Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1907-09-19
BARRIER AGAINST
HARD TIMES
High Price Of Farm Products
Mean General Pros.
perity.

States have risen in value an average
of 80 per cent since 1900. This is a
natural thing, and as it should be.
The Increased value in the southern
and wetsern states has averaged over
40 per cent, and in certain localities
has reached nearly SO per cent in
seven years. The Department of
Agriculture gives as reasons: the
scracity of free land, and pressure of
population; good roads; the move
ment of towns-people to the country;
better and cheaper transportation
and market facilities; and better
cultural methods, resulting in the
improvement of the soil itself.
We have not heard that the farm
ers as q rule are doing very much
Dragging: so far as we know, they
are not posing as the country's S
sinews Of War, and it's refuge in time
of distress; but evidences are null
tiplying that they would be justih-
ed in so doing. Last year the official
estimate of the value Of farm pro-
ducts in the United States was
placed at s6, 1874, 100000. The crop
prospects for the present year are not
quite SO good as in 1906, but all
things point toward the harvesting
of enough of the four greater crops,
wheat. corn. oats and cotton-to
raise the aggregate value of all farm
products as high as.the total of last
year, and doubtless higher. In other
words, the cash value Of our argicul-
tural products in 1907 will probably
exceed seven billion dollars. Un-
favorable weather during part of the
season has cut down the grain yield ;
but the world shortage has resulted
in much higher prices. Moreover.
the tendency toward higher values of
all products, commodities and real
property. is beneficial to agriculture.
The cause of the general advance is
somewhat imperfectly understood:
but without doubt it is at least part
ly owing to the Increased production
of gold and the consequent lessening
Of the purchasing power of the
metal
Financial journals. government
reports, and high authorities gener-
ally have been suggesting the posi-
bility of depressed financial and in.
dustrial conditions throughout tho
country :but these predictions are in.
variably qualified by summing ut
of the steadying and consoling in.
fuences of agricultural values. Farm
prodc2ts are on the increase, they
say, and therefore the country!
capacity to endure business reverse:
is tremendously strong. AS one
journal has recently put it: "Ameri
can agriculture as now organized an(
entrenched, is industrially, com
mercially and financially veritabl'
sea wall against which neither thu
high tide of panic nor the low tide
of depression can have any de
moraliiZng influence, If a new, bas
line of values is to be laid down a
a condition of new start. the soun|
condition of the farming indutstr
will show where the line lies.
I Truly, it must have dignifying an
ennobling effect upon the argicultu1
ist to realize that he is so vital
factor.
An enumeration of all the element
comprised in the list of agriculture
products would require a deal {
space. Within the United States W
can raise the products of almos
every climate in the world. and ou
wonderful prosperity is due in pal
to the fact that we are rapidly NAL
ing all the markets of the wor]
our own. 10 mention on
or two instances: half a decaC
!. ago America was practical
unknown in the field of rice produ'
ling. Now the raising and export;
tion of rice is a growing factor
our agriculture: the quality Of tf
grain is unsurpassed: and in the fe
brief years our production has juml
ed from almost nothing to figure
beyond those of five other rice grow
a ing countries. America now holt
fourth place in rice production
Another item is the raising and e,
porJation of fruits and nuts, "a ne
line for Americans. And yet S35
900, 900 Worth Of these products ";
exported last year, while the hon
consumption is enormously on tt
increase as we'll. We have becon
4 accustomed to boast of our ire
# mines and the enormous prOducti(