Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-22
CROPS ARE BOUNTIPUL
NATURE CONTRIBUTES TO THE
GENERAL PROSPERITY.

The annual crop and business report %
the Commercial National Bank of Cha
cago just issued covers the Mississippi
valley and a few OF the more important
states OF the Pacific coast.
THE wheat crop of 1906" the report
says, will be among the largest and best
ever produced. The yield viii be great,
and the weight and quality will be far
beyond the ordinary. In these respects Il
may be considered nearly perfect. The
period OF uncertainty is closing rapidly,
and the crop may now be called practis
cally out of danger. The yield of sole
winter wheat Is large, quality the finest
and movement free. Inasmuch as this
movement has begun early. and all grains
are now nearly, or quite on an export
basis. with the tendency of prices down.
ward. a large export business may be exc
pected.
A Promising Corn Crop.
TN what may be termed the northern
zone of the corn belt, embracing the
northern part of Indiana and Illinois, all
Of Iowa and Nebraska, northern Missouri
and portions Of Kansas, the corn crop is
large and unusually promising, except IN
southern Iowa, where the condition is
spotted and rain needed. In the southern
zone of the same belt. embracing SOUTH
ern and central Indiana and Illinois. parts
OF Missouri and Kansas, the crop has
been affected by dry weather and Is back
ward: the prospect is quite discouragins
unless rains come shortly, followed by
continued favorable conditions and late
fall. We estimate the total corn crop to
be about or per cent larger than last
year.
"On the whole. the oats crop will aver
age fair to good, and the aggregate yield
year.
The condition of barley is especially
good in five important states-California,
Minnesota. Wisconsin, Iowa and North
Dakota. The total yield for the United
States should be about 143.400,00O bush-
els.
THE average condition of the rye crop
is about 3 per cent better than in 1905.
The hay crop is quite short.
Cotton Yield Beats Last Year
Cotton in the southeastern states has
been damaged by too much rain. making
it two three weeks backward in some
sections. Taken as a whole, the yield
will exceed last years by a fair margin.
In the western southwestern cotton states
the cror is in fine condition. and on ac-
count of somewhat increased acreage VIII
yield at least 20 and probably % per cent
better than last year. The crop seems
siagularly free from insects, weevil or
other pests, and the promise is fine. 1t Is
tco early yet for reliable estimates"
Under the head of business summary
the report says:
Letters from the leading bankers in
all ordinary central reserve cities show
without exception that the business and
financial situation is excellent and all
that could be desired; the outlook is en-
couragng and entirely satisfactory. In
deed 1t seems that we are entering upon
a period where it is not unreasonable to
expect realization of legitimate profits Oh
the large amounts that have been ex-
pended in the betterment of railways and
Industrial enterprises during the past
eight years; increased earnings inevitably
must bring increased dividends.
Banks Are Strong.
With the exception of some of the
smaller cities in the middle west, banks
throughout the whole country report a
strong. active and healthy demand for
mcbey at firm rates. and while there Is
no prospect of recession in interest rates
money is and probably will continue 10
be abundant for legitimate business
needs. The disquieting features are the
complications and the domestic political
unrest manifested in growing sentiments
of socialism and fanatical antagonism to
organized capital well as large tndi-
vidual and all forms of Incorporated in
terests.
Every line Of industry shows large
volume with increasing activity; pros-
perity is general, and nowhere are thero
any signs of its diseontinuance. Evidence
Is not lacking, however, that the con-
servative element particularly the lead-
ing bankers in the large cities, realize
that such unprecedented prosperity canA
not be expected to continue indehnltelys
ume of business, as we'll as personal ex~
frava pance should be checked.