Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-01-24

rics are bUlging TO overlooking. his eel
lars are packed and his harder is stored
with the necessities of life. He asks
aims from no man. He feeds the
| world, reserying 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 producs; valued at S3,142,
100000 in 1899 he advanced to $3.50
100000 in 1903 and $4,000, 100000 one
year later 1t is by no means admitted
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 ye2e;.
During the last few years the Amer
lean farmer has accumulated larger
sums Of money than ever before. In
many sections his deposits have been
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 fnancier; he is founding many
rural banks. Il movement of no unsta-
bic character.
For the first time in the banking
history of the south there are deposits
in excess of $1,000, 900. 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
thing 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 Il supreme
master Of the soil.
Living Better.
''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 eiu-
cation; the rural delivery brings to his
door daily literature of the highest
class; he is a ravenous reader. AS his
power to purchase increases his APP
proaches the most comfortable and
happy ideal American home.
In the production of these immense
crops the farmer faced peculiar condi-
lions. His fields were not always Gov
cred with sunshine and his pathway
was not strewn with roses. The early
part 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-
ditions as to the skill. energy and sci
cntific methods pursued by the farmers
themselves. There is no place in the
world where agricultural practices
have reached so high Il scale of develop
ment as in the United States.
THE American farmer has not been
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
tons and the dissemination of scientific
the exchange of practical
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 1905. |
from meteorological standpoint. would |
have resulted in only moderate crop |
yield, far short of the present magnifi- !
cent showing.
Although nature was by no means in
1 generous mood the past season, our
farmers have wrested from her results
hat would have been impossible. even
Under the most favored conditions. in
he days Of their sires or grandsres."