The Washington herald., 1909-01-10
FARMER IS NOW The KING
Products Worth Nearly Eight Bill
lions in 1908.
Last Year Surpassed 1907 by the
Handsome sum OF More
Than 500, 100000.

IN the history OF the United States
there have been cattle kings. copper
kings. sugar kings. and others. All these
have been 6eposed and the American
farmer-the once humble, Flooding. and
poorly repaid farmer-hss mounted 10 the
throne as the champion contributor 20
the products and wealth OF this country
in the year 1858
Just think OF it for a moment The
value Of all farm products Of 1915 reached
the most extraordinary total fl the ma
tons history-S7.7 Us. 000.O0c. These figures
are official and reliable. being furnished
by no less an authority than Secretary
James wilson, Of the United states De
partment OF Agriculture.
Nearly eight billions OF dollars This is
about four times the value Of the years
total products OF all the mines in the
United States. coal copper. iron. silver.
and gold. and OF ell the mineral OF wells
added for good measure.
Concerning the actual farm production
Of 1865 the Secretary said that the farmer
created wealth BY the billions. He con
tributed s. per cent OF the raw materials
used in those manufacturing industries
which depend mostly upon agricultural
materials.
The gain in value OF farm products IN
1905 over 1907 Is S2Oo.OoO.OO0, and would have
been much larger had not the prices Of
cotton and hay been low The value Of
products In 1890. the census. year. being
taken at 100, the value for 1893 stands at
Is: for 1904. at 81, for 1906. at 49, for
1905. at I4s: for 1907, at 159, and for 1905. at
l65. During the last ten years the wealth
production on the farms Of this country
has exceeded the fabulous sum o. So
00o.eoo.000
Greatest Of all crops Is Indian corn,
the production Of which this year. &C
cording TO the final revised figures. IS
1855. s., 600 bushels The value Of the crop
is a.ds145.000. This wealth. grown out
OF the soil in four months Of rain. sun
shine. and some drought. is enough to
cancel the Understanding debt OF the
United states and pay FOR the Panama
Canal and fifty battle ships
Il seems likely that The cotton crop Is
one of the highest three ever produced,
but with a value next 10 the highest. or
perhaps more. although the farm price
OF cotton this year is below the price OF
last year by more than l cent
The greatest hay crop in history has
been gathered this year, 100000 tons or
= Per cent above the average Of the pre-
ceding five years. Its price is 81 per ton
less than II was a year ago. but still the
farm value OF the crop is $62i. G000o0. or s
Per cent above the five-year average
Wheat is ~ per cent above the five
year average in production and 3 per
cent above IN total value. The 100000
bushels Of this crop are estimated 10 be
worth 100000 10 the farmers, or $50
000. 600 more than the most valuable wheat
crop heretofore produced.
Although the cat crop suffered from
drought, the value is So. GEO. 900 for TSs,-
0e0.0oO bushels. or 10 per cent above the
five-yeaT average value and 3 per cent be
/ low the average product
The barley crop. Is7, 000.oo0 bushels. IS y
per cent above the Sve-yeaT average, and
its value. $4,000. 90. is 3 per cent above.