The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-12-07
BIG INCREASE IN WEALTH
This Year Value of the Farm Pro-
ducts Is Over Nine and
Half Billions
TILLER IS NO LONGER A JOKE

Washington, Dec. AFTER sixteen
years, a record Of service in the Cabi-
net, Secretary OF Agriculture Wilson
submitted today to President Taft the
last annual report he will make as
head Of the United States Department
Of Agriculture. The report is more
than a review Of the past years work;
it contains summary Of the asricultu-
raj advance Of the country during the
venerable secretary's term Of public
service.
"Tho record Of sixteen years has
been written" ne says 1T begins
with a yearly farm production Of s4-
600, o,G0o,o 900 and ends with $9.t82.000
900. Sixteen years age, the farmer was
a joke Of the caricaturist; now he is
like the stone that was rejected by
the builder and has become the
head stone Of the corner" The TILL
ers Of the soil were burdened with
debts he added, but prosperity follow
ed and grew with unexamplcd speed.
Beginnings have been made in produc-
tion per acre increasing faster than
the natural increase Of population.
There has been an uplift Of agriculture
and 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
sixteen years the farmers wealth pro-
duction Increased I4l per cent
1912 Most Productive Year.
"Most productive Of all agricultural
years in the country has been 1912. The
earth produced its greatest annual
dividend. The sun and tho rain and
the fertility of the soil needed NOT
the human controversies. but kept on
working in cooperation with the
farmers efforts to utilize them. The
prices az the farm are generally profit
able and viii continue the prosperity
that farmers have enjoyed in recent
years. The total production Of farm
wealth is the highest yet reached b.
half a billion dollars. The grand total
for 1912 is estimated 20 S9.522000oO0
More than 100000 100000 is the
grand total of farm wealth production,
the report says. during tho past sixteen
years, an amount equal to about three
quarters Of the present national
wealth.
The Secretary first takes up the
work OF tho various bureaus Of his
department in the past year and then
tells Of the growth in some Instances
from their foundation, OF these bureaus
during the time no had been head of
tho department lie praises highly the
experts who have worked under him
Great Growth Of Department,
The great growing movement car
ried on by the department for agricult-
ural bcttermcnt" he declares, "has not
been sustained solely b. one man nor
@ few men, a choice corps Of scholar
iy experts in their special lines Of en-
deavor has been growing in member
ship. in breadth Of view, and in tho
practical application OF their efforts.
The department IS prepared 70 con-
tinue and Increase its public service
During sixteen wears IL has progressed
from the kindergarten through the
primary, middle and upper grades Of
development until now IL has a thous-
and tongues that speak with author
ity."
From \ department. with 2.444 en-
ployes In 1897 and an appropriation
Of $3,272,sO2, 70 has increased to 13,-
S5S employees at the beginning OF the
present fiscal year with an appropria-
tion this year Of almost S25,000,0O0
Whereas there are now $4,000 requests
every week for department publica-
tions, there were but 500 In 1897, and
during this period 225O00,0OO copies
have been distributed. In soil investi-
eating an area Of 62S,OO0 square miles,
equal 10 that of Germany. France
Great Britain, Ireland and Italy, has
been covered.