The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1898-09-09
FARMERS PRospERrNG.
II. G.. Dun q Co.'s Annual Crop Report for
Arkansas shows Much Progress and
Good Yields of All Products.


Following is a general summary of
X. G. Dun & Co.'S annual crop report
for the entire state of Arkansas. The
report shows that, notwithstanding the
low price of cotton, the farmers will
find themselves in better circumstances
this fall than for several years, due
principally to diversified crops. In
other words, the agriculturists are pro.
ducing much that they have hereto
fore purchased from foreign producers,
thereby lessening their cash expenses.
and leaving them with money with
which to improve and increase the pro-
ductions of their farms. Dun's report
says:
Arkansas farmers are becoming
more prosperous and independent every
year. Crops, in general, have never been
so diversified as at the present time, and
while cotton is still the leading product,
1T is no longer the only one. More
wheat has been raised and harvested
than was ever known before in the his
tory of the state, and the result, 50 far
as yield is concerned, is most crafty
ing; it is still a new crop with us, and
farmers will yet handle it so that they
will get greater results, and it will
soon be one of the leading products of
the state. Much attention has also
been given by the farmers to cattle and
hog raising, and the increa.e in this
line over preceding years ID remarlsa-
BILE. The bountiful yield of corn this
year has been the largest for many
seasons. We will also harvest large
crop of hay, oats. potatoes, sorghum
and other kindred crops. which will
help materially to make the Arkansas
farmer self-sustaining. It Is, indeed,
gratifying to notice the lteady inn
provement that is being made all over
the entire state. The demand for
threshing machines in this section has
been unprecedented; in addition to this,
flour and grist mills are being erected
everywhere, and the small farmers who
own their own land are more indepen-
dent than ever before-mortgages are
being gradually wiped out, and there
are now believed to be less farms under
mortgage in this state than for many
years previous, which is a healthy show
ing, and the outlook for the great state
years past, and she is fast coming to the
front Her statistics as an agricultural
state is one that every citizen of this
commonwealth should be proud of. One
| of her greatest wants is more railroads,
especially in counties that have no rail-
| road communication, which would make
the wealth Of crops, timber, coal, etc,
| more accessible to the markets
| From information received the cotton
| yield in the hills or uplands will be larger
| than last year, though in some locali-
ties it is reported that the crop has suf-
| fered some damage from excessive heat
during the latter part of August; how
| ever, the indications are that the up
| lands will raise full crop. In the bot
toms, or lowlands, the reports are not
SO favorable, where there has been
| complaint of too much rain, making it's
| growth rank and not well fruited and
in some localities some damage has
been done by boil worms and "sharp
shooters. There is also complaint from
| the overflowed district, where the
growth has been great and too rapid.
1.-THE consensus of opinions are to the
effect that in the low lands and bot
toms the cotton crop will be % per cent
short. The average acreage in cotton
is said to be from II per cent to IA per
cent less. Taking the state as whole.
full average crop will be raised. The
crop is said to have been made cheaper
than ever before. The market has not
opened as strong as last year; Septem.
ber 1, 1897, middling in New York was
quoted at z 13-16c, and on September /,
1898, the New York quotation for mid
ding was 5 15-16c. These figures show
a much lower price this year than at
the same time last year. in fact. the
opening price this year is lower than it
was in 1897 and 1895 during the same
period. AS compared with last year
the price is two cents lower. The sur.
plus and visible stock on hand Septem.
Der 1, 1898, is estimated at 900, 900 bales
and with this large surplus in sight
and the new crop coming in, together
with the depression existing among
spinners, causes the market to be bear
ish and the outlook for better prices is
not encouraging.
s.As rule merchants throughout.the
state are in good shape; they have
bought judiciously and many mer-
chants have been doing, practically
speaking, cash business, the credit
business being confined to larger mer-
chants The indications are that col.
lections will be good and merchants, as
rule, will meet their Indebtedness
promptly. The low-priced cotton will
cause farmers to economic more or
less and the volume of business will
depend to considerable extent on the
price the consumer realizes on his cot
ton; however, as already stated, large
crops. other than cotton, have been
raised and these facts alone make the
business outlook, to say the least,
promising. and it is believed the mer-
chant will make more money during
the coming year than he has for sew.
eral years past"
| Bold Assault.
George Deane, colored, assaulted a