The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-13
Col. James McNaught Talks Of
the Big Wheat Crop.
YIELD LARGE AND PRICES HIGH
re rarner. or Eastern washiaEton
Oveejoyed IT Their Pro"Fects-
The Acreage In wheat This fcar
Win He Fally s Fer Cent. More
than Last Year and the Grain VITA
He or Cnnssaliy Fine Quality.

II predict that the coming year win be
one Of unsurpassed prosperity in the state
of washings on" sad Co.. James Nc
Nausht to- a Observation-Disclosures reporter
yesterday afternoon. Col. Mcknight has
jus, returned from a business trip TO Spo-
kane, and while In that part of the state
he visited his farming property. consisting
of sses acres. This property IS divided into
twenty-one farms. and the face Of Col.
Mcknight wore pleased expression when
he talked of the enormous yield of wheat
that will come from east of the noun
tains this year. The New York attorney
said:
Il have large farming interests in the
eastern part of Washington and 1 returned
today after inspecting my property. l as
sure you that the prospects for q large
crop of wheat could not be better. and 1t
IS pleasure TO talk to the farmers about
1t. They are overjoyed and have every
reason 10 be. While on my trip 1 made
very close observations and talked TO some
of the best posted farmers N the state OF
Washington. and ! am convinced beyond
q question Of doubt that the acreage this
year will be fully per cent. more than
1t was last year.. Ii will be remembered
that the crop last year went beyond the
widest expectations of everyone, and the
yield this year / am positive VIII be some
thing unheard Of in the history OF this
state.
There Is also every reason to believe
that the grain Will be OF an unusually fine
quality, as the elements have thus far
been in our favor. The outlook is al, that
could be expected. Another important
feature in connection with the wheat crop
this year is the fact that the prices wal
be higher than ever before. and the farm
ers will consequently be benefited ac-
ccrdingly. With the expected unusually
large crop and the exceptionally high
prices, thousands and thousands OF dollars
will be brought to the state Of Washing
ton ard an era Of unrivaled prosperity Will
follow.
Many parts of the country have already
suffered from drouths, and this IS true
more particularly of Southern California.
What will be a loss to those sections OF
the country which have already suffered
from dry weather will be our gain and we
cannot bit reap the benefits. The dry
spell in Southern California has put the
fruit growers In the eastern part of Wash
ington in good humor, and they also look
forward with eager expectation to the rich
harvest.
THE market price of wheat is now very
high and under the existing conditions
OF the country I don't believe that 1t Will
drop as low as II was before the advance.
for some time to come. The good prices,
which / believe will be maintained. to-
gether with the advantages which will
result from the drouth ir various parts
Of the country. will naturally bring great
prosperity, not only to the farmers. but
to others as WELL as most OF the money
that will be paid for the grain will be in
vested within the bofders Of the state.
Spokane is also experiencing very
busy season. and an air OF restored con-
fidence seems TO pervade every quarter
of the city. Rich mining property at Eu-
reka and Republic has been discovered and
much money is being expended in devei-
oping 1t.
Seattle is destined to become the largest
city on the Pacific coast north OF San
Francisco, and with such favorable condi-
tons prevailing everywhere the state is
bound to rank among the foremost in the
West"
Col. Mcknight was at one time local
counsel Of the Northern Pacific road and
afterward was elevated TO the position OF
general counsel but when the reorganixa-
OF the company and has since been i'm New
incidentally connected with number OF
large business enterprises. He is large
holder Of Seattle property and his visit TO
the Queen City may be extended for
few weeks longer.