The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-11-30
ARMS ARE BETTER
THAN GOLD MINES
Secretary Wilson Shows the
Returns of Agriculture.
WOULD PAY NATIONAL DEBT
Astonishing Results Achieved by Men
Who Plant and Sew-YeaPs
Work of Department.

Agriculture as the basis of much of
the wealth of the United States. forms
the main theme OF the annual report Of
the Secretary of Agriculture, which was
made public today.
The other features of the report deal
with the night against the boil weevil,
which Is destroying millions OF dollars
worth of property in Texas, plans for
education of engineers in road building;
the production of a hardy orange. a by
brid or the Florida orange and the
Japanese trffoliats; valuable research in
successful shipping OF fruit abroad; sue
cessful introduction of plants suited TO
light rainfall areas; establishment of
pure food standards; the extension Of
agricultural education in primary and
secondary schools: the extension of in
struCtiOn 10 our island possessions to
enable them 70 supply the country with
500 600 000 worth of domestic products,
now imported from abroad.
Enormous Corn Crop.
The Secretary says the years corn
crop has been enormous. the greatest in
the history Of the country.
Farmers could from the proceeds OF
this single crop, says the Secretary.
''pay the national debt, the interest
thereon for one year and still have
enough left 10 pay a considerable portion
OF the Governments yearly expenses
The cotton crop, valued for lint and
seed at $600 100000. comes second. while
hay and wheat contend for the third
place
Combined. these two crops will about
equal IN value the corn crop.
Notwithstanding the wheat crop
shows lower production than any year
since tS9g, the farm value is the highest
Potatoes and barley reached their
highest production I'm 1904, save in 1902
the cat crop was never so large by
rice promises a yield of 500 010 90 pounds
-5ooooG"a more than ever before
Horses and Mules.
Horses and mules reach the highest
point this year with an aggregate value
exceeding g.S540l0.000 On the other hand
cattle, sheep. and hogs all show a slight
decline.
The steady advance iu poultry leads
20 some astonishing figures The farm
ers hens now produce 2-3 billions Of
dozens of eggs, and al the high average
price OF the year the hens during their
busy season lay enough eggs IN a single
month 20 pay the years interest on the
national debt
After careful estimate Of
the value OF the products OF the farm
during 1904, made within the census
scope. lt is safe tD place the amount at
$500 million dollars after excluding the
value of farm crops fed 20 live stock IN
order 90 avoid duplication Of values.
This IS $40 per cent above the product
OF 1858, and 3lA per cent above that OF
the census year 1888.
Better Than Gold Mines.
Mr. Wilson continues:
The farmers OF this country have In
two years produced wealth exceeding
the output of all the gold mines Of the
entire world since Columbus discovered
America.
This years product is over six times
the amoCnt of the capital stock OF all
national banks, il lacks but three
fOurths of a billion dollars Of the value
of the manufactures Of 1900 less the cost
of materials used; il is three times the
gross earnings from the operations OF
the railways and four times the value
OF all minerals produced in this country.
The year 1894 Keeps up 10 The aver
ag- OF exports OF farm products
during the five years lsg9-l9OS.
amounting 20 over $50 millions, while
the average for the five years was
nearly S55 millions. During the last 10
years the balance of trade in favor OF
this country, all articles considered, eX-
ceeded 4.3s4 million dollars, but taking
farm products alone, these showed
balance in our favor Of more than 8. 800
millions.
Reviewing the increase in farm capt.
TAI, the Secretary estimates II cOnserVa-
lively al 200 million dollars within four
ycars-this without recognizing the
marked increase in the value Of land
during the past two years.
Work Of Weather Bureau.
Secretary Wilson describes the excel
lent work of the weather and several OF
the other bureaus. He says the export
Of animals amounted 20 S233, 90. 600 a
great increase, that all were inspected.
and that IL is a mistake 20 conclude that
it Is impossible 10 transmit human tu-
beTculOsis 10 animals. He urges that
the laws regulating the care and des-