The Springfield herald. (Springfield, Baca County, Colo.) 1887-1919, 1912-12-13

adds, "but prosperity followed and
grew with unexampled speed. Begin
nings have been made in production
per acre increasing faster than the
natural increase of population. There
OF country life.
During the past sixteen years the
farmer has steadily increased the
wealth production year by year. with
the exception of 1911. During the six
teen years the farmers wealth produc-
ton increased 141 per cent.
Most productive of all agricultural
years in the country has been 1912.
The earth has produced its greatest
annual dividend. The sun and rain
and the fertility of the soil needed not
the human controversies, but kept Oil
working in cooperation with the farm
ers' efforts to untilize them. The
prices at the farm are generally prof
liable and will continue the prosperity
that farmers have enjoyed in recent
years. The total production of farm
wealth is the highest yet reached by
half a billion dollars. The grand total
for 1912 is estimated to be $9,532,00
900. This is more than twice the val
ue of the farm wealth in 1890"
More than sos. 000.000,000 is the
grand total of farm wealth production,
the report says, during the past six
teen yenrs, an amount equal to about
three quarters Of the present national
wealth.
The most effective move toward re-
duced cost of living is the production
of greater crops, says the secretary,
and this move he declares is due to
the work of the Department OF Agri-
cultural colleges and experiment sta
tions and to the help of the press in
publishing every movement to help
the farmers. The nation, he adds, for
got its farmers in the general scheme
of education of past years and few
philanthropists thought of them when
giving for education. but they are walk
irg up and thinking for themselves
and Congress- has been good to them.
The secretary first takes up the
work of the various bureaus of his
department in the past year and then
tells of the growth in some instances
from their foundation, OF these bu'
reaus during the time he has been
head of the department. He praises
highly the experts who have worked
under him.
1.-The great and growing movement
carried on by the department for ag'
ricultural betterment," he declares,
has not been sustained solely by one
man nor by few men. A choice crop
of scholarly experts in their special
lines OF endeavor has been growing in
membership, in breadth of view, and
in the practical application of their
efforts.
1.-The department is prepared to con
tinue and increase its public service
During sixteen years 1t has progressed
from the kindergarten through the pri
mary, middle and upper grades of de
velopment until now 1t has a thousand
tongues that speak with authority
From department with 2,444 en-
ployes in 1877 and an appropriation oil
$3.272.902, it has increased to 1855
employees at the beginning of the pres
ent fiscal year with an appropriation
this year of almost $4,000, 900. Where
as there are now $4,000 requests ev
cry week for department publications
there were but 500 in 1897; and during
this period 225,OoO,OOO copies have
been distributed. In soil Investigation
an area of 623.000 square miles, equa
| to that Of Germany, France, Grea
Britain, Ireland and Italy, has beer
| covered.
Prolressives Get IL; Democrats 2.