Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-09-17

lsN4s -lffil-fiA d. II bFs7A
1904 =. ...--..5lI,l ,liJ. u t-.55
In this table ii is significant 70 note
that the lowest per capita Of wheat con-
sumption during the last fourteen years
occurred during the Democratic period
from 1898 to 1897. and that since the
FIRST election Of William Mckinley and
the Inauguration OF Bepublienn policies.
up 10 the present time there has been
AN INCREASE OF OVER ONE
THIRD N PER CAPITA CONSUN Mp
TlON OF WHEAT.
Increased salse OF Farm Lands
The farm lands Of the United States
represent the great portion OF its real
capital when crop after crop is pro-
duced from the soil the capital still re-
mains practically Intact, unless bad
Judgment is used in planting crops
without rotation. or unless the cream Of
the soil is washed away by foods, or
unless the productive value is otherwise
destroyed through various kinds OF i'm
{ providence Ike the Interference with
/ forest life NJ the headwaters of streams.
I The farm lands OF the country are thus
unlimited sources Of wealth - compared
with mines and forests the annual in
come from which represent no; real in
come but Instead encFgacbments on real
capital
How the Increment l. Earned
The value Of the crops produced dur
ing 4 particular aeas5a tend to regulate
the value OF the capital 0he spib from
which they are produced. just Ike the
dividends which dineFent securities
which pay them Henry George has
spoken or the ~nnearned Increment that
has arisen from the appreciation 10 land
values. But while the agricultural his
tory OF the United States FOR the last
eight years has shown "a enormous
amount ~ this increment yet to say
that Il has been "une1uei' is rank
Injustice 20 the farmers who have CO.
operated with Providence TO produce
the crops on wAisa not only land values.
but the national prosperity IS based from
year 20 year.
There are some people who seem
think that IL 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 OF this earth. There are
others who lay stress on smartness. on
economy aud on other traits of long
headedncss. But while there are many
different ways by which individuals OF
our country have grown wealthy. yet TO
trace out how the United States as n
nation has grown 70 be a multi-billion-
aire. We must primarily consider the
record OF yield aud prices on our crops.
II is a popular delasion that the size
% the crops Is the whole thing as re
CARDS agricultural prosperity. Provi-
dence aud the farmers Individual dill
gence are responsible for the size Of his
crops. Bu; the financial apprAisement
Of this great work OF Providence and
himself. which makes mp the supply"
Is determined hy the market demand"
and this in turn, is Affected largely by
national economic policies.
Except for wheat the supply from
this years crops % the Uuiied States
win probably be greater than for las;
year. IN the aggregate as regards size,
the crops will tais year very likely be
the most abundant in our history. unless
the present bumper prospects, in corn
should, al the eleventh hour, be reduced
by unlucky visitation Of frost. And in
the aggregate. as regards values. il looks
as II our crops would this year bring
greater wealth TO the United States than
ever before.
stea,iy Gain. in Naiue.
The following tables show how steady
have been the gains In cash values Of
staple crops, despite fluctuations from
{ year to year ia size Of crops:
CORN