The Van Buren press., 1912-05-11
STATES GROWTH
RECORD IS GOOD
Comparative Statement Made
With Other States, Ex-
CeedS Both.
BIG INCREASE IN LAND VALUE
Average Value Of Arkansas Land Ia
s14.13 Per Acre Compared to
$7.81 a Decade.
Western Newspaper Union News Service.

Western Newspaper Union News Service
Deputy Commissioner Robert N
Hutchins of the department of mines,
manufactures and agriculture, has pre-.
pared a comparative statement of the
agricultural development of Arkan.
sas, Louisiana and Wisconsin during
the past ten years, showing that the
percentage of increase in every ma
terial item has been greater in Ark
ansas than in either of the other two
states.
The statement prepared by Mr..
Hutchins is as follows:
"To be able to Judge fairly the de.
velopment of Arkansas within the last
10 years, l wrote the census bureau
for advance bulletins on agriculture
in Wisconsin and Louisiana (Which
reports would enable me to judge the
relative increases for Arkansas) to
compare with the reports that have
already been sent this department on
agricultural Arkansas. The per cent
of increase for every material item
was greater in Arkansas than in the
other two states. The following ex.
tracts are the more important items
contained in the bulletins Of agricul-
ture in Arkansas, Wisconsin and
Louisiana
Arkansas Figures.
Arkansas-Progress during the de-
cade 1900-10. The increase in popu-
lation was 20 per cent during the last
decade. The total value of farm prop
erty, which includes land, buildings,
implements, live stock domestic ami
mails, poultry and bees, is $4O0, 0,OS9,O 900,
showing an increase Of 1905 per cent
since 1900. The value Of land alone
increased 1874 per cent. The value Of
buildings alone increased 10 per cent,
the value of live stock 81 per cent,
and the value Of implements and ma
chinery 92 per cent. The value OF
farm land more than doubled during
the last decade, in an increase OF
s7.Sl per acre. The average value OF
land in the state now is s1413 per
acre. In 1890 1t was S6.32 per acre,
or an increase of 1913 per cent. The
average size OF the Arkansas farm is
now 81 acres. In 1900 the average
size was 931. In this connection it
is well to note that the number OF
farms increased 35,9S4 during the last
decade, or an increase Of 20.1 per cent,
and the improved farm acreage in
creased 16.1 per cent The total acre
age increased from 16,637 900 to H.
$4,000, and the improved acreage
from 6,954,00O to S,O62,000. OF the
farmers Of Arkansas 151, ,0S5, or about
10 per cent are white, and 1888 or
80 per cent are negroes. Only 2,45S
of the white farmers are foreign born.
The negroes constitute about 1853 per
cent OF the tenants.
"Wisconsn-The increase in popula-
tion was 1876 per cent. The increase
in the value Of all form property was
TAI per cent Qarge considering the
value Of that property In Wisconsin,.
The value OF land alone increased 71,9
per cent, The value Of buildings alone
increased S6.2 per cent live stock,
CAS- per cent; implements and ma
chinery, S11 per cent. The value OF
farm land per acre, an increase OF Gil
per cent The average size OF the
Wisconsin farm is llS acres. The
number OF acres Of improved land and
acres In farms increased the same, Q
per cent during the decade.
"Louislana-The percentages OF In
crease for Louisiana we're lower than
those OF Wisconsin for every item
save in the value OF land, which In
creased "a per cent in value per acre
and "a per cent for all land.
"The facts shown In the last census
and the tone OF the letters OF in
qulries received by the department OF
agriculture, all emphasize the fact that
the resources OF Arkansas are no
longer unknown, and that the home
seeker no longer shuns Arkansas, but
welcomes any literature describing
her resources. The characteristic, ul-
ira conservative Arkansan has been
slow to exploit the advantages to be
had In Arkansas, yet he has been
pleased to admit that Arkansas IL
amply able TO care for MI comers and
invite industry with open arms"