The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-07-12
CROP CONDITIONS
VERY PROMISING
Work of Tariff Conference Committee
should Not Last over Two Weeks.
Privilege Tax viii Likely Be
Adapted.

NEW YORK, July12.-Events of tn,
week were generally of favorable
nature. Progress is still the order o
the day in Industrial circles, and man,
of our manufacturing plants are now
running at or near their full capacity
The press Of orders for railroad and
other constructive work has been SC
urgent that the steel trade continues
particularly active; the output of pig
iron during the first half of the cur
rent year having been 100000 tons,
compared with 100000 tons during
the same time in 1908. This does not
show full resumption of old time
activity, the record output for the
first half of 1907 being 13,400,O0 tons;
but the result for the past six months
certainly indicates most gratifying re-
cnperation. The great textile interests
OF the country are also in a very sat
isfactory condition. Owing to the ex-
tensiye curtailment of production
which prevailed last year after the
panic. there are few signs of over
supply In any direction; In fact,
scarcity is the rule. Prices are high,
too high in some particulars, because
consumption is being visibly re-
strained thereby; yet there is gen.
.eral absence Of speculation in the tex
tile trades. and large distribution Of !
fabrics is confidently anticipated dur
ing the balance of the year. In other |
departments of trade and industry the |
outlook is also favorable. Produc-
tion is rapidly regaining normal pro-
portions; labor is generally well en-
ployed, and complaints are few. The
country continues. of course, upon a
high level basis, and there are no indi-
cations of any early change in this
respect. for the simple reason that,
speaking in general terms, supply has
not yet exceeded demand; and the
inflationary effect of cheap money
is becoming more and more evident.
The most important element re-
garding the future is the crop situa-
hole. is very
ton. This, too, as w.
The sharp drop In con-
dition of cotton recently reported was
a surprise and caused brisk advance
in that staple. Cotton, however, is
late plant: two months still remain
before full maturity of the crop; dur
ing that time much recovery VIII be
possible, and 1t should be borne in |
mind that no crop was ever very seri'
ously damaged by excessive rain, ex-
cept in the lowlands, the injury there
often being offset by the benefit IN
upland districts; to which rain is rare
" cause of more than temporary
disaster. The corn crop continues ex-
ceedingly promising, and predictions
are still being made for record break
ing s,160, 100000 crop. This is the most
important crop of all. not only to
our farmers, hut to the railroads. The
practical certainty of high prices for
agricultural products, even shouin
they recede from ,present levels.
means another profitable year to the
farmers. II means also heavy traffic
for the railroads, and should be bene-
ficial in providing an abundance oil
feed for the cattle raiser The gov
eminent report showed much improve
ment in conditions Of wheat and The
output Of winter wheat is likely TO
prove larger in quantity and better