
steady advance.
Our Merchant Marine
The report saws upon the subject OF
merchant marine.
when We come 10 the shipping indus
try OF the United States we notice a
marked difference in comparison with the
industries just described Reviewing the
increase in the past fcrty- three years OF
the exports and imports Of the United
States, and considering the total amount
OF this traffic carried in American YES
sells, IL is seen that while the foreign
trade increased by amazing strides. espe-
eially in the past seven years. the abso-
lutte amount carried in American vessels
has shown a steady decline. and the com
parative amount d still more striking de-
cline"
A chapter is devoted 20 a discussion OF
the gold standard. and 70 hank loans and
other financial matters
Prosperity of Agriculture
Agricultural prosperity comes in for a
long and optimistic discussion. Through
out the Central West il is stated that in
most Of the elements OF agricultural pros
perity the farmers are decidedly better
of than al any previous time in cur raral
history.
From certain portions OF the South. "
says the report including Maryland
South Carolina North Carolina. and
Texas. evidence is presented TO show that
the condition OF farming Is either OF
doubtful improvement OF much depressed
but for the most part only 10 local sec
lions.
There is no considerable body Of evil
denCc TO show that farmers have not
shared more or less freely and fully in
the general Improvement Of business since
The depression Of 1893. In fact the weight
Of evidence is TO the effect that farm
wealth has steadily advanced ami debts
declined. The mortgages Of Kansas have
been reduced 10 one fifth % their amount
Of ten years ago. and the interest rate