The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-12-02
CORN CROP OF 1904
WAS A WINNER
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL
DEPARTMENT.
Beats the Cotton Crop With Hay and
Wheat Struggling For
Third Place.

Washington, d. C., Nov. 29.-The
corn crop of 1904 was a winner. 1t
yielded value greater than ever be-
fore. Secretary Wilson, of the Agrl-
cultural department in calling the at
tention of the president and congress
to this in his annual report, just COM
pleted, figures that 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 considerable por-
tlon of the governments yearly ex-
penses. The cotton crop, valued for
lint and seed at S600,000,000 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 1900, the farm value is
the highest since 1881. Potatoes and
barley reached their highest produc,
ton in 1904; save in 1902, the oat crop
was never so large by sixty million
bushels. The present crop of rice
promises a yield of 900,000,00O pounds
300, 100000 more than ever before
Horses and mules reach the highest
point this year with an aggregate
value exceeding 81, 1854, 900 900. On the
other hand cattle, sheep and hogs all
show slight decline.
. The farmers hens now produce one
and two third 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.
After a careful estimate of the
value Of the products of the farm dur
ing 1904, made within the census
scope, it is safe to place the amount at
$4, ,90O,O0O,000 after excluding the value
of farm crops fed to livestock in order
to avoid duplication Of values. This is
9.65 per cent above the product of
the census year, 1899.
Some comparisons are necessary to
the realization Of such an unthink.
able value, aggregating nearly FIVE bill
lions of dollars. The farmers of this
country have in two years produced
wealth exceeding the output of all the
gold mines of the entire mines since
Columbus discovered America. This
years product is over six times the
amount of the capital stock of the ma.
tional banks, 1t lacks but three fourths
of billion of dollars of the value of
the manufactures of 1900, less the cost
of materials used: it 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 well up to the
average of the exports of farm pro-
ducts during the five years, S99-190S,
amounting to over $S59,OOO, 600 while
the average for the five years was
nearly $865,000,000. During the last
fifteen years, the balance of trade In
favor Of this country. all articles con-
sidered, exceeded $4.384 100000, but
taking farm products alone, these
showed balance in our favor Of more
than $500, 100000.
Reviewing the increase in farm cap
ital, the secretary estimates 1t con.
servatiyely at $2,OOO.0000O0 dollars
within four years, this without recog-
nizing the marked increase In the
value Of land during the past two
years.