Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-10

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100000.
Rice production in 1910 remained
substantially at the figure of 1909, or
a little over 1000, 100000 pounds of
rough rice. No year previous to 1.
produced as large crop; 1t exceeds
the average of the previous five years
by Is per cent. The price of rice,
however, has declined so that the crop
of this year Is worth hardly $4,000 900
or per cent below the five year
average.
Cereal Value Below Average.
The hop crop is regarded as 13 per
cent below the average of the previous
five years, and the smallest in dozen
years or more, but the farm price has
improved over the average of the prev.
ious Ave years, so that the total value
Of the crop Is per cent above that
average.
In no previous year has the produc-
ton Of the cereal crops equaled the
grand total Of 5.140,S96,0OO bushels OF
the cereals of 1910. This is l3 per cent
above the five year average. In value.
however. the, cereals of this year fall
below that of 1908 and 1909, prin-
cipally on account Of the decline in the
farm price of corn. This years value
is $2,71O,00O, 900 or about $23000O,000
below the total for 1909 and $50,000,-
900 below that Of 1909 However, 1t is IL
per cent above the five year average.
Except for two years, 1898 and 1901.
the highest balance Of trade in favor
of this country in foreign trade in
farm products was $4sS.004,797 for
foI, %o owl a
eliminating point in the course of the
balance of foreign trade in farm pro-
ducts. In 1909 the balance declined
s274210,152, and in 1910 the balance
declined to $1ss,oso.s25.
* Farmers Share of Prices.
Hieh prices receive considerable at
tention in this report. In the farmers
aspect Of the matter he receives var
ious percentages of the consumers
price for farm products. In the case OF
milk, in seventy eight cities distribut-,
ed throughout the United States where
the subject was investigated by the
department, the farmer receives Il
scant so per cent, or one-half of the
price paid by the consumer. The
railroads get aboutI per cent. so that
su,ners price is received mostly by the
retailer.
After presenting many, details with
regard to the increase of prices on
farm products between farmer and
consumer. the secretary of agriculture
declares that the conclusion is ineV-
table that the consumer has no well
grounded complaint against the farmer
for the price that he pays"
Suggests Cooperation.
In continuation Of this subject, the
secretary of agriculture suggests that
the problem of high prices is one for
treatment by the consumer. why do
not consumers buy directly from the
farmer?' he asks. "A distribution of
farm products in this simple way has
already begun in England where CO.
operative organizations of farmers are
selling by direct consignment to CO.
operative organizations of consumers
in cities. Farmers cooperative selling
associations are numerous in this
country but cooperative buying assoc
Citations among people Of cities are
few.
Cases reported to the attorney gen
eral for prosecution un6er the several
laws administered by the department
Of agriculture numbered 1.73S. twice
as many as the year before. More than
$4,000 in fines and costs We're as
sessed hundreds of tons of mis-
branded foods and drugs were for
feited.
The cost of meat inspection during
the year was about s2,940.000. Animals
inspected before slaughter numbered
49.307.672, including 7.a99,547 cattle.
164,635 sheep and 116,o6s goats.