The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-07-30
CHICAGO NEWS Letter

Chicago, July 2s.-Big preparations
for big crops at high prices are being
made by Chicago houses for their
trade in the middle west, where the
corn prospect is beyond parallel, in
the south where cotton promises bet
ter than the average even if prices
are low, and in the far west and
northwest where there is every indi-
cation of bumper crop of wheat.
The government reports, when Invested
of their statistical garb, show that
the potato crop will rival the hay
crop, which is not up to l90S's, and
that nearly everything but fruit prom
ises big returns. The only rival to
the increased acreage and prospective
crop of corn in the United States is
Canadas prospect of wheat, amount
ing this year to 100000 bushels
more than in 1908. The reports of
the agents of the Grand Trunk Pa
clfic confirm the figures of the pro-
vincial governments, and the figures
were supported further recently by
ID. ID. Mann, vice president of the
Canadian Northern railway, after a
1000 mile tour of the western provin-
ces. Comparing this with the 7,2lS,-
OOO-acre increase of corn, IL per cent,
he said: "From present indications
the 1909 wheat crop in Canada will
exceed l40,OOO,O00 bushels. The acre
age under crop has been increased
this year about 20 per cent, condi-
tions have been ideal all through the
summer, the rains coming just when
needed, and it looks now as if we
might expect 100 per cent yield.
Railroads in the United States are
not bestirring themselves with prepa,
rations for the big corn increase as
those of Canada are rushing work to
handle the flood of wheat. The Grand
Trunk Pacific has completed it's line
into Edmonton within the last few
days, and is rushing work on its great
lakes outlet. "The 100000 American
settlers who have crossed to Canada
in the last few years, under the ex-
cellent prospects for big crop, are
and have cause to be very contented
with their lot" was the comment of
one big Canadian railroad man. AS a
result the Canadian trade has come to
be big item with many Chicago
houses, owing to the preference of the
Americans for American goods.
The science of women's dress dis
played by "blue- stockings" from abroad
when contrasted during the visit OF
the foreign delegates to the Interna.
tional Council of Women in Chicago
with costuming as American club WON
EN- do it did not take rank with tneil
intellectually. The visitors, of course
were just completing their fortnight's
tour of the northwest but even with
due allowance for travel stains the
hostesses were really embarrassed by
their reluctance to outshine then
guests. The impression of the visitors
that remains involves brassy and Wis.
IDLE safety pins playing proxy fol
buttons, Haunting independence OF
skirts, blouse and belts, hair devoid OF
marcels, rats or puffs but bounteous
in struggling locks and general un
kemptness. In some notable cases
there was cheerful disregard of neat
ness and apparel la mode. Foreign
brains matched well with Americans
and the visitors had the advantage in
being able to chatter fuently i'll from
three to five tongues about questions
of economics, finance, franchise and the
white slave traffic, but their appeal to
the eye was on the whole faulty. The
foremost representative of the Ameri-
can contingent, Miss Jane Adams of
Hull house, was color poem in blues
and grays that matched her eyes and
hair, and Mrs. Charles Henrotin, Miss
Mary Mcdowell of the University Set
Element, Mrs. Henry Solomon and
Mrs. Edward L. Upton, president of the
Chicago Woman's club, her aides, were
in immaculate linen costumes. "You
American women wear so much white
and light colors," remarked Mile Pope
lin of Belgium and a dozen others of
the most distinguished dignitaries. The
Hon. Mrs. Wilkinson of London laughed
at the good gowning of the Ameri-
cans and took as a joke the remarks
of western editor whom she quoted
at luncheon: 'Do you know" she
said, che called us all a bunch of
dowds' He said we'd not got a
switch nor silk petticoat nor pom
padour in the lot of us. Fancy! I'd
as soon 60 padding in the lake after
that! suppose it don't matter now
what we do here, you know" And as
she turned her back a debutante be-
hind her whispered: 81 know she's
great, but after this I'll always think
of her as the Hon. Mrs. Safety pin. l
know 1 SHALL"
Final compilations here of Fourth of
July disasters now show a large re-
duction of deaths and casualties to
the credit of the ''Sane Fourth move
ment but an increase in fire losses. The
comparison stands:
1908. 1909 Gain.
Deaths ...... 1853 60 lO3
Accidents -. 1923 1851 1892
Fire losses. $257 900 $724;4l5 *$466,45
These figures being necessarily com