The Oskaloosa herald., 1910-11-03
IHE EARNS OF IOWA.

| The Census Bureaus first prelim-
mary comparative statement concern
ing the general farm data derived
from the recent census OF agriculture,
as a part of the Thirteenth DecenniA
Census relates to Iowa and makes
Interesting reading for our people.
Comparisons between the 1910 and
1900 totals for the state show many
remarkable changes. While there
have been noticeable decreases since
1900 in the total number OF farms,
! farmers, owners, part owners, total
acreage, improved acreage, etc., on
the other hand those are greatly over
Swallowed by extraordinary increases
lin the value of land, buildings, and
implements, and in the expenditures
| for labor, which range from 81 to
1891 per cent
! From 1900 to 1910, according to Di-
rector Durand's statement, the total
value of Iowas farm land alone rose
from 1926, 1852, 900 to $2,799,025, 900,
an increase of $1,542,273 900, or no
less than 1927 per cent; the value of
all farms, including that of their
buildings, increased from Sl,497 $685.
900 to 1928, 719, 900, a gain OF Sl,756,-
1914 900, or 1913 per cent; and the
value OF the buildings alone rose
from $24O, 800, 900 to 1854, 694 900, an
increase of $213,891 900, or 1873 per
cent. The value of farm implements
and machinery rose from S57 ,96l 900
to $95, 900, a gain of S37, 1872, 000,or
64.4 per cent; and expenditures for
labor from $16,376,OOO to S24,732,OO
an increase OF $S,356,0O0, or 81 per
GEN..
1t is expected that later data will
show that the number OF people en-
ployed on the Iowa farms did not in
crease, therefore the reported in.
crease in the total expenditures for
labor represents approximately the
relative increase in the wages of the
individual farm laborer.
The total number of farms dropped
during the decade, from 228,622, to
I216,807, a decrease of 1875, or tritie
over per cent This falling off in
the number OF farms is one that has
been anticipated by all students OF
agricultural conditions in Iowa, and
is believed to correspond quite close
ly with an anticipated decrease in the
rural population of the state.
The number of farms operated by
white farmers decreased from 228,-
395 to 216,603, the amount being H.
1872, or So per cent; while the dimin-
ution in the number of colOred farm
ers was from 227 to 204.
The number of farms cultivated by
their owners fell from 116,lSS to 1885,
sos, a decrease of 10,490, or per
cent. Those cultivated By part own
ers decreased from 2s,98S to 26.5Sl,
the difference being 2,457, or IS per
cent; while those reported as being
cultivated by a partnership OF own
ers and tenants decreased from 2,129
to GIL, loss of 1908, or 7O.S per
cent
! The farms operated by tenants in'
creased from 1916 to 82,039, a gain
OF 1903, or 90 per cent There was
also an increase amounting to 21.s
per cent in the number OF farms OPP
Grated by hired managers. In 1900
there were 1881 such farms, while in
1910 the number is 1873.
The farm acreage reported in 1910
is 1896, 900, as compared with 34,-
$4,000 in 1900, decrease OF $4,000
acres, or 1.9 per cent. This decrease
in the opinion OF the Census Bureau,
probably represents less perfect
enumeration OF land in the several
townships owned by people residing
in other townships, due to the change
In the census date from June ] to
April Is. Much OF this land Is n, pas,
lures and meadows, and intended for
lease, bat, at the date OF the enuner-