Gilpin observer., 1908-12-17
REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE SHOWS YEAR
OF REMARKABLE PROS.
PERITY.
TOTAL BREAKS RECORD
NEARLY EIGHT BILLION DOLLARS
PLACED TO CREDIT OF
FARM WORKERS.

years of service as head of the depart
ment. the secretary of agriculture in
his twelfth anual report to the Presi
dent, just issued, renders a compre-
hensive account of his stewardship and
presents review of the progress of
agriculture in the United States DUR
Ing this period. Concerning the farm
production of 1908, he says the
farmer has created wealth by the bill
lions.
The farm value of all farm products
of 1908 reaches the most extraordinary
total in the nations history-$7,77S,-
100000. This is about four times the
value of the products of the mines,
including mineral oils and precious
metals.
The gain in value of farm products
In 1908 over 1907 is $500, 100000 and
would have been much larger had not
the prices of cotton and hay been low
The value of products in 1899, the cen
sus year, being taken at 100, the value
for 1903 stands at 1925; for 1904. at
131; for 1905, at 1874; for 1906, at 143;
for 1907, at 159, and for 1908 at 165
During the last ten years the weu.; n
production of the farmer of this coun.
tryl has exceeded the fabulous sum of
$50, ,OOO,OOO,OO0.
Corn-Greatest of all crops is In
dian corn, whose production this year
is 2,643,000,0O0 bushels. The value of
this crop is $1.615, 100000. This
wealth, grown out of the soil in four
months Of rain. sunshine and some
drought, is enough to cancel the inter-
est-bearing debt of the United States
and to pay for the Panama canal and
fifty battleships. This crop is worth
this year nearly as much as the great
crops of cotton. hay and wheat COM
bined. Compared with the averages of
the preceding five years the quantity
is per cent. higher and the value 43
per cent higher.
Hay-The greatest hay crop in his
tory has been gathered this year, 6S,-
100000 tons, or II per cent. above the
average of the preceding five years.
Its price is 50 per ton less than it was
a year ago, but still the farm value OF
the crop is 1921. 900 900, or 6 per cent.
above the five-year average.
Wheat-Wheat is l " per cent above
the five-year average in production and
23 per cent. above it's total value. Tie
$50, 100000 bushels of this crop are es-
timated to be worth 62O,OOO.OO0 to the
farmers, or 66,000,00O more than the
most valuable wheat crop heretofore
produced.
Oats and other cereals-Although
the oat crop suffered from drought the
value is 1921, ,0OO, 900 for $4,000, 900
bushels, or 10 per cent. above the five
year average value and per cent. be-
low the average product.
The barley crop, 167 100000 bushels.
Is IS per cent. above the five-year av-
erage and its value, $s6.OOOO,OOO, is 23
per cent. above. Both have been ex-
ceeded only once.
Rye remains in the notch that 1t has
occupied in production in recent years,
but its value, $22. .0O0. 900, is II per cent.
above the average.
All cereals-All cereals aggregate T..
329, 100000 bushels, total that has
been exceeded three times, but the
value reaches $2.694.000,000 or more
than $500 ,OO0, 900 above that Of 1907.
and exceeds still more the totals Of for
iper years. Compared withthe preced-
ing five years, the number Of bushels
is higher by or per cent. and the value
is higher by 80 per cent.
Sugar beets and cane-The sugar
beet crop has never been SO large nor
so valuable as 1t is this year. The
rapid development Of this crop for
sugar making appears in the statement
that the production Of beets in 1908
is 45 per cent. above the average of
five years.
The plantation value OF sugar cane,
tory products, is estimated to be 1884,
000, 900, a value exceeded only in 1904,
and greater than the five-year average
by 10 per cent, nearly 100000 short
tons Of beet sugar will probably be
made from the crop of this year, and
the factory value Of this and OF the
beet pulp is about $45,000,000. About
100000 short tons OF raw cane sugar
were produced this year, an amount
perceptibly greater than the high pro-
duction figures of four or five former
years.
The sugar beet and sugar cane crops
. are together worth about $4,000. 900 to
the grower. The sugar made from
cane and beets. the beet pulp. the sy.
rup and molasses OF cane and sorghum
and the maple sugar and syrup, It is es'
timated. are worth this year $4,000,
900.
Potatoes - Unfavorable weather
made the potato crop only 275.000, ,000
bushels. or per cent. below the five.
year average. although the value, $500,
OO0. 600 IA 1S per cent above and II