Evening star., 1909-08-19
FARMER HAS BILLIONS
Wealth Producing Products
Far Above the Average.
ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1903
Secretary Wilson's Enthusiasm
Over Summary Of Results.
TANGIBLE SOURCE OF REVENUE
Value of Farm Products $500, ,OOO,-
600 Above Average of 1907.
Dairy Showing.

Billions upon billions the farmer has
again piled his wealth. Production has
been above the average of recent years
all along the line. with few exceptions.
and some prices have been up while
others were down. After offsetting losses
against gains. in comparison with 1907.
there remains a net gain, which raises
the total of all farm products of 1908
to the most extraordinary amount in the
worlds history. SITS. 100000.
So writes Secretary James Wilson of
the Department of Agriculture in his
twelfth annual report for the year 1898.
This value is the result Of estimates for
ali products itemized by the census. and
is based upon the census plan of valua-
ton. While it includes some dupIica
ton, on the other hand, it is said. it does
not include some important items Of
wealth production, and the fact remains
that the unthinkable amount of Sits
100000 of wealth has been produced by
farmers during the past year for national
Sustenance and for export to the millions
of foreign nations.
Thus the star of the farmer seems to
be in the ascendant. He is enjoying the
good times and the consequent increase in
prices all along the line. He may, it is con-
ceded be in danger of growing into the
realm of the plutocrat.
Calls 1t Iang1Dle wealth.
Secretary Wilson grows enthusiastic as
he continues his report. He says it is
real tangible wealth as it exists at the
time 1t leaves the hands of the producer.
1t is about four times the value of the
products of the mines, including mineral
oil and precious metals.
From these agricultural products, he
says, the manufacturing and mechanical
industries that use agricultural products
as materials draw S8.S per cent of their
total stock and these industries use AZ
per cent of all materials used in the
entire business of manufacturing. These
figures, it is said, indicate the extent to
which the manufacturing industries are
indebted to agriculture, although no recog-
milton is given to this fact in usual
statements of the value of manufac-
lures.
Value of Farm Products.
The value of farm products in 1908 was
$3.50, ,0OO.0OO above the value of 1907. and
s., ,o61 600 coo above the census amount for
1890 During the last ten years the
wealth production on the farms of this
country has exceeded the fabulous amount
of $50, ,OOO.0OO,O 900.
Greatest of all crops, continues the re-
port. is Indian corn, the priceless gift OF
the Indian The value of this crop almost
surpasses belief. 1t is S1,6l5, ,OOO,OOo. This
wealth that has grown out of the SOIL IN
four months of rain and sunshine, and
some drought. too. is enough to pay for
the Panama canal and fifty battleships.
For the first time in the history of the
country's agriculture, the value of the
cotton crop. including the seed. has ap-
parently exceeded the value of the hay
crop, which has heretofre held second
<Nfx
Wheat is 1.5 per cent above the five-
year average in production. and 233 per
cent above that average in total value.
Dairy Interests.
The value of the farm products of the
dairy cow are getting closer and closer
to $500, ,OOO. 900, and 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. To the
farmer, who has averaged hardly 20 cents
a pound for the butter that he has sold
and 3 or cents quart for his milk.
and about 1ls cents for each egg, and
even to the consumer. who has paid
prices much above these, this increase in
value is striking.
$50 increasingly disposed has the pub
lie been to ask and receive the aid Of
this department, and SO large have been
the new fields of work assigned to it by
Congress- says Mr.. Wilson, in resume
of his work, that the number of en-
ployes has increased enormously. July
/, 1897, 2,444 persons were employed. and
eleven years later, in 1908. the number
was 1O.42O, or more than four times as
many"
Among the notable increases were those
In the bureau of animal industry. from
TT to 3,152 employees: in the forest serv-
Ice, from IA to 1858: In the bureau of
chemistry, from 20 to 425. and the bu-
reau Of plant industry, from 127 to 976
Most of the additional workers in these
bureaus are employed outside of wash
ington, there being 2,4SS within. and
Z 1882 outside of this city.