Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-29
THIS YEARS GRAIN YIELD.
Crops Will Afford Large Tonnage for
Railroads, This Fall.

st. Paul, Mimi, July PA thorough
inspection of the grain crop Of the
Northwest States makes possible an
approximate accurate yield for this
year. Except for trif1ing damage that
may result to wheat from storms the
crop is made. Since July / there have
been but few hot days. The weather
has been Uniformly cool and wheat has
come through in good condition. Of
course what is in all stages of matur-
ity. 1t stands thin on the ground in
some localities and is heavy in others.
Its stalk varies in length from ten to
twenty-four inches, but nevertheless
that portion of the crop that escaped
injury from drought and from excess
sive rains is all right. The average
acreage will not be large but good
crop will be raised. Estimates made
by 800 crop reporters indicate the fol-
lowing yield for the Northwest:
Bushels.
Minnesota, 100000 900
North Dakota, 46,0000 900
South Dakota, 36,O000 900
These estimates eliminate all losses
that have occurred from any cause
t'iiu contemplate ollly tHC y lClu VI ILLS
grain, which is much better than the
conditions appeared to warrant four
weeks ago, and compares favorably
with the yield of last year when the
acreage planted is taken into consid-
Grafton. Wheat harvesting will begin
in the most favorable localities next
week and will continue for five or six
weeks. While there is no bumper crop,
there is enough grain to harvest to
make good showing in comparison
with other years. Harvest hands are
scarce, but because the wheat is in va
rious stages of maturity it is believed
that the farmers will get through with
little difficulty.
The weather conditions that have
made wheat crop possible have de-
layed corn, and this cereal in Mime
sofa, Iowa. South Dakota and Ne
braska will suffer a heavy loss. Over
a great area it will not mature. This
| may be set down as positive fact.
Corn is from twelve inches to four feet
high in the locality mentioned, and
while in the corn belt of Missouri Kan
sas, southern Nebraska and a small
area in South Dakota the crop will be
good, in the localities mentioned above
there is nothing more in sight than
fodder Just how great figure this
will cut in the aggregate yield, is a
matter difficult to determine, but prob
ably sufficient to stiffen corn prices for
| a long time
Flax. rye and barley and oats will
be good crops in the Northwest. With
the exception of flax, these grains are
| now being cut and stacked. From the
best information to be had it appears
that the acreage of barley, rye and oats
is much larger than last year, and
| what is lost in wheat will be made up
| by these grains and the excellent crop
| OF lax which is promised will make up
for the shortage in corn, so that the
farmer as rule will realize fully as
well upon this seasons crops as he did
last year.
j. j. Hill, president of the Great
Northern railroad, and one of the best
| authorities on crops in the West, de-
clares that the crops, although wheat
and corn may be a little shy, will af-
ford larger tonnage for the railroads
this fall than ever before. with what
we now have in sight" he says. there
need be no apprehension for the earn
ings of the Northwestern railroads dur
ing the next year"
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