334 READINGS IN RURAL ECONOMICS 



In conclusion, I desire to direct attention to several figures 

 which have been given out by the Census Bureau representing the 

 movement between 1900 and 19 10. Inasmuch as the figure given 

 above, 9.9 per cent, represents the increase in acreage of crops 

 with acreage reports, and inasmuch as the increase in other crops 

 must have been at approximately the same rate, it is proper to 

 compare this item with other items of growth. Similarly, inas- 

 much as the figure given in the preceding paragraph, 10 per cent, 

 representing the excess of the value of the crops in 1909 on the 

 basis of 1899 values over the values of the same crops in 1899, 

 is virtually the consolidated expression of the general increase in 

 quantity of crops produced, it may be compared with other items 

 which have been made public. I wish to call attention, in compar- 

 ison, to the increase in the number of farms between 1900 and 

 19 10. This amounted to 10.9 per cent. The figure was compiled 

 independently by the agricultural division of the Census Bureau. 

 In the same connection I wish to call attention to the increase in 

 the rural population, which, however, includes places under 

 2500 inhabitants, in addition to the agricultural population. The 

 increase was 1 1.2 per cent. It should be noted that this tabulation 

 was carried on by an entirely different and independent organiza- 

 tion which was in complete charge of the population returns. That 

 division has also reported that the increase in urban population 

 amounted to 34.8 per cent. The movement during the last decade 

 can clearly be summarized, therefore, as follows. There has been 

 a very decided movement towards the cities. The increase in 

 rural population, number of farms, acreage of land in crops, and 

 quantity of crops approximated 10 per cent, whereas the increase 

 in city population approximated 35 per cent. The farmers of the 

 country have been unable to produce crops in proportion to the 

 increased demands, their increase in production being only suffi- 

 cient to supply the increased demands of the rural population and 

 an increase of but 10 per cent in urban population. The prices 

 of agricultural products have increased approximately 66.6 per 

 cent, and at the same time there was an increase in the average 

 value of crops per acre of 66.8 per cent. Accompanying this 

 increase in the value of crops per acre (supplemented by a small 



