The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1912-01-11
CENSUS SHOWS FACTS
Large Per Cent of Agriculturists Of
the State of Indiana Are Native
White People and Are
Prosperous.

The following from the Chicago
Tribune shows that Indiana has made
a big step forward in every branch
of farm values, and Is convincing
proof that the farmers of our state
ere energetic and capable of setting
the pace for others.
Washington, D. c. Dee. 26.-A-
though the extent of agricultural
land in Indiana decreased during the
last decade, the total value of farm
property in that state was enhanced
$3.50, O,519,000 a gain of S4.9 per cent.
The total farm wealth, according to
bulletin issued by the census
bureau today, is $1,S09, $4,000, of
which 8S.1 per cent is represented by
land and buildings, 2.3 per cent by
implements and machinery, and 9.6
per cent by live stock.
The relative gain Of value during
the decade was greater than at any
time since 1850 The increase in the
value of the land was $640, ,563, 900,
| in buildings, $lI,977,00O, and in
equipment and live stock, s77, ,979,-
600. About fve-sixths of the last
figure represents the increase in
value of live stock.
There are 215,4S5 farms in Indiana
The number increased every decade
from 1850 to 1900, since which time
there has been a decrease of 6,412, or
90 per cent. The land surface of the
state comprises 23,06S, 300 acres, of
which 21,299,S23 acres are included
in farms. OF the farm land 79.5
per cent is improved. The total farm
acreage decreased 1.5 per cent
The average size of farms in In
diana decreased from 1850 to 1900,
but the last census shows an in
crease of Ia per cent. The average
size in 1910 was 98.8 acres. The
average value rose from $4,410
in 1900 to 1896 in 1910. Of this
amount $7,399 represents value Of
land and buildings, 1907 that of live
stock, and $19O that of implements
and machinery.
"It is significant" says the
bulletin, ''that while there was
a decrease of 6,412 in the total num-
Der of farms during the decade 1900
to 1910, the number operated by own
ers and managers decreased 1861,
while the number operated by ten
ants increased 1890"
In 1880 twenty-four Indiana farms
out of every 100 were operated by
tenants; now the proportion is thirty
Share tenancy predominates. The
total number of farms owned in
whole or In part by the operators is
14S,501, of which 89,S47 are reported
free of mortgage, 56,914 are mortgag-
ed, and LAO unreported under this
head.
There was a slight increase in the
proportion of mortgaged farms. The
average debt increased In twenty
years from 1912 to $l,433. of 47.4
per cent, while the average value Of
such farms has risen from 5000 to
$6,2S2, or almost double, so that the
owners equity increased from $2,217
to 50, $40, or more than doubled.
About one-third of the farms of
the state are between fifty and
ninety-nine acres in size. With the
farms between twenty and forty-nine
acres and between 100 and ia acres,
they constitute 76.4 per cent of the
total number. There are 142 farms
of more than 1000 acres, as compar-
ed with 22A in 1900.
| During the decade the value Of
swine increased. $9,935,0OO, or q per
cent. Cattle increased $1,S54,O0O or
4.5 per cent. Poultry increased
$3,54O,0O0, or 1873 per cent. Sheep
and lambs increased $4,000, or 2
per cent. The leading crops of the
state, with the value, for 1909 are
Corn, s9s, 1884, 900; wheat, $33, $685.
600; hay and forage, $24,SS3, 900;
oats, $18,o20, 900; potatoes, $3,616,-
1000; tobacco, $2,145,000.