The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-08-28
NORTHERN TIER OF STATES
WILL PRODUCE 216,000,000
BUSHELS OF WHEAT.
Walter Clark Writes On Crop Situa-
tion-crops More Than Double
In q Few Years.

cate that the northern tier of seven
states, stretching from the head
waters of the Mississippi river On the
east to Puget sound on the west, will
produce not less than 216,000, 900
bushels of wheat this year, writes
Walter E. Clark, the Washington cor
respondent. These states are an i'm
mense granary. Their wheat crop
has more than doubled in the last
few years, and the harvest in these
seven states alone is annually from
35 to 40 per cent. Of the aggregate for
the whole country In 1904 Minneso-
ia, the two Dakotas, Montana, Idaho,
Washington and Oregon had a COM
bined spring and winter wheat crop
of 2O9,413,4S7 bushels, or nearly 38
per cent. of the total crop in the
United States. This year the harvest
will probably be about 100000
bushels larger.
Expect Big Movement.
The railroads have already COM
pleted arrangements for moving the
crop. The whole territory is tribu-
tary to the Northern Pacific, the
Great Northern, the Burlington, the
St. Paul road, the Northwestern and
tie Oregon Short Line, and the traf-
fic managers look for a volume of
business in wheat transportation
alone at least per cent. larger than
in 1904.
Rust has affected the crop rather
seriously in Minnesota, and the con-
dition of the growing crop as reported
to the agricultural department this
month is six points below the record
of last August. On the other hand,
the estimated acreage in Minnesota is
one-fiftieth larger than in 1904, and
the present outlook is for a crop Of a
little more than 100000 bushels
short of last years harvest. In every
ether state in the list of seven the
conditions are more favorable than at
this time in 1904, and there is good
promise of an increased production.
Most Favorable In Washington.
The most favorable conditions are
L. the state of Washington, increased
acreage and the condition of the
growing crop being considered. The
acreage conditions are as follows:
Minnesota, per cent. larger area
than last year; North Dakota, 9 per
cent larger; South Dakota, 2 per
cent smaller; Montana, 10 per cent.
larger; Idaho, 1 per cent. larger;
Washington, Z per cent. larger; and
Oregon, 2 per cent. larger. In the
case of Minnesota the increased acre
age is probably more than offset by
the decrease in condition Of the crop
as compared with August of last year.
In the six other states the condition
is in, ariably improved.
Nai,,ng an estimate of this years
crop of the spring wheat on the some
what uncertain basis Of condition"
combined with the reasonably sure es-
innate Of acreage as made by CORE
spondents Of the agricultural depart
ment, a harvest of 192,955,235 bushels
is indicated in the northern tier of
states this year. Last years spring
wheat crop in the same states was
1S2,696,SS6 bushels. On the other
hand, the winter wheat crop, which
is confined to the states of Idaho,
Washington and Oregon, will probably
rot be as large as last year. the in
dIcaIlCns are for a combined spring
and winter crop of 216,615,044 bushels,
as compared vita 2O9,413,4S7 bushels
in 1909.
May Increase Acreage.
These calculations may be upset by
an increase in the acreage estimate
larer in the year. In 1904. for in
stance, the bureau of statistics of the
Horticultural department gave the acre
age of winter wheat in Washington
as many thousand acres more at the
end of the year than was estimated
ny the same authority in the spring.
If tire same condition should obtain
this year the total estimated crop