THE FARMER'S COTEMPORARIES. 69 



find that though the farmers are by far the most impor- 

 tant class in numbers, they are of very much less impor- 

 tance in regard to the exchange value of their productions. 



Mr. Andrew Carnegie states that "in manufacturing, 

 the annual product of each operative has advanced in value 

 from $1,100 in 1850 to $2,015 i^ 1880." ' The increase to 

 agriculture shows really no advance compared with this. 



From a computation of that reliable statistician Mr. M. 

 G. Mulhall, we find that the per capita valuation of the 

 wealth of the United States, exclusive of agricultural 

 wealth, rose from $250 in i860 to $502 in 1880, or an 

 increase of slightly over 100 per cent. Surely this does 

 not seem much like decadence. 



On the other hand, the value of the agricultural wealth 

 only increased by 22.5 per cent., or from $280 to $343 

 per inhabitant in the twenty years. 



Looking to the State of Massachusetts, of which the 

 serious decadence of agriculture is admitted or confirmed 

 by ''official documents," we find that from the year i860 

 to 1880, the per capita valuation of property in this 

 State rose from $662 to $1,568. Here we find agriculture, 

 in close proximity to largest consuming markets for the 

 productions of agriculture, absolutely falling behind, 

 while others are rapidly advancing. 



At this very time (1889), when so much is said about 

 the decay of the farm interests of this State, reports come 

 to us of enormous profits to many other industrial enter- 

 prises within its borders during the past year (1888). I 

 will name those of one city. Fall River, in the cotton 

 manufacturing industry. 



Four mills, with a capital of $2,500,000, declared earn- 

 ings of $663,000, or 26 per cent, upon their capital. 



' "Triumphant Democracy." 



