The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-08-31
SMALL WHEAT CROP
Less IMPORTANT
MOI invests Other Products Ex-
coed Value of Wheat Crop

"AoSnAGS SSiiSSSs Soiio az
tention to the fact that the north
western states no longer depend upon
the production Of wheat alone. In a
recent speech before a gathering of
business men in Minneapolis he
makes these important statements:
Speculation in any product al
ways leads to sensational statements
concerning that product, and we are
all prone to give heed to sensations.
Wheat is a product which is specu-
lated in more largely than any other
farm crop. unless it be cotton.
The wheat crop IN eastern North
and South Dakota has unquestiona-
bly, been very seriously damaged by
rust and blight. The disaster to the
wheat crop this veal in the section
we have indicated, has led to scare
headlines and columns of reading
matter in the daily press. This has
come to the attention of the business
world and created a feeling that is
anything but just to the four states
Of North Dakota, South Dakota.
Montana and Wyoming.
Things Have Changed
The time was when damage to the
wheat crop would have been disas-
trous to this territory. But we have
60 far outliyed it that it ought to
scarcely receive consideration.
The increase in value of all farm
property from 1900 to 1910, was as
follows: (page 70, volume FIVE. U.
S. Census 1900
South Dakota. ....... 29l per cent
North Dakota .........2 81 per cent
Montana. ...... $50. 1876 per cent
Wyoming. lat per cent
In the table of the census (19l0
page 1917 giving the average value
of land and buildings per farm in
the different states. of the MN states
having the highest value, South Da-
kota. North Dakota, Montana and
Wyoming are all included.
In the table on the same page Civ
ing the average equity THAT is. the
value over and above the amount of
the mortgages per farm these four
are again found among the first nine.
Increase in Live Stock
The following data is from the U.
S. wear book 1912 to 1916:
Horses and Mules
Number Value
Jan. /. 1912. 1893, 900 S1S4, TIC. 600
Jan. |. 1916. 1900. 900 213, IT'S, 0CO
Milk Cows
Jan. l, 1912. 764. 900 30, LAT. 600
Jan. /, 1915. i, 03O, 900 SO, 1893, 900
Other Cattle
Jan. l. 1912. .2.640, 900 $685., 900
Jan. l. 1916. 1928 ,OCO 143, l59. 600
Sheep
Jan. l. 1912. 1882. 600 33,472, 900
Jan. l, 1916. 9.133. 600 48, 8O8. 900
Hsgs
Jan. l, 1912. 1.649,O 900 Is, 1882, 900
Jan. /. 1916. .2,S88,O 900 %, 965, 900
Here is a total increase of one
hundred sixty one millions of dollars
in live stock in four years.
South Dakota's dairy products
alone last year amounted to eleven
million and a half dollars.
Per Capita Wealth
The per capita wealth of South
Dakota, North Dakota. Montana and
Wyoming is $2.672.
The per capita wealth of Iowa,
Minnesota. Illinois and Wisconsin is
s2,6s4.
OF Missouri. Kansas, Nebraska and
Colorado it is $2.575.
This comparison carried on IN the
government records shows that these
four northwestern states exceeds
n other group Of four states. And
South Dakota leads all the others.
Mr. Chamberlain. who is now con-
nected with the Dakota Farmer,
sought to prove by government stat
istics that these northwestern states
had passed beyond the uncertain
pioneer stage of Is years ago, and
are now upon a firm basis of produc-
tive value. His effort also proves
something else. 1t positively dem
onstrates by reliable comparisons and
government reports that South Da-
kota people themselves do not realize
the value Of their farm lands.