Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1912-11-30
POPULATION ENGAGED
In Production OF Food Stufis Steadily
Growing Smaller--Figures Upon
This Subject.

Growing 6maller--Tigures Upon
| This Subject.
The recent discussion in this publica
tion with reference to the advance In
cost of living suggests q consideration
of some striking facts regsr ding the de-
crease in the surplus of food products
which is left over" after supplying the
growing demand Of our population.
That the percentage Of our population
engaged in production OF food stuffs is
steadily growing smaller is generally
recognized, but the fact is brought
sharply to attention by the most recent
figures available upon this subject.
While the Census Bureau has not yet
completed its tabulation of the number
of persons engaged in agriculture in
1910, it has completed figures showing
the number of farm families, which in
dicate an increase of but IL per cent in
the number of families on farms in 1910
as compared with 1900; while its figures
showing the number of persons engaged
in manufacturing, including wage earn
ers and salaried officials, indicate an in
crease of practically 80 per cent in 1910
as compared with 1900.
1t is apparent from these figures-an
increase of practically 80 per cent in
numbers of persons engaged In manu-.
featuring and of only IL per cent in
numbers of persons in farm families-
that the growth in consuming, non-pro-
ducers of agricultural products is much
more rapid than that of producers.
This reduction in the relative produc-
ing power Of the United States, of farm
products is further illustrated by the re-
cent figures showing the expectation of
food stuffS at the present time compared
with that of previous years. The value
of food stnffs exported in the fiscal year
1912 was but 4l9 million dollars, against
545 million in 1900. Even this compari-
son of values of exports in 1912 with
those of 1900 does not give an accurate
picture of the decline in quantity, be-
cause of the we'll known fact that prices
of food stuffs have materially advanced
in the meantime. A comparison of
quantities in some of the more import
ant articles exported in 1900 and in 1912
discloses even more startling facts with
reference to the decline in outward
movements of food stuffs. The quantity
of wheat, for example, exported in 1900
was 1852 million bushels, against 80 mill
lion in 1912; and of -four, lS3 million
barrels in 1900, against IL million bar
rels in 1912. The quantity of corn ex.
ported in 1900 was 209 million bushels;
in 1912, 40 million bushels. The guam
tity of canned beef exported in 1900 was
554 million pounds, and in 1912, but IL
million pounds; of bacon, in 1900, 5l2
million pounds, and in 1912, 209 million
pounds; of picked pork. 10 1900, 133
million pounds, and in 1912, Sc million
pounds. A comparison of the decrease
in the quantity of meats exported with
decreased valuation of the total meat
and dairy products exported affords q
striking illustration of the advance in
prices of articles exported as we'll as of
those consumed at home, since the value
of meat and dairy products exported
were, in 1900, but 1s43 million dollars
and in 1912, 1861 million dollars--a de-
crease of but Is per cent, while, as
shown above, the decrease in quantity
of the principal articles exported is very
much greater, ranging from 33 per cent
to rs per cent.
A still more striking exemplifcation
of the falling off in our surplus food pro-
ducts and the effort which the people of
the United States are, perhaps uncon.
sciously, making to substitute some other
product therefor in our contributions to
the worlds markets is found in the per-
centage which food stuffs form of the to-
tai exports at the present time compared
with that of earlier years. The share
which food stuffs formed of the total ex-
portations in the fiscal year 1912 was but
1875 per cent, while in 1900 it was 1913
per cent, in 1890, 1873 per cent, and in
1880, 55.S per cent of the total value of
exports.
This decline in the exports of food
stuffs has been Offset by the increase of
manufactured products exported. In
1880, when food stuffs formed 55.S per
cent of the total exports, manufactures
formed but l4.8 per cent ofths total, and
in 1890 but 2l.2 per cent. By 1900 the
proportion had considerably increased,
the share which manufactures formed
of the total being then 353 per cent,
while in 1912 manufactures formed AZ
per cent of the total. The total value of
manufactures exported from the United
States was, in the fiscal year 1880, but
l22 million dollars; in 1890, 179 mil
lions; in 1900, 4S5 millions, and in 1912.
1920 millions.