The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1904-12-01

4
Washington, Nov. 29.-The secretary
Of agriculture has transmitted his
eighth annual report to the president.
In opening his report the secretary
enumerates some of the more inpor-
tant features of the years work.
Among them are extensive cooperation
with agricultural stations; the taking
Of preliminary steps to conduct feed
ing and breeding experiments; the war
waged against the cotton boil weevil
and against cattle mango; plans for
education of engineers in road build
ing; the production of hardy orange,
hybrid of the Florida orange and the
japanese trifoliata; valuable research
in successful shipping of fruit abroad:
the value Of nitrogen-fixing bacteria;
successful 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 instruction to our island possessions
TO enable them to supply the country
with s200000,000 worth of domestic
products, now imported from abroad,
He then proceeds to discuss the place
of agriculture in the countrys indus
trial life,
The corn crop Of 1904 yields 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 consid-
cradle portion of the governments
yearly expenses, The cotton crop, val
ued for lint and seed at 10000, 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. Notwith-
standing the wheat crop shows lower
production 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 G0,000,00O bushels. The present crop
Of rice promises yield of 100000, 900
pounds-SOO,0 900 more than ever be-
fore.
Horses and mules reach the highest
point this year. with an aggregate
value exceeding 1884. 100000 On the
other hand cattle, sheep and hogs all
show slight decline
The steady advance in poultry leads
to some astonishing figures. The
farmers hens now produce 1,750,00O,-
900 dozens of eggs and at the average
high price of the year the hens during
their busy season lay enough eggs
in a single month to pay the years in
terest on the national debt.
After careful estimate of the value
of the products of the farm during
1904, made within the census scope,
1t is safe to place the amount at s4,-
90O,OO0,0OO after excluding the value
of farm crops fed to live stock in
order to avoid duplication of values.
This is 965 per cent. above the prod
uct Of 1903, and 31.2S per cent. above
that of the census year 1899.
Some comparisons are necessary to
the realization of such an unthinkable
value, aggregating nearly $500O,000,-
600. The farmers of this country have
in two years produced wealth exceed
Ing the output of all the gold mines
Of the entire world since Columbus dis
covered America. This years product
is over six times the amount of the
| capital stock of all national banks, it
lacks but $750,000,OOO of the value
OF the manufactures of 1900, less the
cost OF materials used; It is three
times the gross earnings from the op-
erations OF the railways, and four
times the value of all minerals pro-.
duced in this country.
The year 1904 keeps well up to the
average of exports Of farm products
during the five years 1899-1903, |
amounting to over 1859 100000, while
the average for the five years was
nearly ss65,O0O,O0o. During the last
Is years the balance of trade in favor
of this country, all articles considered.
exceeded s4,3S4,OOO,OOO, but taking |
farm products alone, these showed a |
balance in our favor Of more than S.
300, 0o0, 900.
Reviewing the increase in farm cap
ital, the secretary estimates it con-
servatively at $4,000, OOO, 900 within four |
years-this without recognizing 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 pre-
sented by deposits In banks in typical |
agricultural states The secretary Sc
lects for this illustration, Iowa, Kan
sas and Mississippi. Taking all kinds |
Of banks, national. state, private and
savings, the deposits increased from
June 30. 1896, to October 81. 1904. in |
Iowa. l64 per cent. in Kansas 21s per
cent. and in Mississippi 301 per cent
In the United States 81 per cent. AL
similar favorable comparison may be |
made as to the number of depositors.