Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-07
Farming in Nebraska pavs.

NeAhAhh III NeDTdska pays
This statement is predicated on the facts
set forth In bulletin 1893 OF the Twelfth
census, which deals exclusively with agri-
culture and its allied interests in Nebraska.
In the Introductory note addressed TO Di-
rector Merriam, Mr.. L. G. Powers, chief
statistician for agriculture, says:
J, "A farm. as defined by the Twelfth census,
includes all the land under one manage
ment used for raising crops and pasturing
meadows, etc, connected Herewith. 1t in
cludes also the house in which the farmer
TTesides, ana an other buildings used by him
The farms of Nebraska June /, 1900, mum
bered Il,S25, and were valued at $5T7 ,669,00.
represents the value Of buildings, and
s4S6,66,9OO, or S.2 per cent, the value of
lands and improvements other than build
tngs. On the same date the value of farm
implements and machinery was S24,9 t9, $50,
and that of live stock S14s .3is,4s These
s47l sSS,O67, the total value Of farm prop
cry"
The products derived from domestic ami
mails. poultry and bees, including animals
sold and animals slaughtered on farms,
are referred to in this bulletin as animal
products. The total value Of such prod
ucts, together with the value of all crops. Is
This value for 1899 was tl62. sos, SSs, OF which
se mtsn the value Of animal products. and
$92, 469, 500, or SIS per cent the value OF
crops, including forest products cut or
farm products for 1899 exceeds that re-
ported for 1889 by s95 .s5s, 76s. or 1874 per
cent.
The gross farm income is obtained by de-
Quoting from the total value Of farm prod
ucts the value Of products fed to live stock
on the farms of the producers. In 1899 the
reported value OF products fed was k3S,025,-
so, leaving $l24,6O,S56 as the gross farm
income. The percentage which this latter
amount IL OF the total value Of farm prop
erty Is termed the gross income upon In
vestment. For Nebraska In 1899 1t was 1871
per cent.
A vast amount Of detailed information
concerning farms and farming operations In
Nebraska is contained in the bulletin, from
which some statements are condensed for
The Bee readers.
Nebraska's total land area is 6,s40 square
miles, or AZ, 177, 500 acres. Of which 29.911, ITO
acres, or COS per cent, are included in
farms. These farms, which are Of the av-
erage size OF 246.1 acres, contain IS, 432, 595
acres OF improved land and II, 47s. 1874 acres
Of unimproved land, the total per cent Of i'm
proved land being cas- per centa The num-
Der and area Of farms has increased rapidly
since 1860, the rates Of increase since 1890
being Z and ass per cent respectively. The
establishment of extensive livestock ranches
in the western part Of the state and the
cultivation of large corn producing areas
throughout the state, have effected a sub
stantial increase in the average size OF
farms since 1880. The development of these
industries has been so rapid that the divis-
ion Of farm holding in the eastern half O.
the state, where the farms are more tnten-
sively cultivated, has not been sufficient to
counteract the expansive movement in the
western section. In the last decade this in
crease in the average size Of farms was
most marked.
Each decade since 1860 shows gains in
the values of all farm property. For the de-
cade ending IN 1900 the increases in values
are as follows: All farm property, 4e.l per
cent: farms, 4S.6 per cent; implements and
machinery, STA per cent; livestock, 56.S pei
cent.
Nearly two-thirds Of the counties report
increases In the number Of farms in the last
decade, Notwithstanding the severe drouth'
which occurred between 1880 and 1900, caus-
ing the abandonment Of many farms in the
central and western counties.
The total farm acreage Increased In every
county except Cass, Saline and Perkins. The
average size Of farms for the state is 246.
acres. In the western counties, owing ia
the number of livestock farms, many oil
which are more than 1000 acres in extent
the average size of the farms is greater
than In the eastern counties, where general
farming prevails.
The average value Of the farms for the