The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-07-06
is NO CAUSE FOR
SERIOUS ALARM
CROP CONDITION NATURALLY 10
DISAPPOINTING BUT NORTH.
WEST WILL NOT HAVE TOTAL
Loss AND 1T IS IN GOOD SHAPE
TO WEATHER STORM.

There Is no occasion for any undue
excitement about the crop outlook In
the northwest says The Duluth
Herald.
1t is true that conditions are disap
pointing. A month ago the outlool
was for a bumper crop, and now nc
bumper crop is possible Damage has
been done, and unless general rains
come more damage win be done.
But on the whole, it is safe to take
1t for granted that the reports OF
crop damage are exaggerated. They
usually are, and the tendency now
seems to be to take the worst reports
las typical of the whole situation, In
large areas, however, there has been
rain; in only a few sections has there
been none at all.
1t is pity indeed, that the fair
prospects of a month ago should have
been blighted; but that is no reason
why everybody should rush to steep
his spirits in inky pessimism.
A good deal of the present dismay
is due to the fact that people are con-
tracing the present outlook with the
extraordinary promising outlook in
view a month ago, instead of with
the average.
But even If the condition is as black
as some folks paint it, there is one
very important thing to remember;
IL there should be a complete crop
failure-which is absurd-the north
west never in all its history was in
such a position to stand the reverse.
Whatever this crop year develops,
1t must not be forgotten that it fol-
lows seven or eight straight years of
bumper crops marketed at high prices
That is longer period Of uninterrupt-
ed prosperity than the northwest ever
experienced before, and it brought
more money into the northwest than it
ever saw before. Some of that money
is spent no doubt but on the whole a
very large percentage of the fairness
yielded by eight good years is stored
up as reserve again possible re-
verses.
In the old days farmers used to
count upon bad years as inevitable,
and they held themselves fortunate
If there were as many good years as
there were bad. Nobody expects that
every year will be a. top-notcher for
yield and profit and one bad year in
eight Is doing pretty well.
1t is pity that any damage at all
has been done. The situation is bad
enough in all conscience. But there
isn't any excuse for making 1t out
worse than it is. nor should it be for
gotten that even if the worst should
happen and the entire crop should be
a total loss, there is no section in the
country better able to stand it than
the northwest, and there has been no
time in its history when the north
west was better able to stand such a
reverse than right now.
And be sure there is no such calami-
ty threatening. The failure possibly
may be complete in some localities,
but. it is safe bet that when the crop
Is harvested the general total will sur
prise the pessimists. The northwest
Will raise enough to feed itself, and
very likely quite bit over that for
the market. 1t will not 60 broke,
even though not much Is added this
year to the swelling reserve which
crowds the country banks with a sup
ply so ample that it is being loaned in
the east,