The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-08-15
THE WHIRR
OF HARVEST
Cutting Is Now General
Throughout the Spring
+ Wheat District.
Harvest Conditions Satisfac-
tory-Flax Has Replaced
Wheat. i =

North Dakota and northern Minnesota,
which have presented the most interest
Ing features of this years crop, are pro-
crossing we'll with a much drawn out
harvest. Wheat cutting under favorable
weather conditions Is becoming general
in the northern counties. Some early
fax is ready for the binder and 1t is ex-
pected that the harvesters will be busy
in most of the crop in the big fax district
in two weeks. The possibilities for bust
ness in the present northwestern crop are
great. Country merchants expect the best
business year in the history of the entire
territory tributary to Minneapolis. The
northwest will have a good surplus of
feed grains to sell. Development Of the
smaller towns and cities as well as the
big centers will establish new records.
Conditions in the Valley. 49,
On the whole the Red river valley
counties of Minnesota and North Dakota
have done we'll The Red river valley
proper which comprises a territory about
thirty miles wide along the banks of that
stream has brought its grain crop along,
excellently considering the handicap
Of flooded lands during the spring, but the
valley proper has had too much grief to
make a satisfactory showing. In Mime
sofa, Kittson county, and especially the,
section from Kennedy north, has a good
crop. Around Warren it is not bad. Be-
low Warren it is worse. From Crookston
south along the Great Northern to the
Northern Pacific the crop generally Is
poor although the region must be given
credit for the showing it has made under
the conditions. The eastern portions OF
these counties have a good yield. Waile
western Polk has suffered from an un-
favorable spring, the eastern part OF the
county raised its usual fine crop of grain
The same Is true of the eastern portions
of other counties in this springs wet dis
trict. From Fertile south on 4aae Nortta-
ern Pacific there is a good d0p. From
Fertile to Grand Forks 1t is unsatisfact-
DRY. 50 49, g s32s s, zs e5s
The western portions of Pembina,
Walsh, Grand Forks, and Cass counties
! have held their own on grain yields and.
partly equalized the unsatisfactory show
ing in the section along the Red River.
Cass county suffered more from the sur
plus of moisture in the spring than the
rest of the valley counties. Richland
county was outside the wet district and
has raised fine crop of grain on nearly
all Of it's acreage. Wilkin county, Mime
sofa, has also scored fair yield. -.
Weather Has Been Favorable. :
| Up to date conditions for maturing and
harvesting the crop in western North Da-
kota have been most satisfactory. One
night when the mercury sagged down
close to the frost line in some sections
| the northern counties shuddered. but
| that has been the only exception to gen.
orally satisfactory weather program.
There is little difference In the general
crop story in the entire country west OF
the Red River valley. Lamoure, Ransom.
Sargent and Dickey counties in the south
ern part of the state which have faced
unequal weather conditions through Pc
riod of years have produced good crops.
There Is difference Of opinion as to the
prospective fax yield of this year COM
pared with that of last in the western
counties. Some OF the best grain authori-
| average as we'll in the western counties
as last year. s- -
l. Depressing Factors in Wheat.
| Northern Minnesota and North Dakota
present the most interesting feature in
the study of the northwest's grain acre
age 1t is largely told in the wet district
in the Red River valley and the stampede
to fax in the west. There has been an in
crease in the wheat acreage of some OF
| ho Int n ha INN "a
amount of new land cultivated for the
first time this year In North Dakota wheat
has been given a small place. 1t is al
most unanimous for fax. Wheat has also
lost to some extent on the older land.
This is true in the counties Immediately
west of the Red River valley. The big
fax district is in Benson, Pierce, Bottin-
eau. McHenry. Towner. Ramsey, Ward
Wells, Eddy, Foster and Nelson. In the
? new land recently opened along the mail
line Of the Northern Pacific and in what
new acreage there is west of the Missouri
river wheat was seeded to greater ex.
tent than. in the counties farther north.
The counties south of the Northern Pa
cifc have been turning their attention
more to stock which explains the shrink
:. age In wheat acreage In that section.
A New Producing Section.
The Mouse River valley in northwestern
, North Dakota enters the grain lists this
:. year for the first time as heavy pro-
:. Queer. While the settlement of this val
ley and the adjacent country has been In
progress for some years, the past two
years have seen the larger area of land
broken. Flax is the principal story In
that region. 49,.
Along the 500 road from Valley City to
Portal fax is the leading crop. If the
grain natures without much damage faa
will cut big figure in 500 earnings. This
is the second year in which farmers
, along the 500 line seeded fax heavily and
,, with fair price the venture will be
satisfactory. The northwest has begun 9
. new story of prosperity for its railroads
for the coming year. The Soo's earnings
ought to increase largely, taking into con.
sideration the grain tonnage in sight and
the transportation Of merchandise Incl.
, dent to the development Of new country
The merger lines, with the exception of 8
! small mileage in the Red River valley
share in the same excellent results. The
. North Western and Milwaukee will pull
we'll from South Dakota and southern
) | Minnesota. The branch lines of the
!, Great Northern, Northern Pacific and the
500 in Minnesota and North Dakota will
, be big factor in the earnings OF the
coming year.
General Conditions Good.
Many OF the northwestern cities and