IS THERE MONEY IN POULTRY? 
In plate I the top curve a-a gives the average spring price 
of Western first eggs in the New York market. The curve b-b 
gives the annual receipts of eggs at New York in millions of 
cases. Now, since value equals quantity multiplied by price, 
and since the quantity and values of poultry are closely cor- 
related to those of eggs, the product of these two figures is a 
fair means of showing the rate of increase in the value of the 
poultry crop. Starting with the census value of $291,000,000 
for the year 1899, we thus find that by 1907 the amount is 
ee close to $700,000,000. This is represented by the lower 
ine. 
The value of the poultry and eggs sold in Kansas have 
increased as follows: 
Year Value 
TQOB! sceispadieseraneceiare tue ease tess $ 6,498,856 
1904) 5 hice sage ee aes se aeee-cs 7,551,871 
1905 stay cadavecamionseee ss 8,541,153 
T90G <5 eireeu sto waieets tetas ah OS 9,085,896 
T9OC cs. ssbusisccc eae pki nek 10,300,082 
The dotted line e-e represents the increase in the national 
poultry and egg crop estimated from the Kansas figures. Evi- 
dently the estimate given in Secretary Wilson’s report was 
not excessive. 
Now, I want to call the reader’s attention to some relations 
about which there can be no doubt and which are even more 
significant. The straight line c-c in Plate 1 represents the 
rate of increase of population in this country. The line b-b 
represents the rate of increase in egg receipts at New York. 
As the country data backs up the New York figures, the con- 
clusion is inevitable that the production of poultry and eggs 
is increasing much more rapidly than is our population. 
“Over-production,” I hear the pessimist cry, but unfortunate- 
ly for Friend Pessimist, we have a gauge on the over-produc- 
tion idea that lays all fears to rest. When the supply of any 
commodity increases faster than the demand, we have over- 
production and falling prices. Vice-versa, under-production 
is shown by a rising price. That prices of poultry and eggs 
have risen and risen rapidly, has already been shown. 
“But prices of all products have risen,” says one. Very 
true, but by statistics with which I will not burden the reader, 
I find that prices of poultry products have risen more rapidly 
than the average rise in values of all commodities. This 
shows that poultry products are really more in demand and 
more valuable, not apparently so. Moreover, the rise in the 
price of poultry products has been much more pronounced 
than the average rise in the price of all food products, which 
15 
