The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-12-15
WEALTH OF FARMS
PASSES ALL RECORDS
They Producedl S7,77S,OOO,OOO
in 1903.
FABULOUS RETURNS IN 10 YEARS
The Value of Corn Alone Was ST.
615, 100000, Enough to Pay the
Interest Bearing Debt and Build
the Canal.

Interest Bearing Debt and Build
the Canal.
Washington, D. G. Billions of
bushels of farm products, valued at
extraordinary total of $7,77S,000,-
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 in 1907, Secretary Will
son declares, was four times the
value of the products of the mines,
including mineral oils and precious
metals.
"The farmer, he said, Contrib
utes eighty-seven per cent. of the raw
material used in those manufacturing
industries which depend mostly or
considerably upon agricultural mate
rails, and those industries use forty
two per cent. of all materials used in
all industries"
John ID. Rockefeller may be the
richest man in the world, and his in
come may run up into the millions,
but as a mathematician he can hardly
be placed in the same class with Sec
rotary Wilson, who deals with bill
lions and scarcely mentions millions
in discussing the farm productions in
this country.
THE value of farm products in
1905" says Secretary Wilson, lis ST.
O23, 100000 over that of 1906, ST.
469, 100000 above that of 1905, ST.
100000 above that of 1904, ST.
S61, 100000 above that of 1909 and
$3,061, 100000 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 country has exceeded the fabu-
lous amount of $50, 000,0 100000. 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
ten the value for 1903 stands at 1875,
for 1904 at 131, for 1905 at 1874, for
1905 at 143, for 1907 at 159 and for
1908 at 1855"
1.-THE value of the corn crop almost
surpasses belief" 70 quote Secretary
Wilson Corn to the enormous guam
tity of 2,643, 100000 bushels, valued
at $1,615, 100000 was produced in
the United States in 1908. Secretary
Wilson observes that this wealth has
grown out of the soil in 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 the Panama
Canal and fifty battleships,
While the figures are not all at
hand, Secretary Wilson says that the
indications are that the value of the
cotton crop for the first time will
probably exceed the value of the hay
crop. Sixty-eight million tons of hay,
valued at 1921, 100000, were raised
during the year. The wheat, amount
ing to 660,000,000 bushels, was val
ued at 1921, 100000. Seven hundred
and eighty-nine million bushels of
oats, valued at 1921, 100000, were
raised. The quantity and value Of
other crops are given as follows:
Barley, 1877, 900, 900 bushels, worth
$S6,000,000; rye, 100000 bush.
els, worth $22, 900, 900; rice, 23,000,-
900 bushels, worth SIS, 100000; po-
tatoes, 275,000,000 bushels, worth
$4,000, 900. The total quantity OF
cereals produced was 4,329,000,000
bushels, valued at $2,694, 1000.
ITO the farmer, who has averaged
| hardly twenty cents pound for the
butter he has sold, between three and
| four cents a quart for his milk and
| about one and one-half cents for each
egg, and even to the consumer, who
| has paid prices much above these,
says Mr.. Wilson, it is striking fact
| that. the value of the farm products
| of the dairy COW are getting closer
and closer to 100000 and that
| the eggs and poultry produced on the
farm are worth as much as the cotton
| crop, seed included, or the hay crop
| or the wheat crop"
Secretary Wilson asserts that in the
aggregate the value of farm animals
sold and slaughtered and of animal
| products at the farm amounts ia
| about three-eighths of the value of all
| farm products, estimated upon the
census basis. This value is getting
closer and closer to the three billion
| dollar mark, he adds
The balance of trade in agricultural
| products is very largely in favor Of
the United States, according to Secre-
| tary Wilson, who says
"The exports of domestic farms il
| 1908 being worth SLIT, 100000, the
| exports of foreign products being over
| $10,000,000 and the imports OF farm
| products being $40, 1000, 900, bal
ance of international trade in favor
of the farm products of this country
| results in the enormous value of
| $48S,000, 1000"