The Forrest City times., 1912-05-10
STATES GROWTH
 RECORD |S GOOD
Comparative Statement Made With Other States. Ex-
 Ceeds Both.
BIG INCREASE IN LAND VALUE
Average Value of Arkansas Land Is st4.t3 Per Acre Compared to
 S7.81 a Decade.
Western Newspaper Union News Service.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
 Deputy Commissioner Robert NJ. Hutchins of the department of mines, manufactures and agriculture, has pre- pared a comparative statement of the agricultural development of Arkan- sas, Louisiana and Wisconsin during the past ten years, showing that the percentage of increase in every ma terial item has been greater in Ark ansas than in either of the other two states.
 The statement prepared by Mir. Hutchins is as follows:
 To be able to judge fairly the de- velopment of Arkansas within the last 10 years, I wrote the census bureau for advance bulletins on agriculture in Wisconsin and Louisiana (which reports would enable me to judge the relative increases for Arkansas1 to compare with the reports that have already been sent this department on agricultural Arkansas. The per cent of increase for every material item was greater in Arkansas than in the
 
 tracts are the more important items contained in the bulletins of agricul- ture in Arkansas. Wisconsin and Louisiana.
 Arkansas Figures.
 Arkansas-Progress during the de- cade 1900-10. The increase in popu- lation was 20 per cent during the last decade. The total value of farm prop erty, which includes land, buildings, implements, live stock (domestic ani- mals, poultry and bees is $400. .0S9 900. showing an increase of 1905 per cent i since 1900. The value of land alone 1 increased 134 per cent. The value of buildings alone increased no per cent, the value of live stock 97 per cent. and the value of implements and ma chiaery 92 per cent. The value of farm land more than doubled during the last decade, in an increase of $7.S1 per acre. The average value of land in the state now is Sl4.f3 per acre. In 1890 1t was $6.32 per acre. or an increase of 123 per cent. The average size of the Arkansas farm is now S1.1 acres. In 1900 the average size was 93.l. In this connection it is we'll to note that the number Of farms increased 35,9S4 during the last decade, or an increase of POI per cent, and the improved farm acreage in- creased l6.1 per cent. The total acre. age increased from 1s.637 900 to IT, 377.000. and the improved acreage from 6,954,000 to S,062,00 Of the farmers of Arkansas 15l ,085, or about n per cent are white, and 62. .593 or 30 per cent are negroes. Only 2,45S of the white farmers are foreign born. The negroes constitute about 76.9 per cent of the tenants.
 "Wisconsin-The increase in popula- tion was 12.6 per cent. The increase in the value of all form property was TAI per cent (large considering the value of that property in Wisconsin,. The value of land alone increased 71.9 per cent. The value of buildings alone increased S6.2 per cent: live stock. 64.5 per cent implements and ma- chinery, S11 per cent. The value of farm land per acre. an increase of GIL per cent. The average size of the Wisconsin farm is 1l8 acres. The 1 number of acres of improved land and acres in farms increased the same, 6 per cent during the decade.
 "Louisiana-The percentages of in- crease for Louisiana were lower than those of Wisconsin for every item save in the value of land. which in- creased s4 per cent in value per acre 1 and 74 per cent for all land
 The facts shown in the last census and the tone of the letters of in quiries received by the department of agriculture. all emphasize the fact that l the resources of Arkansas are no longer unknown. and that the home seeker no longer shuns Arkansas. but welcomes any literature describing her resources. The charaeteristic. ul- l tra conservative Arkansan has been slow to exploit the advantages to be had in Arkansas. yet he has been pleased to admit that Arkansas is amply able to care for all corners and invite industry with open arms"