Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 September 1897 — MONEY FOR THE FARMERS. [ARTICLE]

MONEY FOR THE FARMERS.

Hi e h Prices Make Better Returns Than Abnormal Crops. One-half billion dollars to $700,000,000 is the amount which has been or will be distributed among farmers as the result of advanced prices for this season’s crops as compared with those of last year. These figures, given by a Washington correspondent, are based upon the most careful computations made by experts of the Department of Agriculture. Of this sum $410,000,000 has been realized on eight specialties of agricultural industry. The rest is divided among the odds and ends that represent the pecuniary result of a farmer’s labor. The eight products chosen as illustrations of the vast financial benefits to the farmers from the recent rapid rise in prices are cattle, wheat, corn, potatoes, cotton, sheep, swine and wool. Careful comparison has been made of the prices now prevailing with those which obtained during the whole of last year. The following table shows- an inflow of $410,000,000 to the pockets of the farmers: Cattle $96,000,000 Wheat 85,000,000 Corn 85,000,000 Potatoes 72,000,000 Cotton 24,000,000 Sheep 18,000,000 Swine 15,000,000 Wool 15,000,000 Totals4lo,ooo,ooo To this large sum, which is already in sight, must be added an estimate of $90,000,000 for the increased profits that have been realized on crops of oats, barley, rye, hay, flax, hops and other miscellaneous but valuable products of the farm. When Acting Secretary Brigham was asked for an expression of opinion as to the benefits reaped by the farmers in the way of -increased prices, he said;—— The advance over last year’s prices has already been considerable. It is not advisable to give estimates as to amounts based upon this year’s crops, as we do not know just what the yield will be, but the advance in the price of wheat over one year ago would amount on the crop of last year to - $85,000,000. The advance in the price of corn over last year is more than 3 cents a bushel, and on last year’s crop would amount to about $85,000,000. The advance in the price of sheep and wool on account of the tariff legislation over last year would amount to about $33,000,000. An average crop sufficient to supply the demand leaves more profit for the farmer. The four largest crops of corn grown since 1881 were worth less than the four smallest.