The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-26
THE GREATEST CROP

hold the attention OF the commercial
writer and the financial prophet. This
greatest Of all sources Of our, agricul-
tural wealth promises this year to hold
the high record of the preceding sea-
son. Corn is the only American crop
that in value approximates annually
billion dollars. In price materially be-
low wheat, it makes up in quantity a
wealth equal to an ordinary crop Of
wheat and cotton combined. More than
any other product of the farm, corn is
basic or fundamental in its wealth
creating and credit-preserving power.
: Tho hardly suited to the more north
ern states, where spring wheat thrives,
and doing best in the great belt that
runs thru Indiana, Illinois and Iowa,
corn grows over wide extent of .coun-
try. Texas raises it, and North Da-
kota, tho climatically less suited to it,
produces little. New England and
California, Michigan and the states Of
the extreme south raise it.. Of corn it
may almost be said that it is every
where. = ,.ts- e..
So much corn is produced in the
United States that the enormous fig
ures stand out distinctively in the crop
tabulation. In 1908 the country raised
2,244, 100000 bushels; in 1904. 2,467,-
100000; last year, $780,, 1905, 900, and
this year there is a. promise, based on
acreage and the condition, Aug. l, Of
2,713,000,000 bushels. ia. !. -. =. ...-
The meaning of this in the economic
consideration Of it Is very great. I'm
like other crops which find their way
to market in varying proportion and
move out almost In entirety finally, corn
remains unmarketed in greater part.
Indirectly, it is marketed for the live
stock of the country get their susten-
ance in good part from corn. SO many
and diversified are: its uses that one
may consume it in the form Of ham or
bacon or beef or in other forms, as
food. It enters into manufacture in
numerous ways. Principally, however,
corn is the great stock food of the
| country. Much corn never moves off
the farms where raised and not more
than about 40 per cent Of the entire
crop is shipped out Of the county that
produces it. E%
The effect Of deterioration in the
corn crop is usually found reflected in
the livestock markets. First effect Of
a lowering Of the crop promise is
bearish in cattle, for farmers hasten
to sell off their stock. Prices Of cattle
weaken and in some, degree the con-
sumner of meat is benefited. For this
he may always expect to pay dearly in
later development, for a. short corn
crop means fewer good cattle and high.
er meat eventually.
The railroads watch the corn closely
| no
duced by it Indirectly, there is a :.di-
rect tonnage Of approximately s." $780,.
900, 900 bushels, for greater or longer
Of $65,0oo,ooo in railroad gross earn.
Eings. Farmers and merchants. :, watch
the corn reports, for they know that a
good crop gathered gives the farmer
I stability. In any form 1t stands fol
wealth and ability to. purchase and to
pay obligations. - T. i a.
From now on the experts who esti
mate the crop will be getting busy. II
is tremendous task to cover the corn
crop. If one gets within 100000
bushels Of it he Is not making a bad
guess. The governments final figures
do not come until later in the year.
Early frosts are always to be feared
in corn. They may come any year
The crop this year passed safely thru
the periods that are often injurious anc
generally speaking escaped the drought
and kindred evils Frost could do seri
GUS damage, but reports are SO favor
able that big crop seems almost as
sured. Even at that. there are coun
ties in some states that have suffered
severely, but so big is the crop and 81
widespread that these bad sections are
unimportant relative to the whole.
A big corn crop seems the one re
naming thing to fill, the cup Of pros
perity to overlooking. Our country hal
been blessed with favorable condition.
for business, stability In politics ant
all the thin s that make for activity
and profit. We had good period las
year and have started into another crol
with the outlook most promising. A
big corn yield will clinch it and insure
another good year all around.