The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-12-19

The wear was a rather bad one for
cane sugar. but in spite of this the
total production of beet and cane
sugar slightly exceeded the highest
preyious figure, although in value of
sugar the year stands second. The
value of all kinds of sugar, syrup
and molasses reaches a total of S75,-
600 900. second only to 1904, which
was cane sugars best year.
Farm products continue to be so
far beyond the national requirements
that the farm still overshadows the
mill. the factory and the workshop
in providing exports. With his sur
plus beyond the nations need, the
farmer has loaded the fleets of the
oceans. These products We're eX-
ported to the value of 1915, 100000
during the fiscal year ending June
80. 19O6-enough to build high
class railroad half way around the
earth. This is the largest amount
ever reached by agricultural exports
for this or any other country, and
exceeded by $24,000,000 the extra
ordinary value of 1901, which had
previously been the record year.
Cotton maintains its long lead
over other chief exports, with a value
of s401,OOO,OOO for 3,634,OOO,OOO
pounds, so that the latest year was
exceeded only by 1898, 1899 and
1905 in quantity exported; but in
value of exported cotton the figures
for 1906 are 19,600,000 higher
than for 1905, which was previously
the record year, and $29, 100000
higher than for 1904, which was
third in order in the value of these
exports.
The imports as we'll as the exports
of agricultural products reached their
highest value in 1906, when the
amount was 1854, 100000, or less
than one-fourth of million dollars
over the value of 1905, which was
then the highest record. The prin-
cipal increases over 1905 in these
imports were $20,000,000 for pack
ing house products, almost entirely
composed of hides, skins, hair and
bristles, and $4,40O,000 for tobacco
Farmer Keeps Nations Credit.
The so-called balance of trade in
the international exchange of agri-
cultural commodities continues to
run in favor of this country by an
enormous amount; for 1906 the ag-
imports by S433,000,000, an amount
which places this year with the seven
high years beginning with 1898 and
much above the balance of 1905.
While the farmer placed to the
national credit in other countries
S433. 100000 in 1906, other pro-
ducers, all included, secured a bal
ance in favor of this country OF only
$50, 100000
Having produced fabulous wealth
during the year, and having sent to
foreign countries out OF the wealth.
of the preceding year enough to pay
the interest-bearing national debt,
the farmer may now take account OF
his farming capital. The large rate
of increase in its value since 1900
is not a mere matter of higher price
level and higher land values.
The farm real estate, as ascer-
tanned by this department last year,
! increased in value Sc, 131 100000
since the census year, or enough to
raise the census value to S22, 49,
! 100000. Domestic animals were
worth $2,979, 100000, according to
! the census enumerators, and now
they are estimated to be worth more
| than 81 ,UUU,UUO, UUO.
! If real estate, domestic animals,
other live stock and implements and
machinery are combined, the farm
ers' capital as composed OF these
items has increased by perhaps $8,-
! 0O0,OOO,O00 since the census valua-
ton, or about 40 per cent, and now
amounts to perhaps $2S,OOO,OOO,-
| 600.
The domestic animals of the farm
number about 100000 at the
time for which it is estimated by the
department, which is January l..
Strictly beef cattle, sheep and swine
are each one-fourth of the total, and
dairy COWS and draft animals each
about one-tenth.
The meat production of 1900, in
terms of dressed weight and weight
of edible parts not included in
dressed, weight, was 10, $3.50, 900
pounds, or 1868 per cent, were eX-
ported, so that the national consump-
ton was 1878, 295, 900 pounds.
How Farmer Uses Wealth.
AS to how the farmer has used his
surplus earnings, Secretary Wilson
says:
The farmers standard of living is
rising nlSn6f anu higher ING Colh
mon things of his farm go to the
lefty to become Injuries. He is be-
coming a traveller; and he has his
telephone and his daily mail and
newspaper. His life is healthful to
body and sane to mind, and the noise
and fever of the city have not be-
come the craving of his nerves, nor
his ideal of the everyday pleasures
his life. A new dignity has come to
agriculture along with its economic
strength: and the farmer has new
horizon far back of that of his prai-
RE and his mountains, which is more
promising than the skyline of the
city.
Farmers Progressive.
A more scientific agriculture, the
secretary says, would have raised
crops in excess of the demands; but.
when consumption demands and
Driooc cuc4ain the farmer will re-