The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-12-08
.0AN|S.|ENCE
ONLY CAN GRASP
FARM PRODUCTS
stupendous Valuations Set
Forth in Report of secre.
tary Of Agriculture

vesA VI SA& 11CNlIUI0
The FARMERS SHARE Of The
Consumers PRICES DISCUSSED
Increase in Cost Of Farm Products
Between the Producer and the Con.
sumer Indicate That the Farmer Is
Not Getting His Share Of the Cost.
Washington, Dec. 8.-Nothing short
Of omniscience can grasp the value of
the farm products of this year, is the
statement of the secretary Of agricui-
ture in his annual report for 1910,
published today. At no time in the
worlds history has country produc-
ed farm products within one year
with = value reaching $S,926,000, 600,
which is the value of the agricultural
products of this country for 1910. The
value of farm products from 1899 to
the present years has been progress
sive without interruption. II the val
ue Of the products of 1899 is placed
at 100, the value for this year is 189,
or almost double the value for the
census year eleven years ago. Dur
ing this period Of unexampled agri-
cultural production, period of
twelve years, during which the farm
ers of this country have steadily ad-
vanced in prosperity and wealth and
in economic independence, in intelli-
gence, and a knowledge of agricul-
ture, the total value Of farm products
is $79.O00.000,000."
The corn crop Of 3,121,3s1 900 BUSH
els exceeds that of the record year
1906 and is greater than the average
crop of the preceding five years by
fourteen per cent. While the value Of
this corn crop Is below that of 1909
and also Of 1908, its amount belongs
to stories of magic. 1t can hardly be
reckoned as less than $500, ,000, 900,
sum sufficient to cancel the interest
bearing debt of the United States, buy
all Of the gold and silver mined in
all the countries Of the earth in 1909,
and still leave to the farmers a little
pocket money.
1.-THE corn crop is a national asset
in more than one sense. =. It. .iS not
merely wealth in existence for the
time being, but 1t is an asset Of per-
petual recurrence. Year after year,
throughout the ages, stupendous
amount of corn with incredible value
can be produced"
All of the cereals except corn are
together worth only three-fourths as
much as that crop. The great allied
iron and steel industries had, in the
latest census year for which results
have been published, 1904. q produc-
ton worth only sixty per cent Of the
value of this years corn crop.
In no previous year has the produc-
tion of the cereal crops equaled the
grand total of 5,140.S96.000 bushels OF
the cereals of 1910 This is thirteen
per cent above the five-year average
In value, however, the cereals of this
year fall below that of 1908 and 1909,
principally on account Of the decline
in the farm price of corn. This years
value is $2,710, 900, 900, or about $780,
100000 below the total for 1909 and
$5O,O0O, 900 below that Of 1908; how
ever, It is eleven per cent above the
five-year average.
This is the year Of highest produc-
tion for corn, oats, the total Of all
cereals. and for tobacco. But the
only crop that reached its highest
value this year is cotton.
The farm value Of the cereal crops
declined $230.00O,00O in 1910 from
1909 and the value of all crops de-
clined 100000. A gain was made
however, In the value of animal pro-
ducts amounting to $424,000,000. II
has been a year Of high prices for
meat and animals, for poultry and
eggs, and for milk and butter, and
for these reasons the total. value OF
all farm products increased in 1910
1904, ,000, 900 above the estimate for
1908. ..
= Share of Consumers Prices.
High prices receive considerable at
tention in this report. In the farm
er's aspect Of the matter he receives
various percentages Of the consum-
er's prices for farm products. In the
case of milk. in seventy-eight cities
distributed throughout the United
States where the subject was investi-
gated by the department, the farmer
receives scant fifty per cent, or one
half Of the price paid by the consum-
er. The railroads get about seven
per cent, 80 that the remaining forty
three per cent. of the consumers
price is received mostly by the re-
taller.
"The milk wagon Of the retailer
has long route. 1t stops at a house
or two in one city block, perhaps
passes several blocks without stop
ping, and so proceeds to serve Gus
toners thinly distributed along
route of miles. At the same time the
milk wagons Of other retailers are
covering various portions Of the same
route. and SO there Is great waste
Of effort and Of expense in the dis
tribution."
The farmer receives hardly more
than half of the consumers price in
the case Of poultry: sixty-nine per
cent in. the case Of eggs; cabbage
forty-eight per cent when bought by
the head and sixty-dve per cent when
bought by the pound; celery, sixty
per cent when bought by the bunch