The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1913-10-09
Crops Decrease, Population Grows,
Cost of Living Goes Higher---Why?

Madison c. Peters In the Sunday
Oregonian, gives some most interest
ing figures concerning our growth In
population, our increased demands
and necessities, the decreased and de-
creasing production Of the land, and
the general tendency to crowd the cit
les and desert the land, the original
source of all wealth. The figures IN
some respects are startling and throw
clear light on the present high cost of
living.
The writer makes the astonishing
statement that with the lcssening Of
the food supply we drink more liquor
and use more tobacco than ever be-
fore; while foodstuffs have gone up In
an aeroplane, whiskey and tobacco
have kept within reach Of even the
poor"
Following are extracts from the let
ter:
What Our Growth Should Be.
ITO lower the cost Of living our ag-
ricuture must grow as rapidly as our
commerce and manufacturing. In 1911
our agricultural products were worth
less than $4,000 OO0, 900 while our man
ufactured products were worth more
than $40, 900, 100000 and our internal
commerce was estimated at $26,000.-
600, 900
1--WE have 100000 square miles of
territory, 90S,0OO,000 acres Of land.
We have S7S,OO0O0O acres of land
within our farms, 47S,000,000 acres Of
improved farm land; nearly half of
our total area is uninhabited and un-
productive.
THE widespread movement from
the farm to the cities and towns ac-
counts for the decline in the products
Of the farm. The corn crop Of 1910
was 1140O0,O0O bushels less than that
of 10 years before, 1t was grown on
IA per cent less land, 20 per cent less
product and 40 per cent greater value;
the apple crop was smaller by 1855
900 bushels, the wheat crop was
greater on account of the better yield
but the number of acres on which 1t
was grown was less by more than g.
100000 acres.
People outgrow Crops.
"The people are growing faster than
the crops; the farmers are not raising
enough to feed the increasing mil
lions OF consumers. New England
PRODUCES only one-tenth of It's food
stuffs. In 1900 our population was
less than 100000, in 1910 1t was
nearly 100000, an increase of IT,
600, 900. but our foodstuffs did not
grow in proportion to the number OF
Dur people.
For the production of all cereals
for every 1000 inhabitants, the acre
age in 1910 was 341 less, the product
1910 fewer bushels and the value
s946O greater than in 1900; IA per cent
less land, 16 per cent less product AM
IS per cent greater value. For or
hard fruits the number of trees q
bearing age, for every 1000 people, i.
1910, as compared with 1900. was 1885,
ass, the product 446 bushels less, tn,
value $430 more; Sc per cent fewe
trees, Is per cent less fruit and SO pei
cent greater value. For all crops, fo
svery 1000 inhabitants the acreage il
1910 was 342 acres less than In 1900
per cent less land under cultivation
and a product costing the consumes
81 per cent more
Decreased Crops Costly.
THE decrease In crops required t.
feed cattle accounts for the falling of
of livestock on the farms and partl,
explains the high cost of meat. IL
1910 the number of sheep of shear
ing age was 39,644,OOO; in 1900, 49,,
$4,000. In 1910, ~ per cent Of tn
sheep were raised west of the Miss
issippi river and half Of them in thu
mountain states. The farmers Of tn,
east, middle west and south are go.
ing out Of the sheep business--th'
number of sheepgrowers decreased
1921 or 20 per cent; during the dec
ade every fifth man quit altogether.
Great Decline in Livestock.
"In 1850 there was in the United
States almost one sheep for every cit
izen, 6 or pounds Of wool that made
3 yards of cloth. In 1880 there
sheep to every 10 persons. In 1890