The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1908-12-17
AdDance
In The Nation.
Is One of Great Strides as.
Shown BY Secretary's
Annual Report.

| WASHINGTON. d. C., Dec. If
After twelve years of service as head
OF the department, sthe secretary of
agriculture in his twelfth annual re-
port to the President. Issued today,
renders q comprehensive account OF
his stewardship and presents a re-
view of the progress OF agriculture
in the United States during that
period Concerning the farm pro-
duction Of 1905, he says that the
farmer has created wealth by the ;bil-
lions. Production has been above
the average of recent years with fey
exceptions: and, while some prices
have fallen. others have risen.
The farm value of all farm pro-
ducts of 1908 reaches the most ex-
Extraordinary total in the nations his
tory-s7, 77s, 900 900. The farmer
contributes 81 per cent. of the raw
material used in those manufactur-
ing industries which depend mostly
or considerably upon agricultural
materials.
The gain in value OF farm products
In 910S over 1907 Is $29GO00,0p0
and would have been much larger
had not the prices of cotton and hay
been low.
Greatest OF all crops isa Indian
corn, whose production this year IS
2,64s. 100000 bushels. The ltvaiue .of
this crop is s1.615.O00. 900. compar-
cdswith the average OF the preceding
five years the quantity Is 9 per cent.
higher and the value AZ per cent.
higher.
~ iii. nY,. tt,.,.t a.. q
crop is one OF the highest three ever
produced. but with a value next to
the highest or perhaps more. al
though the farm price OF cotton this
year is below the price OF last year
by more than one cent For the first
time In the history of this dDuntry's
agriculture, the value of the cotton
crop, including seed. has apparently
exceeded the value OF the hay crop.
which has heretofore held second
place.
The greatest hay crop in history
has been gathered this year. S.
100000 tons. or 12 per cent. above
the average of the preceding five
years It's price is 81 per ton less
than it was year ago. but still the
farm value of the crop Is 1921. 000,-
900. or per cent above the I'VE
year average.
Wheat Is one and one-haif per
cent above tho five-year average in
production and 2s per cent. above IN
total value. The 660,o00.000 bnshels
of this crop are estimated to be
worth 5000. 900 to the farmets.
or 66.000.oO0 more than the most
valuable wheat crop heretofore pro-
duced.
| Although the oat crop suffered
from drought the value is $321. 000.-
900 for 7S9,006.000 bushels, or ten
per cent. above the tive-year aver
age value and 8 per cent. below the
average product H.
4 All cereals aggregate a ,3as. 600, 900
bushels, total that has been ex-
cceded three times, hut the value
reaches $2.694, 900, 900, Or more than
$500, 900 900 above that of 1905, and
exceeds still more the totals OF for
mer years. Compared with the. pre-
ceding five years. the number Of
bushels is higher by OF per cent
and the value is higher by 32 per
cent
1 For the first time, this year, the
value of all farm crops equals s5,-
o00.o00,000, and Of this total the val
lie of the corn crop is about one.
third; wheat. hay and cotton com
bined make more than another third.
and the smaller crop the remain
der, or nearly one-third. Never be-
fore has the hay crop been so large
in quantity. nor the rice crop. nor
the sugar beet crop. nor beet and
cane sugar production. The pro-
duction of barley has been exceeded
In only one former year. and cotton.
by only two years at the most.