The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1912-09-26
HERDS AND CROPS
IOWA'S WEALTH
State Faces Prosperous Condition
Never Before Seen 10 History.
MILLIONS ON DEPOSIT IN BANKS
Big Season in Best State in the Union
- Almost Every Crop in Iowa
Has Doubled in Value Over the
Yield of Last Year.


Des Moines, Sept 2l-Estimates
lof the wealth of Iowa crops and herds
this year bring the total so near to
Isl 900, 100000 that the effect is daz-
cling. Last year the total value of
Iowa farm products, including crops
and live stock was 1921 900, 900, but
the 1912 wealth of Iowa will run over
$500 900, 900.
Official figures which are coming to
1.-THE Iowa weather and crop bureau in
dictate that almost every crop in the
state had doubled in value over the
yield last year. There is an increase
in acreage everywhere, but this is not
nearly so marvellous as the increase
in yields per acre. Every crop from
the early wheat to the late corn and
potatoes is successful, and that in
every county in the state.
Prosperity is Catching.
Signs of prosperity and lots of gold
lin Iowa this fall and winter are al
ready catching. Railroads are pre-
Iparing to work their men night and
day at the division points in the
state. Not only will Iowa freight
business probably exceed that of any
year in the history of the railroads.
but the Translate business will be
heavily increased One railroad man
is authority for the statement that
If not pound of freight originated in
Iowa this year the trunk lines would
have to work their entire force to
handle the business which will origi-
nate further west and cross the state
in its trip to the eastern markets.
State Labor Commissioner Van
Duyn says that at no time since the
free state employment bureau was
started has there been such a de-
mand for laborers. Practically every
county in the state wants corn husk-
ers. Every canning factory in Iowa,
and this state has some of the largest
in the world. is short of help. At
Atlantic, Oskaloosa. Cedar Rapids
and Ottumwa factories as Well as
farmers are calling for laborers.
a. Wealth BY Comparison.
The wealth of Iowa crops and herds
this year would come near wiping out
THE interest bearing debt of the ma
ton if SO applied. 1t is sixty or sew
enty times as much as the nation
originally paid for the Louisiana Pur-
chase, which embraced not only rhe
entire state of Iowa but Minnesota,
North snd South Dakota, Missouri,
part Of Kansas, Arkansas, Nebraska,
Colorado, Oklahoma, Mississippi,
Montana and Louisiana. Ii is suffi-
cient to equip and arm more than a
hundred battleships OF the dread
naught type, and would pay the pen
sions of the government for five
years and more.
sid. Doubling of Crops.
| The wheat report for the state is
already practically complete with
17,461 300 bushels, as compared with
about 100000 bushels last year. The
oats crop reports so far received by
Crop Director Chapel, carried out
over the total acreage in the state,
would give yield of 214,590,000
bushels of oats in Iowa this year as
compared with only 120, 461, 300, the
official figures for last season. Nor
does the pleasing prospect stop here.
In 1911 Iowa corn totalled up 2S1, 1885,
500 bushels, while this year there is
every Indication that the crop will
total 4OO,0O0,0O0 bushels. This last
figure is an estimate, but it is be-
lieved to be conservative. 1t is point
ed out that corn was damaged more
in the state last year than any other
crop and that the conditions this year
are such as to give even a bigger per-
centage of gain on corn than on
wheat and oats.
Crop Value Estimated.
| A conservative estimate of the val
tue of farm crops of Iowa this year.
based on preliminary estimates made
by the federal department of agri-
culture is as follows:
Corn ........ ..... SZlz,oOU,O
w Al.