Corn $1,336,901,000 Bushel $0.263 $0.516 96.20 106.28 Wheat 554,437,000 " .808 .874 8.17 13.73 Oats 334,568,000 " .212 .443 108.96 119.70 Barley 102,290,000 " .377 .666 76.66 85.74 Rye 23,068,000 " .447 .731 63.53 71.94 Buckwheat 9,975,000 " .421 .698 65.80 74.32 Potatoes 184,184,000 " .547 .618 12.98 18.79 Hay 773,507,000 Ton 6.62 11.68 76.44 85.51 Cotton 613,630,436 Pound .066 .104 57.58 65.68 -------------- Total $3,932,560,436 Detailed tables presenting the data from which the foregoing averages for the whole country have been derived and showing prices and purchasing power over freight service are given in Appendix D[G]. These tables disclose the uniformity, throughout the United States, of the advance in agricultural prices and of the augmented command of agricultural producers over railway freight service. FARM ANIMALS AND FREIGHT RATES. The Department of Agriculture of the United States also collects data concerning the value of farm animals and annually publishes the average values reported for the first day of each successive year. All classes of farm animals have increased in value since 1897 and each represents a great command over railway freight services, for the sum representing the average value of each animal will now buy much more freight transportation than it would in 1897. This is shown by the following table: Increased power to purchase Average price, each. railway -------------------------------- freight January 1, January 1, January 1, Increase, service, 1908. 1897. 1908. per cent. per cent. Horses $1,867,530,000 $31.51 $ 93.41 196.45 211.69 Mules 416,939,000 41.66 107.76 158.67 171.97 Milch cows 650,057,000 23.16 30.67 32.43 39.24 Cattle, except milch cows 845,938,000 16.65 16.89 1.44 6.65 Sheep 211,736,000 1.82 3.88 113.19 124.15 Swine 339,030,000 4.10 6.05 47.56 55.14 -------------- ----- ------ ------ ------ Total $4,331,230,000 -- -- -- --