Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1908-12-25
FARMERS ARE VERY
PROSPEROUS NOW

Concerning the farm production o
1908, he says that the farmer ha
created wealth by the billions. Pro
duction has been above the averag,
OF recent years with few exceptions
and while some prices have fallen
ohers have risen.
The farm value of all farm pro
ducts Of 1908 reaches the most ex
traordinary total in the Nations his
tory - s777S,000,000. This /,
about four times the value of tn,
products of the mines, includins
mineral, oils and precious metals
The farmer contributes 81 per CEN
of the raw materials used in thos,
manufacturing industries which de
pend mostly or considerably upon ag
ricultural materials, and these indus
tries use AZ per cent of all materials
used in all industries.
The gain in value of farm products
in 1908 over 1907 is s290,O00, ,00C
and would have been much larger
had not the prices of cotton and hay
been low. The value of products In
1899, the census year, being taken
at 100, the value OF 1903 stands at
1925; for 1904, at 1871; for 1905, at
1874; for 1906, at 143; for 1907, at
l59; and for 1908, at 165. During
the las ten years the wealth produc-
ton on the farms of this country has
exceeded the fabulous sum of $780,
900, 100000.
The corn crop this year is 2,643,-
100000 bushels, valued at s1,615,-
100000. Compared with the aver
age of the preceding FIVE years the
quantity is per cent higher and the
value 43 per cent higher.
The cotton crop is likely to be one
of the three highest ever produced,
with value next to the highest, or
perhaps more.
The greatest hay crop in history
has been gathered this year, 6S,000,-
600 tons, or twelve per cent above
the average of the preceding FIVE
years. Its farm vaue is $621,O0O,-
900, or per cent above the fve-
year average.
Wheat is / " per cent above the
fve-year average in production and
2S above in total value. The &c.,
100000 bushels are estimated to be
worth $620.0O0.ooO to the farmers,
or $4,000, 900 more than the most
valuable wheat crop heretofore pro-
duced.
The oat crop is worth 3321,000,-
600 for 100000 bushels, or 10
per cent above the five-year average
value and per cent below the aver
age product.
The barley crop. 10000, 900 bush
els, is 13 per cent above the five
year average and its value, $4,000
900, is 23 per cent above. Both
have been exceeded only once.
Rye in value is $4,000, 900, IT
per cent above the average.
All cereals aggregate 1929, 9,000,-
600 bushels, total that has been
exceeded three times, but the value
reaches s2,694,0O0,O00. or more
than 5000, 100000 above that of
1907. and exceeds still more the to-
tails OF former years Compared
with the preceding five years, the
number OF bushels is higher by OF
per cent and the value is higher by
32 per cent.
Nearly 100000 short tons Of beet
sugar will probably be made from
the crop of this year. and the factory
value is about s45.00O,O0O. About
407. 900 short tons OF raw cane sugar
were produced.
Unfavorable weather made the po-
tato crop only 100000 bushels.
Or per cent below the 5-year aver
age, although the value, 100000
900, is IS per cent above and was
never equaled.
On account OF the extremely low
price OF hops in 1907, the average
production and value OF 1908 are
low and have been exceeded in many
former years.
For the first time, this year, the
value of all farm crops equals s5,-
O00,O00.000. Although the farmer
gets hardly 20 cents a pound for his
outter. between and cents a quart
for his milk. and about " cents for
each egg, yet the value OF the farm
products of the dairy COW is getting
close to $500, 900, 900, and the value
Of the eggs ana poultry is as much
as the cotton crop. seed included, or
the nay crop. or the wheat crop.
The extraordinary prosperity OF the
followii 3 their low financial
condition dozen years ago and ear
lier has enabled them to pay higher
wages for farm labor than before.