Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-08-18
PROSPERITY AND THE cRops-

- spiIe VI lHe TACT tnat preSlden-
tlal campaign Is about to begin. one
In which both sides are already claim.
ing a victory, the prospects for crops
ana therefore prosperity claims the at
tent1on OF the whole nation. The sea.
son has been an unusually good one for
wheat corn, potatoes and cotton and
the only disturbing element thus far
has been the rust that has appeared in
the northern wheat fields and which
mas driven the price of the cereal as
high as s1.O7 per bushel.
The farmers of the corn producing
territory of the middle west expect a
good crop. The summer has been an
almost ideal one for corn, with it's hot
days and sufficient amount of rain.
In some places the stand is reported
as a little short of the average but a
general average finds the crop in good
condition. The next few weeks will
decide whether it will be full one or
not.
Henry Clews. whose views of the
general condition of the country are
respected for their correctness, finds
much encouragement in the present
prospect for crops. In his weekly let
ter he takes bright view of the flu
ture and remarks, among other things,
that the high prices to be secured for
the products of the agriculturist's time
and labor will atone for the shortage
in the yield. Mr.. Clews' letter says:
Another week has passed without
any very serious damage to crops, or
without materially reducing earlier
estimates of the harvest. Wheat has
risen to an unusual figure, $1O7, owing
to REPORTS of injury by rust The gov
eminent report for August 1-,has been
issued, indicating crop of COS, 100000
bushels of wheat and 1854 900 900
bushels of corn. Some deterioration
has taken place in wheat since the
above report, and private estimates are
current as low as 550,OOO,O 900 bushels.
High prices for wheat seem reasonably
certain, since short crop and increas-
ing nome consumption mean less sur
plus for export at time when Eu-
ropes necessities are urgent; the
worlds wheat crop being anywhere
from so to 100 millions less than last
year. Growers, therefore, should re-
ceive good prices for their product in
com pensation for shortage.
Cotton we are likely to have in
plenty; and as this years heavy cur
tailment by mills is depicting the sup
ply Of cotton goods, the worlds visible
supply of cotton also being much re-
duced, there is every reason to be-
lieve that the planter will receive a
fair price for his product, even though
| it be below last years fancy and fic-
titious figures. August is almost in
variably month of declining condi-
ton in cotton, but allowing for that
fact, the trade estimates of 10000, 900
bales on this staple are not far from
government figures. There is dispo.
sition to create scare concerning the
boil weevil, also on the scarcity of la
Dor; but the former seems to be doing
less harm than last year, and the latter
problem is one that will probably set
tie itself A slight rise in the wages
of cotton pickers, which planters can
easily afford, will very likely attract
an ample supply of labor, which has
temporarily gone to the cities, where
employment was easier to obtain. The
oats, barley, hay and potato crops all
promise better than year ago, and
allowing for ordinary setbacks, the out.
look remains for better harvest than
in 1908.
THE corn crop is still the subject
Of most concern, for while the condi-
! ton Is reported at 81, or nearly 9 points