The Red Cloud chief., 1904-09-16

| 1.ipf e. ......bl .Istb. III b.Db
In this table it is significant to note
that the lowest per capita of wheat con
sumption during the last fourteen years
occurred duriny the Democratic period
from 1873 To 1897. aud that since the
first election of William Mckinley and
the Inauguration of Republican policies.
up - the present time there has been
AN INCREASE or OVER ONE.
THIRD IN PER CAPITA CONSUMr-
TION OF WHEAT.
Increased Value NJ Farm Lands.
The farm lands of the United States
| represent the great portion of its real
capital. When crop after crop il pro-
ducci from the soil. the capital still re-
mains practically intact. unless bad
Judgment is uscl in planting crops
without rotation. or unless the cream Of
the soil is washed away by floods. or
unless the productive value is otherwise
destroyed through various kinds OF inn
providence like the Interference with
forest life at the hcplwaters of streams.
The farm lands of the country are thus
unlimited sources Of wealth rs compared
with mines and forests the annual in
come from which represent not real in.
come. but instead cncroachmcnts on real
capital.
How the Increment Ia Earned
Tho value Of the crops produced dur
ing n particular season tend to regulate
the value of the capital tthc soiD from
which they are produced, just like the
dividends which different securities
which Fay them. Henry George has
spoken of the "unrarncd increment" that
has arisen from the appreciation in lane
values. But while the agricultural his
tory Of the United States for the last
eight years has shown an enormous
amount of this 'incrcmcut,' yet to say
that il has been "uncarned' is a rank
injustice Ia the farmers who have CO.
operated with Providence to produce
the crops on which not only land values,
but the national prosperity is based from
year 10 year.
There ar" some people who seem TO
think that it is only By speculation that
wealth is acquired. There are other
people who hold that hard industry is
all that is needed for the accumulation
of the riches If this earth. There are
others who lay stress on smnrtness, OF
economy and on other traits OF long
ucdlelutSS. bul WHO IntTt IRE many
different ways by which individuals of
our country have grown wealthy, yet to
trace out how the United States as II
nation has grown to be II multi-billion-
aire, we must primarily consider the
record of yield and prices on our crops.
1t is n popular dclusion that the size
Of the crops Is the whole thing as re-
CARDS agricultural prosperity. Provi-
.l,aa, n,l a.. s ..t..I. M.
gcnce are responsible for the size of his
crops. But the financial appraiseucnt
Of this great work Of Providence and
himself, which makes up the supply"
Is determined 10y the market demand"
and this in turn. Is affected largely by
national economic policies.
Except for wheat the supply from
this years crops of the United States
will probably be greater thar for Inst
year. In the aggregate as regards size.
the crops will this year very likely he
the most abundant in our history. unless
the present bumper prospects in corn
should, at the eleventh hour. he reduced
by unlucky visitation of frost. And IN
the aggregate, AZ regards values. it looks
AZ il our crops would this year bring
greater wealth to the United States than
ever before.
STEADY Gains In Value.
The following tables show how steady
have been the gains in cash values OF
staple crops, despite fluctuations from
year 10 year in size Of crops:
CORN.
Production. Total Value.
TOtals-l9O3. 2,244. 17G.02J 952. SOS. Sol
1902. .2,523.i4S,3 l2 l.OlT, Ol7 $40
1901. 4 ,52I,5lg.S9l 92l, go, 7GS
1000. -, 100, 1O2.JlG 75l,22O.UB4
1902. LOIS, i3,033 G29,2lO. 10
1885. l,92i, 1860 EJ2, O23. i2S
1897. 1,3O2. 9G1 .G3 sol or. 952
1896. 2,2S3,SI5, l6J 49l ,OUB.967
1899. 2,l5l. l3S. $50 IA, 9Sj, J34
1894. LIE, I7O,062 55i. 719. l62