Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-01-29
Dixie S Horn of Plenty.

.IIIIIG IIUIN " tGUCJ.
Impressively indicative of the South's agricu-
tural prosperity. and keenly prophetic of what the
years may bring forth for the Southern farmer
if he but holds to the path which he has set
himself are statistics compiled by the Manufac-
turers Record from the annual report of the
United States Department of Agriculture, show
ing that the value of the farm crops of the South
in the year 1917 exclusive of livestock products,
reached the amazing total of $5,71O,732, 900.
This amount exceeds by $15O,0OOOOO the
highest value of all farm crops in the United
States in 1911. banner year. 1t is only about .
per cent less than the total value of all farm
crops in the UnIed States in 1914, only four years
ago. 1t is a gain of more than $4,000, 200, 900
in values over the year 1916, and gain of more
than IS 500 OOU 900 over the year 1903.
These figures not only striking illustra-
ton of the enormous advances in the value OF ag-
ricutural products during recent years; they
furnish giIU-edged evidence of the place the South
is rightfuy taking as the nations leading food
producing section, for this increase of $2,OOO,OOO-
600 in the South last year nearly one-half of
the total gain of crop values in the United States
the rest Of the country having an increase Of
$4,000 zoo 900.
The South's strides not due, as may be
supposed to the increase in the cotton CROP save
to a very limited extent Only about one-thlrd OF
the total crop values of the South-in round num-
bers $4,000, 900, 0OO-is estimated to be due to
cotton. The rest in food crops. The increase
in corn alone in the South during 1917 was nearly
one-haf of the total increase in the United States
II the value of animal products added to the
value of crops, the of the farm products of
the South would exceed in value for the year 1917
something like $1,000, 100000.
In this golden wave of prosperity, the statis-
tics show that Georgia has had plenteous share.
The estimated value of all her crops during the
year 1917 was S542, 1873 900, an increase of 1884,
10000 above 1916 values and over the year
1909 of more than 1915 100000. But two other
states in the entire South exceeded Georgia in the
value of their crops in 1917. These were Mis-
souri, and Texas, both of them larger in area and
with a greater population than Georgia and both
of them west of the Mississippi river. The near
est Southeastern state to Georgia North Car
DINA. which had crops in 1917 valued at $417,-
$4,000.
Comparisons with other states in the Union
show an equally great balance in favor of the
South and in favor of Georgia. Texas leads the
nation, with the exception Of Illinois and Iowa,
and it runs them a close race. These three states,
with Missouri and Ohio are the only ones in the
Union that had greater crop values in 1917 than
Georgia. The value of farm crops in Kansas was
SI42. 900 less than the value in Georgia; Ne
braska with all its vast agricultural wealth was
5000 900 less than Georgia, while Minnesota
fell $4,000 900 short of the record made by the
old Empire State.
In the face of these figures, it scarcely seems
necessary to urge our farmers to follow the ad-
vice of Mr. McAdoo and make their section feed
itself Nor should we doubt that If they seize
the agricultural opportunities at their doorsteps
they can more than do their share in feeding the
nation and allies well. The benefit to
themselves cannot be better put than in the words
of the article in the Manufacturers Record from
which the figures quoted have been taken:
THE enormous amount of money which is now
coming to Southern farmers will have tremend-
Gus influence on every line of industry and bust
ness. This increasing money will add enormously
to the wealth of this section and give it a great
increase in available capital. And when to this
development in agriculture is added the enormous
activities connected with iron and Steel with coal
and shipbuilding and the construction. of vast
munitions plants by the government, we begin
to get a faint conception of what is taking place
in the South from business point of view"
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