The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-31
Who Are OF Opinion the Decrease May
BE Even Less IL Favorable
weather Is Continued.
FARMERS NOT TO BE LOSERS
INCREASED PRICE WILL NEARLY
MAKE Up FOR THE SHORTAGE.
General Trade Enlarged by Better
Crop Prospects and Confidence I'm
Early Ending Of Strike.


morrow will say: Late advices as to the
probable corn crop yield and as TO the re-
suit on business of the country have made
for a rather saner view of the subject than
could have been taken some six months
or two months ago. when the intense dry
heat wave prevailed. and when crop ex-
perts ragged up and down the land seeking
what they could destroy. With the great
est respect for the aforesaid crop authori-
ties, it might be added that the corn crop
suffered severely at their hands. but the
fortunate combination of plenteous rains
and not too hot growing weather since that
time have quite perceptibly repaired some
of the damage which the crop suffered
from various sources i'm the fevered days
of July. 1t was with the idea of getting
a clearer view of the actual situation in
the closing week of August that Bradstreet
sent inquiries to all it's offices and corre-
spondents, not only in the surplus corn
growing States. but i'm the leading Middle
and Southern States as well. This inquiry
contained questions as 10 the probable yield
as compared with year ago. the prices
being paid the farms for old corn now
as compared with year ago. the situa-
tion as TO the wheat yield. and the prob
able effect of the crop out-turn upon the
course of general trade ,he coming fall and
winter.
Touching the question OF ultimate yield.
IL must, of course. be kept i'm mind that
estimates TO the probable out turn mads-
must be I'm a high degree tentative
because of the fact that the harvest In
stun some weeks away and the prospect
of further Improvement IN plant conditions
may be balanced by early frost. This lat
ter feature, In fact. renders the weather
conditions during the next two weeks OF
more than ordinary interest. The general
tenor of the report a whole IL quite
favorable. This true of places where
the plant WAS not so far gone 10 be be-
yond helm ana even where this latter con-
clifton existed the effect OF timely moisture
upon the other crops has been so good an
10 deserve special notice.
THE SHORTAGE.
"A consolidation of the replies from tho
several surplus States OF iowa. Kansas,
Nebraska. Illinois. Missouri. Indiana and
Ohio. percentages of increase or decrease
by States being based upon the reported
yields as indicated by the Department or
Agriculture. point TO a reduction in tho
yield of those States OF not far from $780,
100000 bushels from a year ago. Smaller de-
creases are likewise indicated IN the SMALL
er corn-producing States, like Texas. Ten
nessee and kentucky. sufficient TO swell tne
shortage by perhaps 2o,OO0OU bushels.
Against this Is to be noted larger produc-
tions reported I'm such States New YORK.
Maryland, Virginia and South Dakota,
which. while not sufficient TO Offset these
decreases, still limit the falling on. so that
a shortage of not 10 exceed $4,000, ,00O BUSH
els In the countrys total crop " To be
looked for. The continuance OF the inn
provement noted In the late planted corn
crop, with the holding on of frost, may
still further operate 70 enlarge the total
yield In the lace OF the returns however.
a yield not less than l.4ovV0.0J bushels ~
indicated for lyOl,- "A decrease OF about %
per cent from year ago.
Questions as 10 the percentage OF the old
crop left i'm farmers hands now as COM
pared with year ago. contrary 20 some
expectations. snow that II Is smaller than
a year ago, and the consensus OF opinion
appears TO be that In the surplus-produc-
ing States such supplies are considerably
smaller than year ago, the old crop held
being quite generally reported as smaller
than usual owing TO the high price paid
for corn this year. Replies 10 the question
OF farm prices bring out the fact that
present prices per bushel are fully 40 per
cent. higher than "A year ago The farm
price for the entire United States a year
aeo. as reported by the Department OF Ag-
riculture. was I'm the neighborhood of 80
cents. and 40 per cent. Increase i'm price
would point TO at least 81 cents per bushei
being realized this year which. applied TO
a total yield of 400 100000 bushels. would
net a total return o of about s1l5.oooco this
year against $751; 10000 year ago. a de-
crease of only $36.oO0ooo, or less than per
cent.
the probable effect on general business the
coming season OF the shortage I'm corn. and
II is in high degree encouraging 20 learn
that Bradstreet's agents the country over.
I'm the ma 1Ority OF instances. look for little
that is hurtful TO follow from the corn
shortage this year. The fact seems 20 be
that the agricultural interests are I'm pretty
good shape at present. The wheat yield
generally has been good. i'm some districts
very large, and the prices received have
been very good. Those sections sending the
poorest corn crop reports. in fact. send the
hest advices as to wheat yield and returns
''The results OF the inquiry. therefore. in
dicate that. far from being the failure
earlier Indicated a fair crop will be
gathered. and that. thanks 10 the good
wheat and other crop Yields and 10 the
prosperous condition Of the a. rming inter-
eSts what would in years Of depression be
regarded as "A very poor crop outlook, ex-
ercises little adverse effect"