Evening journal., 1908-12-15
GREAT VALUE OF
FARM PRODUCTS
Secretary Wilson Can Express
It Only in the
Billions

WASHINGTON, Dec 15.-Billions Of
bushels OF farm products, valued at
the extraordinary total of S7,77s. .O0O.-
600. were produced in the United
States in the fiscal year 1908. accord
ing to the annual report Of the Secre-
tary Of Agriculture. The value Of farm
products last year. Secretary Wilson
declares. was four times the value of
the products of the mines. including
mineral oils and precious metals.
THE farmer" he said, contributes
s. per cent. of the raw material used
in those manufacturing industries
which depend mostly or considerably
upon agricultural materials. and those
Industries use 40 per cent. Of all ma
terials used i'm all industries"
The value of farm products in
190s.' says Secretary Wilson. rs ST.
023.O00.00O over that of 1906. S1.469.-
100000 above that of 1905 Si.61e0OO.-
600 above that of 1904. 1861. 600 900
above that of 1908 and S3.061. 900 900
above the census amount Of 1900"
Then Secretary Wilson makes this
statement:
During the last ten years the wealth
production Of the farms of this coun-
try has exceeded the fabulous amount
Of $50 600, 900 600. A simple series Of
index numbers shows the progressive
movement of wealth production by the
farmer in another form. The value of
farm products in 1899. the census year.
being taken at 10 the value for 1908
stands at 125. for 1904 at 1871 for 1905
at 1874. for 1906 at 143. for 1907 at 159
and for 1908 at 1865"
THE value Of the corn crop almost
surpasses belief" to quote Secretary
Wilson. Corn 10 the enormous guam
tity Of 2,643.O00 900 bushels, valued at
S1.615O00.000. was produced in the
United States in the year. Secretary
Wilson observes that this wealth has
grown out of the soil I'm four months
of rain and sunshine and some drought
TOO. and that it is enough to cancel the
interest bearing debt of the country
and to pay for Panama Canal and fifty
battleshps.
While the figures are not all at hand
Secretary Wilson says that the indi-
cations are that the value of the cot
ton crop for the first time will prob
ablye exceed the value OF the hay crop
Sixty eight million tons OF hay. valued
at S621O00,000. were raised during th'
year. The wheat. amounting to $780,,
100000 bushels. was valued at 1921.
100000 Seven hundred and eighty
nine million bushels Of oats, valued a
S32100O.O00. were salsed.
ITO the farmer. who has averaged
hardly twenty cents a pound for tn
butter he has sold. between three an'
four cents a quart for his milk ant
about one and one-half cents for eacl
egg and even TO the consumer. wh
has paid prices much above these.
SAYS Mr.. Wilson. ut is striking fac
that the value Of the farm products o
the dairy COW are getting closer an,
closer to SsO0.OOO,O 900 and that the egg
and poultry produced on the farm ar
worth as much as the cotton cror
seed included. or the hay crop or tn
wheat crop"
Secretary Wilson asserts that in tn
aggregate the value of farm animal
sold and slaughtered and OF anime
products at the farm amounts 70 abou
three eighths OF the value OF all farm
products. estimated upon the censu
basis. This value is getting closer an
closer TO the three billion dollar mari
he adds.