The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-01-06
where Nations Wealth Lies
Secretary Wilson Shows 1t Is in Agriculture and Live Stock

Secretary Wilson has just completed
and transmitted to the president the
eighth annua report of the depart
lnent OF agriculture. Among the more
important features OF the work that
are enumerated in opening the report
by the secretary of agriculture are: A
more extensive cooperation With agri-
cultural stations; the taking of pre-
liminary steps to feeding and
breeding experiments; the war Waged
against the cotton boil weevil and
against cattle mango; plans for edu-
cation of engineers in road building:
the production of a hardy orange, a
hybrid of the Florida range and the
Japanese trifoliata: valuable research
in successful shipping of fruit abroad;
Ethe value of nitrogen-tiXing 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 $500, 900, 900 worth of domestic
products. now imported from abroad.
The corn + o 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 II year, and still
have enough left to pay Il considerable
portion of the governments yearly ex-
penses. The cotton crop. valued for
lint and seed at 5000, 900, 900, comes sec
ond. 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 a lower production than any
year since 1900, the farm value is the
highest since 1881. Potatoes and bar
| lev reached fhaiJ, hiuJact r,l,,a ~, -.
1904; save in 1902 the oat crop was new
er so large by 60. 000.0 900 bushels. The
present crop of rice promises y yield of
300, 100000 0 pounds-300, 000,O 900 pounds
more thar ever before.
Horses and mules reach the highest
point this year. with an aggregate
value exceeding 81 ,354, 900, 900. on the
other hand, cattle, sheep and hogs all
show a slight decline.
h steady advance in poultry leads
to some astonishing figures. Tho farm
ers' hens now produce l.666. Oo0. 600 doz-
n of ggs and at the high average
price Of the year the hens during their
busy season lay enough eggs in a single
month TO pay the years interest on the
national let
After a 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 81, 800. 900. 600 af-
ter excluding the value of farm crops
fed to live stock in order TO avoid dupli
cation of values. This is 9.G5 per cent
above the product of 1903. and 81 Is per
cent. above that of the census Year
1899.
Some comparisons are necessary to
the realization of such an u%nthinkable
value, aggregating nearly S., 000,0 600, 900.
The farmers of this country nave in w
years produced wealth exceeding the
output of all the gold mines of the en-
tire world since Columbus discovered
America. This years product is over
SIX times the amount of the capital
stock of all national banks: it lacks but
$15o,000 600 OF the value of the manu-
features of 1900, less the cost of ma
teiials used: it is three times the gross
earning from the operations of the rail-
ways, and four times the Nalue of all
minerals produced in this country.
The year 1904 keeps we'll up to the av-
erage of exports of farm products dur
in gthe five years, 1S99-1903, amounting
TO over $685. 900. 600. While the