The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-11-29
REPORT OF WILSON
PROSPERITY PROOF
American Farmer Richest Glass of
Nation, According to r.
Figures. H.
WONDERFUL FACTS
IN BOOK LIKE FICTION
Modern Agriculturist Owns Au:
tomobile and Is Prominent
in Finance.
BY w. w. Jermane, Colorado Building
NaSbin1fon n

BY w. w. Jermane, Colorado Building,
Washington, D. C.. II
Washington, Nov. 29.-The tenth an
nual report OF Secretary Wilson of the
department. Of agriculture was handed
to the nation today, and no such tale
OF wealth in glittering heaps of gold
ever was told before The American
farmer, as proved by the figures collect.
ed by Secretary Wilson and guaranteed
TO De genuine and reliable, is the rich
est Individual, collectively, if you can
imagine that combination, in all the
history OF ancient and modern times
In the aggregate the American farmer
makes an entire lot full, of John D.
Rockefellers look like small change.
There are farmers in this country
who ride about their business in their
own automobiles. and farmers who are
presidents of national banks, and farm
ers who are railroad directors, and 9th
ers who are in manufacturing and com
MERGE in various lines on a large scale.
and nearly all of their great prosperity
mas come to them in the past few
years.
Loads Fleets of Ships.
=, With his surplus far beyond the ma
ton 8 needs, the farmer has loaded the
fleets of the ocean, and during the past
year he has sold to the people of
other countries produce to the fabulous
value of $976,000,000, all of which for
eign money he is figuratively iingling
IN his clothes. AS matter of fact.
the exports of farm products exceeded
the imports of similar nature by $433,-
100000, which sum indicates the So
called balance of trade in our favor,
and this sum was placed to the national
Scredlt abroad and, the money borrowed
by the various industries in this coun-
try for the purpose of increasing their
capital. Hence, the American farmer
mas done more than any one else to fur
nlsh the cash with which the present
phenomenal tide Of prosperity is main
tanned
Farms Worth s22,745,O 100000.
The farm lands of the United States
ct the present time are valued at $22,-
$4,000, 900, an increase of over $6,0OO,-
100000 since the census was taken in
1900. The total value of all the farm
lands, the domestic animals thereon,
the. capital needed to do the farming
business and the implements and ma
efhinery in use is given by the secretary
at the enormous sum of $28.O00,0O0,OO0
Taken at that point in production at
which they acquire commercial value,
the farm products of the past year have
a farm value of .$6,794, 900. 900, or about
"a per cent on the investment. What
share of this is net profit the secretary
has no figures to show, and probably
nothing reliable could be collected on
that feature OF the business, since each
farmers profits are so greatly depen-
dent upon his individual methods and
efforts. But a gross return Of "a per
cent Is more than most other old and
established lines of business expect or
ask.
Corn Is the King.
In the order of their value, corn
stands first, as, it hos for many years,
among the crops raised, the estimate
on corn for this year being $1,1OO,OOO,-
goo. Cotton comes next at $64O,O00,0O0,
put the secretary warns the spectators
that they will have to guess at what
proportion is due to cotton fiber, the
sum, stated being the estimate for the
whole crop, including seed produced
and, while the department. has an esti-
mate of the fiber end of it. mum IS the
word as far as the secretary is con-
IS greater than that of all India and
almost three times that of Egypt The
third great crop is hay, valued at 5000
GOO, 900, altho it is short this year 5000
900 tons.
Wheat comes fourth at $45O,OOO, 900,
and then follow oats at $30O,OO0,O0O,
potatoes $15O,oOO,OoO, barley sos 900,
$34 600, 000-cane, $4l 100000, faxseed
$25,oo0,OoO, rice $4,000, 600, rye ST.
100000, hops 100000. =
Yield Less; Values Greater.
In a number of these crops the GUAM
tity raised has not been as large this
year as in previous years, but the value
has almost invariably been greater, ow-
ing to the higher prices of this
blessed time. And so the secretary
sits upon his lofty eminence of dollar
marks, and casting benevolent eve
upon the comparative poverty of the
other branches Of the national govern
ment says. Having produced fabu-
lous wealth during the year and having
sent to foreign countries enough to pay
the interest bearing national debt, the
farmer may now take account of his
farming capital.''
Of the slip-shod, wasteful, careless
farming of the past centuries in Amer
lea and justifes it on the ground that
the country has always produced more
than enough to satisfy the demands of
the consumer. But he adds that as
fast as the demands Of the world call
for more the American farmer will be
Cne!e WIN IHe ROOuS, ana LnaC WlCnOuC
an increase of acreage.
Still Chance for Increase.
"a more scientific agriculture he
says, 'fwould have produced wheat that
no one wanted to eat, corn to store
and perhaps burn, and cotton not
worth picking, but if the need for it
were to become manifest the cotton
planter could treble the present yield,
the corn crop could be increased by
one-half, the wheat crop the same, and
likewise with many other crops. The
farmer will not fail the nation if the
nation does not fail the farmer BY
this the secretary plainly means that
the department. Of agriculture is ready
to educate the farmer to raise the in
creased crops as fast as there is need
for it, and will continue to be ready
to- do so as long as the present policy
is in force-that is, so long as the
Isnation does not fail the farmer
Under this head the secretary says: y
The yearly expenditure of $4,000
goo for educational and research work
by nation and states, with such in
crease as may come from time to time,
must have enormous effects. There may
be apricu1tnral schools for ol;i