The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-29

= lI1E
will see steady increase in the agficul--
tural implement trade of Minneapolis and
the prestige of this market.
Corn Coming Up.
Years ago when one of the pioneer i'm
migration agents Of the west was bringing
people to Iowa and endeavoring to keep
them from going north into Minnesota
and the Dakotas he inscribed on his ad-
vertising matter these words: you're
long ways from home where you can't
raise corn" The changes which have
been in progress in the machinery trade
in the past two years indicate that Min
nesota and the Dakotas are not far from
home Corn tools have been taking the
place of wheat machinery in some sec
tions of the central northwest. The bind
er trade has suffered in the southern
part Of the state while corn cultiyators
and some corn binders are more In evil
dence. In the Dakotas and central and
northern Minnesota machinery for seed
ing and harvesting the small grains has
increased in volume of sales While
enough corn tools have been sold to
make the variety and the trade some DIFF
ferent than any previous year.
Immigration and Implements.
The seasons big implement and ma
chinery trade started with a hurrah early
in the year. With the vast immigration
flowing into the northwest dealers saw
that an immense amount sof breaking and
seeding machinery would be wanted early.
There was a rush Of orders to this center
for plows. This business rolled back on
the factories and "swamped the works. ;"
The factories were unable to secure the
steel necessary, the Minneapolis jobber
and agent was disappointed and what
promised to be a tremendous increase IN
spring business was cut down to some
extent. The results showed fine in
crease over any previous year. but IT the
factories could have responded to the de-
mand in all cases the increase would have
been phenomenal.
In some parts Of Minneapolis territory
the harvester companies have been dis
appointed in the years business. In other
sections it has gone far beyond their ex-
pectations and the results on the whole
show good increase. The southern part
of the state and South Dakota have been
a disappointment. Central Minnesota
and North Dakota have increased their
sales. -.@ -.
With the threshing machine companies
1t Is different story. Minneapolis ma
chimes have sold we'll in the southwest
from the beginning Of the year, and trade
good. All sections Of Minnesota have
bought more threshing machines than in
any previous year. North Dakota has al
most doubled her purchases and South
Dakota has come to the front with good
increase Last year made new. figures in
sales Of threshing machines. This year
will put the record in the northwest on
higher pegs. The excellent crop of small
grains in the entire grain district of the
west has contributed to prosperous year
for the Minneapolis manufacturers.
"Specialties" an Important Factor.
What the trade terms "specialties'' have
done much for Minneapolis record as a
machinery mart. Gradually more manu-
factories, jobbers and agents Of these spe-
cial lines of machinery are locating here.
Two factories making threshing machine
specialties have recently located In Min
neapolis. Agents for other lines of ma
chinery. used in connection with the agri-
cultural industry Of the northwest are
increasing the total trade Of Minneapolis
materially. -.
Vehicles, carriages and wagons, kin
dred line with farm implements and ma
chinery, have brought millions Of dollars
in orders to Minneapolis this year. The
new immigration helped the wagon trade
to a considerable extent. The older Sec
t1ons of the northwest have been making
big purchases of the better grades OF
carriages. The Minnesota farmer has
reached that point where he can afford it,
and the traffic is making profitable and
satisfactory feature of the trade Of i'm
plement jobbing houses and machinery
agencies in the northwest. For time
this year some Of the local concerns were
unable to get orders for vehicles filed by
the factories. The situation finally
Strengthened itself out, however, and
rounded out a good seasons business.
In this connection it can be noted that
this branch of jobbing has a good pros
pect for 1908. The present crop has put
the farmer and country merchant and
business man ar, in shape to buy more new s
forced to move on a higher plane Of prices
will undoubtedly contribute an increase
next year. Minneapolis manufacturers OF
wagons and carriages have had good
trade, the best In the history OF thei1
plants, and will increase their facilities
Pushing Out Trade Lines.
Minneapolis implement jobbers are en-
terprisingly reaching out for more terri
tory in the far west and southwest.
They have been reasonably successful in
| WASHINGTON, Idaho and northern Cali
fornia, and are encouraged over the pros
poets for an increase in trade from that
region. In the southwest Kansas City and
| Chicago have furnished hot competition
against these advances, but this market
has made considerable progress notwith.
| standing.
Possible combinations Of manufacturers
have at various times threatened to re.
duce the number of agencies In those
lines located In Minneapolis. This was
true of the p1ow combination which came
near being a reality at one juncture. The
! harvester continuation will probably cut
down the number Of agencies In that lin
located here and reduce the force
operated from Minneapolis. The volume
Of business done from this point will
however, be unaffected. The northwes
will want more machinery with each nev
year Of: good crops and the machiner,
must come from Minneapolis as the mos
economical point for northwest distribu
III cansolida fion in all lines /