The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-02
MINNEAPOLIS ELEVATOR MENTAKE
A TRIP THROUGH RED RIVER
VALLEY.
CONDITIONS NOT THE BEST.
YIELD ESTIMATED AT 30 TO 40
PER CENT OF THAT OF LAST
YEAR.
DUE TO THE VERY WET SPRING
Which Was Followed by Dry
Weather-Better Conditions I'm
North Dakota.


headed by F. H. Peavey, the head of
the 3'Py" elevator system, and, in
Guiding B. H. Morgan, manager of the
Interior Elevator company; Alexander
Stewart, manager of the Monarch Ele-
agent of the Monarch company; H. Z.
Barber, manager of the coal Depart
ment of the Peavey system; F. L. Mof-
felt, Mr.. Peavey's private secretary
started out on Tuesday evening to view
the crops on the lines of the Northern
Pacific, in Minnesota and North Da-
kota. They were accompanied by Rev.
M. D. Shutter, who was the guest of
Mr.. Peavey, and Division Freight
Agent Still. Of the Northern Pacific.
The crop estimate here given is based
upon observation and consultation
with the various members of the party
The trip was completed last evening
when all of the members composing the
party returned to the city.
The first trip was made on Tuesday
night as far north as Pembina, N D.
No attempt was made to view the crops
until the party started back. The
journey south was made in private
car, drawn by a special engine, and
stops were made and the trip timed
to suit the purposes of the party.
The conditions found on the line from
Winnipeg Junction north to Pembina
may be summed up as fair, only.
Crops were in need Of rain north of
Grafton, and the further north the
poorer was the crop. In this section
the general estimate Of the crop is as
low as six bushels to the acre. South
Of Grafton the conditions were so much
better that the estimates ran from
eight to ten bushels, improving as the
journey progressed southwark The
total yield Of the country included be-
tween Fargo and Winnipeg Junction.
on the Northern Pacific, is estimated
at from
80 to 40 PER CENT
of last years crop, which was 5000 900
bushels and was a phenomenally large
one, however. The acreage is not over
70 per cent of last years, many fields
having been plowed under after seed
ing. AS is generally known this was
due to the very wet spring, which con-
tinued late, and then the long dry
spell which followed it.
The line of the Fargo Southwestern
from Fargo to La Moure, showed its
wheat fields in excellent condition and
the acreage is somewhat larger than it
was last year. The crop will probably
be at least as large as 1t was last year,
and it may run over the crop of 1885,
The yield is estimated at all the way
from II to 20 bushels to the acre. This
is the section which a few years ago
was very much troubled with the Rus
sian thistle There is no trouble of this
kind any longer and the farmers are
doing very we'll.
On the jamestown and Northern the
general condition is considered good,
about an average crop is expected,
about SIS percent of last years crop
running about Is bushels to the acre.
This covers the line from La Moure to
New Rockford and includes the coun-
try about jamestown. The trip east
from Jamestown and including the Coo
perstown branch, which runs north from
the main line of the Northern Pacific,
shows prospects for crop of about II
bushels to the acre, or about 30 per
cent of the crop Of '95. In fact it is less
than half, for that crop ran up to %
bushels. On the remainder of the main
line of the Northern Pacific the average
will be about 60 percent of last years
crop, running somewhere about II bush
els. The crops along here have improved
very much during the last ten days.
On the main line of the Northern
Pacific, between Fargo and Little Falls,
there was a considerable increase in
the acreage on account of the opening
of new farms The total yield is eSti-
mated at about SIS percent of last
years, or about II to Is bushels to the
acre From Little Falls the party went
west via Wadena as far as Minor, N.
D. In the Great Bend country, they say,
is a small area where the wheat is as
fine as it has ever been anywhere. Har-
vest is about ready to begin and the
crop along this entire line Is estimated
at 70 percent of last years yield. After
returning to Little Falls, they went
to Morris and found the crop along
this branch estimated at Is bushels.
SUMMING UP THE CROP
on the entire line of the Northern
Pacific covered by the party, about so
per cent of last years yield Is expected.
But as last years crop was very
great one. the yield anticipated will
be not far below the average. Last
years figures were 1S5, 600 bushels
for Minnesota and the Dakotas; an
average year is about 125, 900, O00 and
this years figures will probably range
about 100000.
There was less trouble from smut
this year than last, although this bane
to the wheat-grower has not been over
come. The Hessian fly has been dis
covered doing some damage, but not
enough to seriously threaten any par
ticular section. The crop Is what the
elevator men call spotted" that is.
unevenly advanced. In some places it
is practically ripe, while in others it
is just headed out
Some attention was paid to the other
grain crops. Flax will be a full yield
and is largely increased In acreage.
Oats and barley have fallen off and
the yield Is poor.
Considerable attention was paid to
the sentiment among the men con-
suited regarding the silver sentiment
1t was the general opinion of the party
that there was much more gold senti-
ment than Is generally supposed. The
silver men seemed to be in small Sec
lions and occasionally they were found
thick, but the conservative farmers
and others in the country are inclined
toward gold and against the revolu-
Ill