The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-01-17


Farm crops for 1905 are worth more
than the value Of the manufactures of
five years ago, not counting the mate
rails used. They represent several
times the gross earnings of all the
railroads In the United States.
IAN occupation that produces such
bewildering figures is deserving of
more than passing attention. A few
years ago the man who tills the 6,0O0,-
| 600 farms In the United States was
called 'hayseed' or RUDE Today he
stands head and shoulders above his
fellow coworkers in other vocations,
but we never hear him speak disre-
specially of any one. He is the mas
ter Of the situation. Wall street con-
suits him and measures the successes
Of the year by the contents Of the
farmers granaries.
1.-THE man behind the pillow has deliv-
cred his goods for 1905 and bids every
body a happy New Year. His grana-
ries are bullying to overlooking, his Gel
lars are packed and his larder is stored
| with the necessities of life. He asks
aims from no man. He feeds the
world, reserving first enough for him
self and family. No one dare deny
the fact that the prosperity and well
fare of the United States are init
mately associated with the wonderful
| achievements of the American farmer.
He has pushed ahead, keeping pace
with the times. In ten years, from
| 1890 to 1900, he increased the value of
his products nearly 90 per cent, but
! the most marvellous advances have
| been made during the last five years
From products valued at $3,742,
| 100000 in 1899 he advanced to $780,
100000 in 1903 and $4,000, 100000 one
year later. 1t is by no means admitted
I that these figures represent the full
value Of the farm products. Besides
the value Of his products the real es-
tate values of the farms have increas-
ed over SO per cent in five years.
During the last few years the Amer
lean farmer has accumulated larger
sums Of money than ever before. In
so generous that the rate Of interest
was forced down. Alert to these con-
ditions, the farmer has now larger
! sums in permanent investment than
ever before. He has shown his capac-
ity as q financier; he is founding many
rural banks, a movement Of no unsta-
BILE character.
"For the first time in the banking
history Of the south there are deposits
in excess of $1,000, 100000. The man
with one hand on the pillow keeps the
other on the combination of the vault
| containing his cash or securities. What
the future has in store for the Ameri-
can farmer no man can tell, but one
tking is sure-he never turns back. He
goes straight ahead and nothing can
| change his belief that his is not the
best and safest Of all vocatiOns. He
is no longer a tiller, but supreme
master Of the soil.
"FarmhOuses are connected with tel
ephones as never before. Isolation is
thing of the past Modern equipment
and furnishings make his home the
best in the world. His children are
offered improved opportunities for edu-
cation; the rural delivery brings to his
door daily literature Of the highest
class; he is q ravenous reader. AS MS
power to purchase increases his ap-
proaches the most comfortable ana
homo
an the production of these immense
crops the farmer faced peculiar condl-
tons. His fields were not always COW
cred with sunshine and his pathway
was not strewn with roses. The early
mart of the season was beset with many
adverse circumstances that tried the
iron heart Of the sturdy plowman. How
ever. this extraordinary harvest was
not so much due to meteorological con-
dittons as to the skill, energy and sci
entific methods pursued by the farmers
! themselves. There is no place III the
world where agricultural practices
have reached so high a scale of develop
ment as in the United States
1.-THE American farmer has not been
handicapped by the traditions Of cen
turtles as have the farmers Of the old
world. He has been steadily hoeing
his own row. With the help of the gov
eminent and state experts at the agri-
cultural colleges and experiment sta
lions and the dissemination Of scientific
acknowledgement the exchange Of practical
experiences through the agricultural
press the farmers have advanced more
rapidly in technical, specific and prac-
teal knowledge than any other class.
A generation ago a season no more ia
vorable than that experienced in 1903,
from a meteorological standpoint, would
have resulted in only a moderate crop
Weld. far short Of the present magnif-
cent showing.
although nature was by no means III
q generous mood the past season, our
farmers have wrested from her results
that would have been impossible, even
under the most favored conditions, in
! ~ I'm 80. .,rrl, s1rrfy.r