Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-08

An Important Factor In Prosperity
OF the state.
New York Tribune.

An Important Factor In Prosperity
OF the state.
New York Tribune.
The winter wheat yield for Nebraska will
amount, according to conservative esti-
mates, to 100000 bushels. In only one
previous season was this total ever equalled.
but in quality the wheat OF that year
would not even approach that Of this. As
direct result the tide Of prosperity in Ne
braska was never before running so high
and the prospects for the future were never
more roseate
Early in the spring the Hessian fly scare
threatened the crop in a large section of
the wheat belt but nature came to the aid
OF the wheat grower and killed the pest
Meanwhile weather conditions continued
perfect, and the wheat, when ripe and sen.
through the thresher was found to weigh
sixty pounds and over to the bushel. Many
fields in fact, were found to have yielded
wheat that weighed out sixty-four and six
ty-five pounds 1t commanded top prices
Immediately from the miller or elevator
agent as No. 1 hard wheat.
The quality of western wheat for several
seasons, chiefly because of heavy rains
while the grain was in shock, has been
poor and millers have been almost frantic
to secure the grade of wheat that the trade
demanded. The milers are now determined
to lay in a supply of the high grade article
for future use, and although the threshng
season is less than two weeks old in Ne
braska the demand in the west in the local
markets has already absorbed every car of
wheat sent to the grain centers OF Kansas
City, Omaha and Lincoln, the chief marts
in the trade.
The movement Of a bumper crop OF wheat
Is more Of a problem than the unnitiatAd
,,,Eg 10
alone, only a little figuring is required to
discover the vast number Of freight trains
needed to ship 1t out OF the state. Estl-
mating the average carload of wheat at
10000 pounds and figuring sixty pounds to
the bushel II is seen that carload con-
tains only 500 bushels. With the states en-
tire crop of $1,000 900 bushels, II follows that
10000 cars would be required to handle the
total This is almost staggering, but II
represents cold facts and tells in striking
fashion the prodgious possibilities of the
average western state in favorable crop
year
But the winter wheat crop, although un-
precedentedly valuable to the state is not
any in advance of the prospects for other
staples which contribute to Nebraska's
prosperity. Spring wheat and oats are
virtually ready for the sickle, and the
that of winter wheat. Corn, the real sta
pie and upon which Nebraska farmers place
their chief dependence, holds out every
hope of record breaking crop, and with
another heavy corn crop, such was
gathered a year ago, bank vaults through
out the commonwealth will be fairly bulg
ing with farmers money.
Nebraskas advancement financially is
best described by glance at the growth
in the deposits in it's banks. In 1896 all
of the banks in the state, both national
and state, contained only $32, 1900 in de-
posits. The deposits today exceed $780,
600 900, and each quarterly statement of
the State Banking department shows a
heavy increase over the one preceding.
Eastern bankers better than all others
are becoming aware of the financial indie
pendence of the west Only a few years
ago western bankers, in order to furnish
the elevators and shippers with money
to pay the farmer and thus move the grain,
found 1t necessary to borrow heavily from
the eastern money centers. But this condi-
ton has almost completely passed away.
The western banks now have the money
deposited by the farmers, and the only
source of anxiety is as to the crops them
selves.
The Nebraska Bureau of Labor has just
! completed its annual bulletin of the values
of the states surplus products. The fig
ures are compiled from statements fur
nished the Bureau of Labor by the rail-
road and express companies. and cover
only shipments that have crossed the state
line Upward of $50 staple articles are
enumerated, but corn, wheat, live stock
and packing products make up the bulk
| of the total.
| The surplus in the principal products for