Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1873 [PAGE 214]

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210 are counties lying in the Ohio and Illinois peninsulas, such as Alexander, Palaski, Massac, Hardin and Calhoun. These are now the counties of cheap lands, although containing tracts that for special purposes are among the best in the State. In farm implements and machinery, LaSalle and McLean, the largest two counties of the State, come first, the former with $895,963 worth, and the latter with $810,167. Alexander stands lowest, with only $22,353 invested in farm implements, or about $100 to the section, and Pulaski next, with $27,730. This compares curiously with the county of Putnam, which, although the smallest in area of any, shows $70,491 valuation of farm implements, or $420 worth for ervery square mile of its surface. But this is not extraordinary, as the prairie county of Champaign has about $700 worth, and McLean somewhat more. As*a rule, the X3rairie, level and easily worked lands, will show a greater per centage of investment in farm implements. In the interesting matter of wages, we find that Illinois paid $22,338,767, whilst New York and Pennysylvania only exceeded her in this respect. Of our own counties, Knox leads in the aggregate amount of wages paid, but this is undoubtedly a mistake. LaSalle is more probably the leader, having paid $691,373 for farm labor. Madison comes next, $638,773, and McLean Qlose after, with $632,051. Boone, considering its area and population, stands very high, paying $498,080, an amount so large as to again create the suspicion of error. Of counties paying small amounts for farm labor, Richland has a pre-eminence, being put down at $10,960, and amount so low as to lead us to suppose that this also is an error, as the county is considerably larger than Boone. We find, however, that Pope paid only $16,496, and Saline $16,867, showing that low wages or small farms predominate in the southeast, along the Wabash. The total estimated value of all farm productions, including betterments and additions to stock, was $210,860,585. This is exceeded only by New York, which reports $253,526,153, and is succeeded next by Ohio, with $198,256,907. Only 17 counties of Illinois produced less than a million dollars' valuation. Lowest stands Hardin, with $235,462, and next comes Alexander, with $268,950, LaSalle produced most, or $5,502,502, and next came McLean, with $4,860,898. Adams, Champaign, Cook, Morgan and Sangamon produced in excess of $4,000,000. In orchard products Illinois stands fourth. It is surpassed by New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, yet produced the value of $3,571,789. Adams county is first in orchard production in 1870, being credited with $170,540. Union, the great Egyptian fruit county, succeeds with $150,576. Hardin is credited with only $376, and Grallatin with but