The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-28
Business and Crop Conditions.

Il
Business and Crop Conditions.
The attention Of the country, conn
mercially speaking, Is still held by the
situation on the Great Lakes and the
persistent efforts being made to break
the strike of the masters and pilots.
So far-reaching is the effect of this
tie-up that business in nearly every
leading line feels 1t more or less.
Cleveland, Duluth, Buffalo, Chicago
and Milwaukee are principal points
reporting some measure of success In
getting ahoat long delayed shipments;
yet the actual tonnage moved is as
nothing compared to what would orr
dinarily be afloat at this time.
From the fact that the first boats
of the coal fleet got away west bound,
and that several big grain cargoes
cleared from western ports to go
down the lakes, the vessel owners
have felt very much encouraged, and
from their reports the impression has
been gained that the backbone Of the
strike has been broken. To this writ
the case, and while the situation
shows Improvement, it is by no means
sure that the vessel owners will be
able to operate to any important ex-
tent against the strike, nor Is there
anything in sight. to promise an i'm
mediate settlement.
Minneapolis. is now feeling the ef-
feet more than formerly =
There appears to be a slight i'm
provement in the general flour stu
alton, and after some months OF dull
ness, turn about for the better is
due. The season is at hand when
big round-lot -four rates for later de-
livery are usually entered, and some
such business is likely to show up
soon; but, with the lakes practically
tied UP and the general rate situa-
ton unstable and uncertain, millers
shut down should open up next week
for a steady run, but this will depend
largely upon how the, lake situation
may shape itself meanwhile. S.7.:. .'Est
Incidental to this lake trouble are
some minor labor disturbances in the
east; yet, on the whole, the outlook
is not bad. This is not a good time
for strikes and labor leaders are not
SO blind as to fail to see it. Too many
men are being laid off by the railroads
and the big industrial concerns, and
the desire to scale down in the inter-
re- ~ ic
idle men are seen in the large cities
and the labor market has been weak
ened. Wherever man can be dis
pensed with there is disposition to
let him go. Even Wall street, the
place where close economy in office
| management is rarely practiced, is re-
| ported to be letting out good many
| clerks and accountants
| Locally it is the opinion that money
| is as easy now as it is likely to be
| and that hardening Of the market il
| to be expected thru the summer. The
Panama, canal payments, the fnan.
| cling Of the American share of the
Japanese loan and other large fisca
! operations have changed the complex.
| ion of money affairs in the east. The
west will need more money soon tt
meet the revival in trade, which
while not very great, is at least max
ing for more activity than formerly
Conservatism is still noted every
where, but it is not increasing; on the
| contrary, the tendency. now is toward:
a more hopeful view and expectation
Of good business later on. ta
The week brought reports of a IA
vorable nature concerning crops. Win
ter wheat has held it's own, and IL
some important producing states i'm
provement is noted. The country i
reconciled. to the fact that a bumpe
winter-wheat crop is mot. to be ex
pected and that the. total may fal
we'll under last year. Spring wheat
on the other hand. is doing very well
Acreage estimates are still indef1nit
and varying. The one thing certain
is that the spring wheat is very lat
and that good growing season i
necessary to bring it to maturity be
fore the period Of crop damage. Blu
we are on the threshold of June, an
June is the great growing month, an
from the very fact that the seaso
has been 50 backward and the north
west has had so much cold and we
: weather, it would seem that ther
should be a good month coming t
: even things up.