The Colfax chronicle., 1903-06-20
BIG PROFITS IN FARMING.



too great a profit upon their invest
ment? Ought they not to be content
with lower prices, and should not the
action of the federal authorities be in.
voked, as it is against the steel, oil and
sugar producers, to prevent foodstuffs
producers from growing suddenly and
enormously rich at the expense of the
great common people?
These questions are presented in a
little pamphlet prepared by Prof. Da-
visson, of the social economy depart
ment of the state university, says a
Lincoln (Neb.) report in the New York
Sun. Not, it is true, in just those
words, but the evident aim of the COM
pilation Mr.. Davisson has made is 10
show that-not even the tobacco or the
steel trust is reaping as big dividends
from its investment as the farmers
of the state of Nebraska.
The census report shows that in 1900
there were in Nebraska 121, ,525 farms
with an average value of $4,753, and a
total value of $557. SOS, 1926. Mr.. Davis
son has secured reports from men in
every county who have exceptional op-
portunities to find out the movements
in the values of real estate, and these
show an average increase of 25 per
cent. over the 1900 estimates. Added
to the census figures this gives total
value of s722, ,01o, ,4O6.
Figures CLEANED from the report of
the secretary of the state board of agri-
culture show that up to 1900 the aver
age value of the commodities produced
on Nebraska farms was not far from
$14,000,000 OF this sum nearly $75,-
100000 was represented by the live
stock shipped and slaughtered, while
s45, ,ooo,0 900 represented the average val
ne of the grain crops.
Poultry was represented by $4,000.
600 more, butter by $4,000, 900, eggs by
$2,000OO0. hides and pelts by 5000, 900.
Various other products of the farm,
garden, orchard and dairy made up the
remainder of the grand total.
These sums, it should be remem-
bered, represented only the surplus of
the farmers products, that is, over and
above what he found necessary 10 main
tain himself and family. From this
should be deducted the cost of agricul-
tural implements and other incidental
expenses. This gives him something
like Is per cent. of interest on his in
vestment.
In view of the fact that last year
the value of farm products, exclusive
,f live stock, put on the market was
S150.000,0 900, his profit on the invest
ment could not have been less than
'5per cent. Few industrial enterprises,
wen conceding that many of them
ire overcapitalized, can make such a
showing as this.
The value of live stock on the ranges
before the marketing in 1902 was $780,
100000. Agricultural implements were
worth $31,00O,OO0. The amount of
money on deposit in the national and
tate banks is estimated at not less
han 9O,OO0,000
This great rise to wealth of the farm
rs in few decades reads almost like
fairy story. In the beginning of her
gricultural development it was
hought the state could produce corn
My. In the last few years Nebraska
armers have turned their attention
o raising wheat and alfalfa as well |
S corn, and last year the state pro-
uced almost 46,00O,O0O bushels of win
er wheat and 100000 bushels of |
pring wheat
The corn crop last year was 27s. 900.
10 bushels, that OF oats $4,000, 900, rye
100000 and barley 100000. There
'ere 11,192 acres of sugar beets, aver
ging not less than ten tons TO the
ere.
The hay crop was tremendous. No.
ccurate statistics can be obtained
ON the state as a whole, but in %
'unties there were produced $4,000
ms of clover, $4,000 tons of timothy.
5000 tons of wild hay and 347, 900 tons
[ alfalfa.
The raising of alfalfa promises much
n the future of the state. Ten wears
20 it could scarcely be said to exist
Nebraska.
Last year there were over hundred
lousand acres planted, much of it
ere preliminary work. In some parts
the state this crop annually pro-
Ices more than the value of the land.
will be but few years until a mil
RI q d. |