The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-26
IN GOOD CONDITION
GREAT NORTHERN CROP REPORTS
SHOW HOPEFUL sTATE OF
AFFAIRS.
SOME AHEAD OF THE SEASON
FROM TEN DAYS TO TWO WEEKS,
WHILE FEW ARE BE-
HIND.
ACREAGE STATISTICS MEAGRB,
But 1t Is Relieved They Will show
Considerable Gain Over Last
Year.
STATISTICS MHAeRp,

The fourth weekly crop report of the
Great Northern, for the week ending
May 49, has been compiled in the office
of General Superintendent Harding
from telegraphic reports from all sta
tions on the line. The Great Northern
required each agent to ascertain the
answers to six questions bearing upon
the crops. These six questions were an
swered to the division superintendent.
who forwarded their reports complete
to the general superintendent. The
questions were as follows:
Weather since last report.
Condition of ground.
Progress of growing grain, or whether In
advance of or behind the season.
Estimates on acreage for the present and
previous two years.
The latter questions were generally
answered correctly but not all reports
on this question have been submitted
as yet. The acreage, however, is ma
terially increased over that of last year.
The report summarized by divisions Is
as follows:
WiEmar Division. Main Line and Sioux Falls
Branch, Watertown Branch Duluth and Pa
enc enc Branch: Branch: Browns Valley Branch, Tintah
and Missouri River Branch, Aberdeen Branch
The weather In the vicinity of Willmar and
along the main line as far as Tntah Junction
has been cool. with plenty Of rain. The
lon reported the ground to be "good, )" very
best, favorable" excellent" etc. At one
or two points. such as Kerkhoven and Dom
ground could stand little more rain. The
reports as to the. progress of the growing
crops vary In some particulars. Stations but
dozen miles apart appear to be showing
different stages Of progress, although in
every case the advancement is favorable.
kerkhoyen reported that progress was ordin-
growing fine with the season. De Graft re-
ported the crop two weeks ahead of the sea-
son; benson reported the crop week be-
nelly, Moose Island. Norcross and two dozen
other stations, the agents report, grain
is from ten days to two weeks ahead Of the
season and coming up with great rapidity, ap-
pearing strong and vigorous. On the Willmar
and Sioux Falls branch, portion of the same
division as above. the conditions are about
lack OF rain. Out in the vicinity of Sioux
Falls the weather Is cool and there were two
or three rains last week The crops are
somewhat behind the season in many places,
but are doing very nicely. The growth at
present Is reported as being very rapid. On
the Browns Valley and all other branches
apart from the Willmar division, the crops
are behind. but are pushing forward vigor.
ously.
Fergus Falls Dfvision-On this division the
reports showed that during the week the
were number OF showers and there is suf-
fcient moisture in the soil to insure rapid
growth. There seems to be no apprehension
about wheat but at Big Lake and other points
1t was reported that the rye was making very
rapid progress and would not stand dry
spell. At Freeport grain is three inches high,
The stations generally reported advanced
crops. Perhaps 20 per cent Of the stations
were a little behind on this division. The
ground at Alexandria was getting dry, but
heavy shower the last of the week bettered
conditions. The weather conditions were gen.
orally excellent, there being no lack of rain.
Wadena reported that cold weather had re-
tarded the grain about five days.
Northern Division-The ground along this
crops. Some OF the stations needed more
rain. but this condition was not the rule. This
division comprises the best wheat growing
district Of the state, and the favorable reports
from nearly all of the stations are indicative
OF large yield. On this division the ground
was reported about follows all along: Fell
ton good, Glyndon dry, Ada good, Beltrami
good, Northcote good. St Vincent good Fisher
good, Mallory good, Sabin fine, Moorhead
frst-class, Fargo moist Buxton good, etc.
Dakota Division-This division comprises
the great No. / hard country and is part
of the most celebrated wheat country of the
Northwest. Without naming the stations in
dividually, the report can be summarized in
a few words of favorable comment. The
weather has been generally cool and favorable.
There have been rains but more would assist
in the rapid development of the growing
grain The condition of the ground is ex-
cellent several stations saying that the soil
was never better The grain is growing
rapidly and the wheat is generally in advance
of the season. There is large increase in