The Saint Paul globe., 1899-08-15

Accurate Averages in Advance of
the Threshing Returns-Ffgures
for Bumper Crops VIII Have to
Be Raised in the Future-EstI-
mates for the Three States.
The states of Minnesota, North Dakota
and South Dakota have apparently raised
a zoe, COO coo bushel crop of wheat in 1899,
the estimates being as follows:
Av Acreage. Bushels.
Minnesota ..........151a 900 $4,000 0G0
North Dakota. .1S12 100000 $500 900
South Dakota......n 3,3O0O0O 36,SOo,OOo
Approximate totals13S IA, 100000 1877, ,OOO, 900
This estimate is as compared with a
yield of 13O 900, 900 in 1897 and 225, ,O000 600 in
1898: There is now a practical agreement
in the Northwest that the acreage ranges
from 14060,000 to 15,00O,0 coo based on crop
distribution. This increase suggests that
on the basis of average the Northwest no
longer raises a. bumper" crop at 100000,
600 bushels The future bumper limit
must be $50 900, O00.
The immigrat ton into the three states
is heavy. Thousands of new acres are
under cultivation this year for the first
time. The tendency of this new land IS
toward wheat. On the other hand, for
the poor wheat lands of the older cultiva-
tion there is a tendency to decrease wheat
production by the substitution Of cattle
grazing. Large herds of cattle and sheep
are now seen in Central South Dakota
and other sections of the Northwest,
where wheat raising has been unprofita-
BILE, while in other sections diversified
farming is crowding the wheat area and
the cultivation of corn and other cereals
is increasing. Flax has become an i'm
portant crop in the three states.
In spite of the large increase in wheat
acreage since the bumper" crop of 1891,
there is little probability of further large
increase in the future. The breaking up
of the bonanza Red river valley farms
will tend to greater variety of production
there than is now the case; within a few
years there will be a disappearance of
many of these farms as at present con-
Quoted.
Speaking in general for the wheat crop
of the three states, 1t can be said that the
yield is uneven and sufficiently mixed to
make 1t difficult to arrange an estimate
in advance of threshing.
Three weeks ago the crop of central
and Southern Minnesota was unusually
even and of good promise. Hot
weather in July ripened the wheat un-
evenly with the result that 1t was cut In
central Minnesota a week earlier than in
the southern tier of counties. This un-
even ripening affected the berry unfavor-
ably, and the quality Of one-half of the
crop was settled by the four days of hot
weather late in July. The northern Sec
ton was not hurt by the hot weather OF
July, but since then severe hail storms
and one or two hot days have reduced the
prospective yield considerably
AS to quality, the new crop will have
its defects, although the wheat In general
is expected to have good milling quality.
The general Northwest crop situation
is full of promise for business. There
will be a large crop of wheat, corn and
flax, while oats barley, potatoes, hay and
live stock will round up a balance OF
production that is a practical guarantee
of good times. The country districts are
growing. There is large demand for
lumber, both for town and farm use. A
large amount of building is in progress
in the Northwest, every town showing
some addition to improvements.
The railroads are always Interested In
the wheat crop because of the important
part it plays in the annual earnings In a
general way it can be said that all tho
roads fare we'll this year. There will be
a little less wheat to haul, but an increase
of other grains and a moderate surplus
from the last crop should bring the grain
haul well up to last year The Milwaukee
is nicely situated this year. The weak
places of production in it's territory are
about as they were last year. The Omoha
and Northwestern territory will round up
earnings satisfactorily. The Minneapolis
& st. Louis has excellent prospects, all
of its territory having good crops. The
500 will make satisfactory haul, some
of its territory including the best wheat
in Minnesota. The Northern Pacific and
the Great Northern will haul less wheat
than last year, but a tremendous bust
ness will be done, nevertheless, and the
earnings record will run high Perhaps
in all lines the years crop tonnage will
closely approximate last year. Tho
Great Western, so far as it laps the
grain country, has good tributary crops
The year will prove to be a satisfactory
one for the railroads.