The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1903-12-02
Value of Farm Exports For 1908 Was
Over 1878, ooo,o 600, Exceeded Only In
1901-Value of Horses, Mules and
Cattle-New Method of Seed Distri
bution-Foot and Mouth Disease.

rapid development of the work, to Sc.
cure competent men wherever they
could be found. Mr.. Wilson reports
the admission to the department since
1897 of 49G students; 249 of these are
still in the department, not less than
1872 having passed into the classified
service.
Secretary Wilson reviews at length
the production and exports of Amer
lean agricultural products. The in
crease in the exports of farm pro
ducts for the half century ended 1901
was from $147, OO0, 900 to 1852, 900, 900
$50 per cent. The exports of farm
products for the closing decade of the
last century was over 800, 900, 900 q
year, and for 1903 over 1878, 00O, 900,
al, amount second only to that of 1901.
Although the consumption of cotton
in this country is greater than that of
any other country in the world, yet, in
addition tC supplying the home market
the South exported last year w 3H
billion pounds of cotton, worth 81
million dollars.
OF grain and grain products, the *
port exceeded in value 221 million dol
lars, and in the supply of animals,
meats and meat products, the value OF
expectation was 211 million dollars.
Farmers Balance Of Trade.
Discussing the balance of trade, the
secretary shows that the favorable
balance to the credit of this country
is due entirely to the farmers. The
balance of trade in favor of farm pro-
ducts during the last II years, no year
excepted, aggregated 4,80G million dol
lars, In products, other than those
of the farm, during the same period.
the balance of trade was adverse to
this country to the extent of S65 mil
lion dollars. Our farmers not only can.
celed this immense obligation, but
placed 3,940 million dollars to the cred
it of the nation when the books of in.
ternational exchange were balanced
He concludes that, 1T is the farmers
who have paid the foreign bondholi-
ers."
Reviewing the magnitude of agri-
cultural production, after giving the
figures of the most important crops,
Mr.. Wilson states that the value of all
farm products. not fed to live stock,
for 1903 considerably exceeded their
value in the census year, when it was
given as 3,742 million dollars.
According to the departments in
ventory of farm animals for Jan. I,
1903. the value of horses was over
one billion dollars, and Of mules, near
ly 200 million dollars. The value OF
cattle Of all kinds considerably ex
ceeded 1900 million, of sheep, 1913 mil
lion. and of hogs, 800 million dollars.
The secretary reports a gratifying
extension in public education along
meteorological lines Regular courses
Of lectures or classes have been con
Quoted by weather bureau officials in
not less than II colleges and universe
ties. Many of the representatives OF
this bureau have, moreover. delivered
occasional addresses in other classes
or colleges. and to teachers Of schools
The demand for instruction on these
subjects increases rapidly
Value of Weather Forecasts.
Several disastrous floods occurred,
some of the greatest of which there Is
authentic record. Fortunately, the de
partment's warnings were prompt and
timely in the most remarkable degree
and no dangerous flood was unher
aided.
An increase of nearly 10000 is
shown in the number of places receiv
ing forecasts by telephone without ey
pense to the government, thus securing
a rapid extension of weather informa'
ton among progressive agriculturists
The campaign for the suppression
of the foot and mouth disease in New
England Is reviewed at length. Opera
tons were begun Dec. |, 1902, and the
last diseased herd was slaughtere'
May Q, 1903. The cooperation of tn,
several states was prompt and CON
plete. The number of animals slaugh
tered was 4,4G1, of which 1872 wer5
cattle and the rest hogs, sheep ane
goats. The department allotted z
per cent of the appraised value as in
demnity, and the amount thus paif
was $12S, 90S.57. Including all the
other expenses, the secretary est
mates the total cost of the eradication
of the disease at less than $4,000
The stock raisers of the country were
saved from a great calamity by thu
successful termination of this work
A general extension of the contagiou
over the country would have cause
cattle raisers direct losses aggregat
ing hundreds OF millions of dollars
while indirect losses from restrictions
on traffic and embargoes on Il eXpor'
trade would have been simply inca:
culable.
Special attention has been given tC
the matter Of securing improved vari
cites of seed for general distribution
This has been especially exemplified II
the case of cotton, forage crops, anc
homegrown sugar beet seed In spit