The Washington herald., 1909-08-19
NEARS TWO BILLIONS
Wilson's Report Oh Value
of Farm Products.
FAST BECOMING PLUTOCRAT
Annual Report OF Secretary of Agri-
culture shows Furm Products
Reach Enormous sum of S7,T7s,-
100000, Biggest in Worlds His
tOry-COrn the Greatest of All.

II used to be, 10! the poor farmer
Now it's Oh, the plutocratic agricul-
turist
At least. Secretary OF Agriculture VIII
son. in his annual report. made public
yesterday thinks those who have been
plying the ruralist had better wake up
TO the fact that during the past year-
that is, the crop year OF 190S-there was
a net gain in the value OF crops which
raises the total valuation OF farm prod
ucts up 10 the astonishing total OF SITS
100000. the biggest IN the worlds history.
as Secretary Wilson suggests.
while these figures contain some
duplication" the Secretary explains, "on
the other hand. they do not contain some
important items Of wealth production
and the fact remains that the unthink-
able amount OF seven and three-fourths
billions Of dollars Of wealth have been
produced by farmers this year for ma
tionaI sustenance and for export to the
craving millions Of foreign nations.
Tangible Wealth.
'It is a real tangible wealth as It ex-
lists at the time IT leaves the hands OF
the producer. it is about four times the
value OF the products OF the mines in
cluding mineral oils and precious metals.
From these agricultural products the
manufacturing and mechanical industries
that use agricultural products as ma
teriais draw SOS per cent Of their total
materials. and these industries use 42 per
cent Of all materials used in the entire
business Of manufacturing. These figures
indicate the extent 20 which the manu-
featuring industries are indebted 20 agri-
culture, although no recognition IS given
10 this fact In usual statements OF the
value Of manufactures.
The value OF farm products this
year is $4,000 900 above the value for
1907. and S3.o6i. 10000 above the census
amount for 1899 During the last ten
years the wealth production on the farms
OF this country has exceeded the fabu-
lous amount Of Sc. 10000.
Greatest or all crops is Indian corn,
the priceless gift OF the Indian The
value OF this crop almost surpasses be
lief Il is H.6l5.O00000. This wealth that
has grown out Of the soil in four months
Of rain and sunshine. and some drought
too, is enough 20 pay for the Panama
Canal and fifty battle ships.
Cotton Exceeds Hay.
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 heretofore held second
place for long series Of years.
Wheat is 15 per cent above the FIVE
year average in production, and 233 per
cent above that average in total value.
The value OF the farm products Of the
dairy COW are getting closer and closer
70 $00000,00O 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 4 cents a quart for his milk.
and about ~ cents for each egg. and
even 10 the consumer, who has paid
prices much above these, this increase in
value is striking"