Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1905-11-30
A Big Year for American Farmers.

For the product OF his brains anu
land machinery, the American
farmer this year realized the enor-
nous sum of Sc 45O,OOO,OOO. His
mortgages have been Cancelled, and
from a borrower few years ago he
is today lending his profits.
Never before in the history OF this
or any other nation on the face OF the
earth, says Secretary of Agriculture
James Wilson, in his annual report,
"has such a tremendous result been
attained.
Figures are almost inadequate to
tell of the stupendous wealth taken
from the soil and of the amazing pros
perity which has come to the farmer.
Take two items in the farmers source
of income, the barnyard hen and COW.
The cash received from the sale of
eggs, poultry and dairy products more
than equaled the value Of the iron and
steel industry.
The value of the horses ard mules
reached the high-water mark of ST.
ASP, 100000 The corn crop this year
was worth Just $l,2l6,0OO,OOO, and
the 5000, 100000 worth of hay moved
exceeded to almost $l00,000,0OO the
value OF the cotton crop.
In order to properly invest his IN
come, which exceeded last year by
S256,OOOO00, the farmer this year es'
tabished 1854 new banks. Farm
lands have increased in value about
SO per cent. Everywhere, says the
government report, better buildings
are being constructed, and the modern
farmer is changing his condition Of
discomfort to one of almost luxury.
Rural free delivery has made shop
ping convenient for him, the telephone
has rendered communication easy, and
the extension of the trolley has made
travel quick.
The Secretary summarizes
'If the farmers economic position
in the United States is to be condensed
10 short paragraph, it may be said
that their farms produced this year
wealth valued at So, 900 /;
that farm products are yearly export
ed with a port value of S075, OOO,OOO;
that farmers have reversed an adverse
international balance OF trade, and
have been building up one favorable
to this country by sending to foreign
nations a surplus which in sixteen
years has aggregated $4,000 100000,
leaving an apparent net balance OF
trade during that time amounting to
S5,O92, 100000, after an adverse bal
ance against manufactures and other
products not agricultural amounting
to S543,OOO,OO0 has been offset.
The manufacturing industries that
depend upon farm products for raw
materials employed 2, l54,0 900 persons
in 1900, and used capital OF 81, 1872
100000. Within a decade farmers
have become prominent as bankers
and as money lenders throughout large
areas; and during the last five years
prosperous conditions and the better
directed efforts of the farmers them
selves have increased the value of their
farms 33.5 per cent, or an amount
approximately equal to S., 1873, OOO,-
O00."
The domestic exports of the farm
ers during the last sixteen years
amounted to $l2,00O,OO0,OOO, or a
billion dollars more than enough to
buy all the railroads Of the United
States, and this with a mere surplus
for which there was no demand at
home.
Should there be no relapse from
his preset position as wealth pro-
Queer, three years hence the farmer
will find that the farming element,
about 35 per cent. Of the population,
has produced an amount of wealth
within ten years equal TO one-haIi the
entire national wealth produced IN
three centuries.
Referring to the values of crops,
the report shows these amounts for
products not mentioned in preceding
paragraphs: Wheat, 1925 900 600:
oats, $282,OOO,OO0; potatoes, $685.
100000; barley sos, 100000; tobac-
co, 100000; sugar cane and beets,
rS53, Gee ISlG and rice $l9,S2O,OOO.
The total va-usaf dairy products
for the year was 1926, 100000, and c!
poultry industry, $5OO,OO0,O0O. Beet
cattle brought to the raiser $662, 000,-
900, and sheep and swine $209,OOO,-
600.