Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-03
The American Farmer.

of the American farm. The figures are
fairly staggering in their immensely
and reach a point where they mean but
little to the average mind unless used
in the form of comparison. For in
stance, we are told that the American
farmers marvellous store of riches won
from the soil in the year just ended
reach the total of 1874 OO0, 600. This
exceeds the record breaking product of
last year by 1924, 100000. The farmers
are the real plutocrats and autocrats of
the land today.
Whatever else may be the cause of
the movement from the country to the
cities, it isn't the unproductiveness of
the farms nor the appropriateness of
farming. Probably among no other
class of citizens has there been such an
advance in the material comforts and
the general prosperity as among the
farmers.
The total value of the farm proper
ties Of the United States is estimated
by Secretary Wilson's department at
$4,000, 100000. This is an increase Of
$4,000, Ooo 900 since 1900. It is more than
twice the capitalization Of all the rail-
roads of the United States, and four
and a half times their real value. The
earnings of the farms for the year
amounted to nearly three times the net
earnings of all the railroads.
Not only are the American farms the
foundation of the domestic plenty that
pervades the land. but they are the
source Of the nations credit abroad.
The foreign balance due the United
States on agricultural products for the
fiscal year of 1906 is $433, 600 900 while
the balance on all other classes of eX
ports is only sS5,0000O0. In the last
seventeen years the American farmer
has kept piled up the enormous credit
of six billions Of dollars, while the
manufacturer has a balance against
him Of s459, COO,O 900. During the year
1906 the exports of agricultural
products touched the high-water mark
OF 1916. OOO. 0G0. or $24, 100000 more than
the exports of the previous record year,
which was 1901.
Secretary Wilson notes the fact that
the chief increase in the value of farm
products during the year was in horses
ard meat cattle. The value of the
farm animals is placed at si,000OOO, 900,
a gain of a full billion since 1900. The
domestic animals of the farm number
it is est imatcd by the department,
which is January 1. Strictly beef cat
fourth Of the total, and dairy cows and
draft animals each about one-tcnth.
The crops about balanced with the
previous year. The greatest crop was
corn, as usual, its value being $l,100,-
600 900. Corn is king. Next in lire
came cotton, with a total of $500
OOO while hay, much ignored by writer's
on national wealth, was produced to
tie value of $500. 900 900. Wheat, with
IA total If $50. 100000, showed a falling
off of about 1000. 900 An astonishing
result is reported in the beet sugar in
dustry, which amounted to $4,000, 600
against 100000 seven years ago. AS
showing the preponderance of the
United States in cotton. the report
points out that the product Of Texas
alone is greater than that of British In
dia, and three times that of Egypt,
while it is half as much again as the
entire crop OF the rest of the world out
side of the United States, India and
Egypt.
AS to how the farmer has used his
suryl earnings, Secretary Wilson
says: 1.-THE farmers standard of living
is rising higher and higher. The COM
mon things Of his farm go to the city
to become luxuries. He is becoming 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 become the craving of his nerves,
nor his ideal of the everyday pleasures
of life. A new dignity has come to
agriculture, along with its economic
strength; and the farmer has a new
horizon, far back of that of his prairie
and his mountains, which is more
promising than the skyline of the
city"
A more scientific agriculture, the
Secretary says, would have raised
crops in excess Of the demands; but,
when consumption demands and prices
sustain. the farmer will respond, for
the doors of knowledge and example
are opening wider to him. No miracle
would be required to double. or even
treble, the production of cotton per
acre The corn crOp can be increa Sc