Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-12-01
IS A YEAR OF
PROSPERITY
GREAT REPUBLIC IS SECURING
A NEW HIGH RECORD IN
1906.

most all it's leading interests the Unit
ed States is scoring new 'highests"
in 1905. Stated in round figures, the
government report. just issued, shows
a yield for 1905 Of 2,7OS,OOO,0OO BUSH
els of corn, 683,OOO,OOO bushels of
wheat, 939,0OO,0OO bushels of oats, 3d.
100000 bushels of rye, 133,OOO,OOO
bushels of barley, 261, 100000 bushels
of potatoes, 100000 bushels of
buckwheat, and 61.0OO,O0O tons Of hay.
There is some uncertainty about the
aggregate of the cotton crop. The
southern cotton association. which is
interested in making the figures ap-
pear as small as possible, puts the
crop little below 100000 bales.
The government bureau, which aims
to arrive at the truth, regardless Of
the eject On the speculative mark.
cts, places the crop at over 10000, 900
bales. Some private agencies, which
have had q good deal Of experience
in gathering statistics of the cotton
crop, place it at over 100000 bales.
Several of the cereals have broken
all records, including the country's
imperial crop, corn. The corn yield
of 2,708, 100000 bushels has never been
closely approached in the past, the
largest crop hitherto being 1888, OOO,.
600 bushels in 1902. The leading corn
producing states in 1905 were Him
OILS, with 382,0OO,O0O bushels; Iowa,
305, 100000; Nebraska, 263, ZOO, 900;
Missouri, 203,O0O,OOO. The value of
the aggregate of the country's farm
crops in 1876. including cattle and
hogs, is, by conservative estimates,
placed at $6,636,000,000, gain of
81 300, 100000 over 1904, which year
broke all records along to that time.
1t is said that when the farmers in.
come is large the country prospers.
Never in the past have the rewards
OF the cultivators of the soil been as
munificent as they are in 1905. This
will be true even of the cotton rails.
ers, for the money value of 1905's
100000 or 100000 bale crop will
pr obably be fully as great, at the pre-
vailing prices, as was that of the rec
Ordbreaking 14,OOO,0OObale yield of
1904.
In most of the other great product
i've activities we are likewise making
new records. The output of iron for
1905 will be 22,5O0,0OO tons, as com.
pared with 16,500,000 tons in 1904, and
1S,00O,O00 in 1903, year which held
the record till 1905. Our iron and
steel production for 1905 will exceed
that of Great Britain and Germany
combined, which are our nearest COM
pettors. The present pig iron produc.
ton in this country is at the rate of
24,OOO,OO0 tons a year, showing a
large gain in the past few months,
and indicating also that 1906 is likely
to beat 1905. In 1904 the country's
coal production, which has just been
ascertained officially, was 351 100000
tons, as compared with 232,OOO,OOO
tons for Great Britain, which is the
second country on the list. The fig
ules CLEANED thus far show that 1905
will make higher score in coal out
put in the United States than did 1904
We see all these activities reflected
in the country's commerce, internal
and external. The calendar year 1905,
as indicated by the figures which have
been given out at Washington month
by month, will show the largest vol.
ume of exports and imports ever re-
corded. The gain in exports of manu-
features, which are the real test of
| Cue COuulTy as All industrial uaJlOu,
is particularly gratifying, showing
that last years unexampled shipments
are to be left behind in the present
year. The shipments of freight by
way of the 500 canals, which are by
far the busiest of the worlds artifi.
cial waterways, aggregated 38,O0O.OO0
net tons to November l, which is sew
eral millions ahead of any entire pre-.
vious seasons movement. The 100000
900 mark is likely to be reached be.
fore navigation is closed by ice. AS
a consequence of the largely increased
traffic railroad earnings are at high.
err mark than has ever previously
been touched. The only drawback to
our activities now is the lack of trans.
portation facilities. None of the big
railways are able to handle all the
business that is offered them, and al.
though they are extending and improv'
ing their equipments as rapidly as the
work can be DONE they are still be-
hind hand in freight moving. The
United States in 1905 is riding high
on the prosperity wave.