The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-07-12
Crsps and Prosperity.

In July and to some extent in August the bread of the world is to great extent secured. A plentiful supply of bread is already assured in this coun- try and the wheat crops of other coun- tries are generally good. Cheaper bread has already come, and the com ing years bread may be reduced to still more satisfactory figures.
 To a big wheat crop is added pros pect of an ample corn crop. This great cereal for both man and beasts is borne today on 96,59O 900 acres, an in- crease of 1,524,000 acres over last years planting, and the condition of the crop on July i was satisfactory especially in the great surplus states. In Iowa, for example, the crop is rated by the government at 96, and in Illi- nois at 90. These ratings point to a large crop.
 All crops were reported to be in ex- cellent condition on July 1, including cotton. July and August are critical months in the corn and cotton fields, but if the two months are seasonable the harvest hands of great and al most boundless country will soon  gather in not only the food crops of the people, but much of their clothing as well. It cannot at this writing be said that anything points to a failure in any one of the great crops of the country. The weather has as a rule been favorable to crop growths.
 If the outturns of wheat, corn and cotton are satisfactory the slumps and freaks and antics of Wall street will not seriously disturb the rest of the country. When the farmers have plenty of money they will purchase goods and this will lead to activity in
 
 effects of good crops is shown in q recent Missouri letter published in the New York Evening Post. We quote from 1t:
 Speaking of prosperity" explained one merchant from Southern Nebraska. "a | farmer ten miles from town commenced cutting his wheat the other day. and | found that it was much better than he | had expected. He arose the morning fol- lowing and remarked to his family, T believe I'll have an automobile.' His wife | laughed at him, but he went to the tele- phone and called up the nearest county | seat town, twenty miles away. He asked | for the dealer in motor cars, and ordered one sent out. It came that forenoon; by | lunch time he was scaring the cattle with | the horn, and by evening he had the fami- | ly in his machine. and has all kinds of | fun. Is it the only one there? Oh. no. The rural mail carrier, even. delivers mail in one"
 The farmers of Alabama may not order automobiles this year. but the | prospect is that they will secure good corn and cotton crops, and the one will be worth to them not less than 60 cents a bushel, and the other will bring not less than 10 cents a pound. Ten-cent cotton cannot be long maintained with. out making Alabama rich and prosper ous. The cotton experts in Liverpool, New York and the southern exchanges say a crop of 11,000, ,000 bales will sell at 1887 cents; 11.500.000 bales at 12.SO; 12OOO,OOO, at 1O.92; 12,5OO,O ,OOO. at 10.O4, and 13.000, 900 bales at 9.10 cents a pound. No one anticipates a crop that will put spot cotton below 10 cents. The present New York spot price is about 10S0 cents. Not in three years has the New York spot ] price fallen as rule below 10 cents, and there is no reason for believing it will go below that price in twice as | many years to come.