The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-11-30

TO enable them to supply the country
with 100000, 900 worth of domestic pro-
ducts, now imported from abroad.
He then proceeds to discuss the place
of agriculture in the country's indus
trial life.
A Source of National Wealth.
The corn crop of 1904 yields a farm
value greater than ever before. The
farmers could from the proceeds of
this single crop pay the National debt,
the interest thereon for one year, and
still have enough left to pay a con-
siderable portion of the governments
yearly expenses. The cotton crop,
valued for lint and seed at $500 DOC, 900,
comes second. while hay and wheat
contend for the third place. Com
bined, these two crops will about equal
IN value the corn crop. Notwithstand-
ing the wheat crop shows a lower pro-
auction than any year since 1900, the
farm value is the highest since 1881.
potatoes and barley reached their
highest production in 1904; save in 1902
the oat crop was never so large by
oo'OO0'OOO bushels. The present crop
or rice promises a yield of 900 600 0OO
pounds-S00, 100000 more than ever be-
fore.
Horses and mules reach the highest
point this year, with an aggregate val
ue exceeding 1854 million dollars. On
the other hand cattle, sheep and hogs
all show slight decline.
The Hen and Egg Crop.
The steady advance in poultry leads
TO some astonishing figures. The farm
ers hens now produce one and two
thirds billions of dozens Of eggs and
at the high average price of the
year the hens during their busy season
lay enough eggs in single month to
pay the years interest on the national
debt.
Afer careful estimate of the value
OF the products of the farm during
1904, made within the census scope.
IT is safe to place the amount at A.
goo million dollars after excluding the
value Of farm crops fed to live stock
IN order to avoid duplication of values
This is 1855 per cent. above the product
OF 1903, and 31.2S per cent. above that
OF the census year 1899
some comparisons are necessary to
the realiza ton of such an unthinkable
value, aggregating nearly five billions
OF dollars. The farmers of this country
nave IN two years produced wealth ex-
ceeding the output of ali the gold
mines Of the entire world since Co
lumbus discovered America This
years product is over six times the
amount of the capital stock of all ma
tional banks, it lacks but three-fourth
OF a billion dollars of the value of the
manufactures of 1900. less the cost of
materials used; ii is three times the
gross earnings from the operations of
the railways. and four times the value
of all minerals produced in this coun-
try.
The year 1904 keeps we'll up to the
average of exports of farm products
during the five years 1899 1903, amount
ing to over $50 millions, while the av-
erage for the five years was nearly
S65 millions. During the last fifteen
years the balance of trade I'm favor of
this country, all articles considered,
exceeded 1884 million dollars but taxi
ing farm products alone. these show
ed balance in our favor or more than
$500 millions.
S2FseO,0GO Increase In Four Years
Reviewing the increase in farm
capital, the secretary estimates Il
conservatively at 1000 million dollars
within four years-thls without recog-
nizing the marked increase in the
value OF land during the past two
years. The most startling figures
shown as Illustrating the farmers
prosperity are those presented by de-
posits In banks In typical agricultural
states The secretary selects for this
illustration Iowa. Kansas and Missis-
sippi. Taking all kinds Of banks. ma
tional state, private and savings the
deposits increased from June 80. 1896
20 Oct 81. 1904. IN Iowa. 1874 per cent
in Kansas 2l9 per cent. and in Mis-
finsippi 30i per cent.-ln the United
States " per cent. A similar favorable
comparison may be made as 10 the
number Of depositOrg.
The secretary concludes that the
farmers rate ~ financial progress
need fear no comparison with that Of
any other class IT producers.
weather HuFeau nnd rniyersitiss.
The secretary reports that in accord.
eice With che lael policy the Weather
Aafssa conlpuea ~ cooperate WIKI