The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-12-20
WEALTH OF OUR FARMS
Production This Year Reached &c.
100000. Secretary Wilson Says,
Germ. a.70s,o 00. 900 Bushels-Three Other
Crops With New High Values
Criticism For traders

SlOht. ~ AIM
! of the Department Of Agriculture has
sent to the President his annual report.
In it the Secretary says that it is graft
flying to present evidence of the UNI
precedented prosperity which has re-
warded the diligence Of the farmer and
the efforts of his department.
A year of u~nequalled prosperity has
been added to the most remarkable
series of similar years that has come
to the farmers Of this country. Farm
crops have never before been harvested
at such q high general level Of produc-
ton and value. Corn has reached its
highest production, over 2,70O,OOO.0OO
bushels, of a total estimated value OF
$1,216, 100000. Hay comes second,
with a value Of $605, 100000. Cotton
is expected to yield $575,0O0,00O. The
short wheat crop Of last year is fol-
lowed by one Of 684,0O0,OOO bushels,
and it's value, 1925, 100000, overtops the
highest value ever before reached.
While only n crop, corn, reached its
highest production this year, four
crops-corn, hay, wheat and rice
reached their highest value. No crop
but corn produces the income that the
dairy cow does. The estimate Of the
value Of dairy products for 1905
reaches $685., 100000. The farmers hen
completes for precedence with wheat,
poultry products aggregating $50O,OO0,-
900 in value.
The Secretary thus summarizes the
position Of farmers:
"If the farmers economic position
in the United States is to be condensed
to q short paragraph, it may be said
that their farms produced this year
wealth valued at $6,415, 900, 900; that
farm products are yearly exported
with a port value Of $S75, 100000; that
farmers have reversed an adverse in
ternational balance of trade, and have
been building up one favorable to this
country by sending to foreign nations
q surplus which in sixteen years has
aggregated SIP. DOC, 900, 1000, leaving an
apparent net. balance of trade during
that time amounting to $5,0H2,00O.OW
after an adverse balance against man
ufactures and other products not agri-
cultural, amounting to $543, 100000, has
been Offset. The manufacturing indus
tries that depend upon farm products
for raw material employed 2,154.OOO.
persons in 1900 and used a capital Of
4,132, 900, 900. Within a decade farm
ers 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 thirty-three and one-half
per cent, or an amount approximately
equal to Sc, 133, 600, 1000
The value of horses and mules on
farms exceeded last winter $1,452,OOO,-
600. Mich COWS are advancing in num-.
bers and are worth $4S2, 10000. The
value Of all other cattle is estimated at
1862, 000, 900. Sheep are declining in
number and total value, while swine
maintain their previous position and
are valued at over 1888, 100000. In the
aggregate, the value of farm animals
of all sorts has increased over that
given in the census Of 1900 by nine
per cent. {.
Speaking of the growth of the De?
partment, the Secretary reports the
number of persons on the rolls July 1,
1905, to be SAG. OF these, 1928 are
rated as scientists and scientific assist
ants.
In dealing with the crop report
"leak" Secretary Wilson, after refer.
ring to the "gross breach Of trust on
the part Of one Of the employees of the
Bureau of Statistics" continues:
"This Department acted with vigor
and dispatch when it got evidence of
wrong-doing on the part, Of its own
officials, but we have no evidence Of
disciplinary or preventive action at the
traders end of the line"