The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-06-28


: every week during the early history of
the crop.
This year the lack of precipitation
has produced a situation in North Da-
kota that probably will cause the ia
nous "black rust" year, 1904, and the
dry year of 1903 to fade into insignia
canoe. The truth of this statement be-
comes involved with more emphasis
every day that the sun shines from a
clear sky on the whitening wheat fields
Of North Dakota.
Several days ago conditions were
what is known as "spotty," In some
counties conditions were fair and in the
} adjoining counties correspondents de-
scribed the conditions as approaching
the status Of a calamity But as clear
skies continued ana showers only OF
local Importance fell upon the parched
earth the conditions Of deterioration
became more general so that now rain
is needed seriously in the entire state.
There is unanimity Of es-
Inmates from correspondents in
North Dakota which strikes one
with compelling seriousness. More
than half Of them declare that the
state cannot produce one half of
wheat crop. The remainder think the
crop may be so per cent of normal
and some even make claims as high
as 70 per cent. The latter are from
places that have been favored with
local showers. In the valleys the plant
is in fair condition, but elsewhere it
is so badly damaged that rains can
hardly repair the deterioration, al
though heavy precipitation would
check the backward movement.
Last year North Dakota produced
s0,762,000 blu. of spring wheat. Owing
to the increased acreage of from to
10 per cent the yield this year looked
! to be 120,S80,00O blu. based on the con-
dillon of the plant on June l. Its con-
dition on that date was SO per cent, the
ten-year average. The condition of
the spring wheat plant in North Da-
kota should be about so per cent of
normal. On this estimate the yield
would be 77,965,S0 blu. This estimate
! Is exceedingly conservative. MANY
| grain men do not believe the yield will
be more than $4,000, 900 bu. on present
| condition, which would indicate a yield
Of about bu. an acre. Every day that
rain fails to fall in soaking quantity
on North Dakota soil intensifies the
situation and lowers the vitality of
the wheat.
A. D. Thomson who was bearish on |
the situation early in the year before !
the May delivery went out of existence
is now bullish. He says North Dakota |
will be lucky" to get half a crop.
Based on the increased acreage this
year half crop would indicate a J
yield of 64,791,5OS bu. |
Elevators Feel Effect.
The first interests which will feel
I the effect Of a curtailment in wheat
production in North Dakota will be the
elevators. ]. S. Mccarthy said today
that the elevator business faces a more
serious situation than at any time in
| the last twenty-five years. He thinks
| 1t possible that North Dakota may pro-
duce half crop. Duluth gets most of
its stuff from this territory and Mr..
Mccarthy succintly remarked: 1T will
put the elevators here temporarily out
of business. 1t looks like calamity"
In the crop year Of 190S-9 this mar
ket received 26,467041 blu. of spring
wheat, 23,464,799 bu Of durum wheat
and 16O,22O blu. Most of the spring
wheat came from North Dakota. The
market received 803, 900 bu. OF. corn, g.
$4,000 blu. of oats, 10,149,00O bu. of
barley, $4,000 blu, of rye and 1885. 900
blu. of flax, total of S0,S64, 900 blu. of
all grains.
The capacity of the twenty-four ele-
vators at the Head Of the Lakes is al
most 50,000,000 bushels. With short
crops in spring wheat and oats. cur
| tailed crops in other grains and with
| flax yet in doubt, there promises to be
a considerable amount of storage ca
paclty which will not be needed.
In Canada the outlook is still mod,
erately good. Manitoba's famous sub.
soil helps the wheat to resist drv
weather. Any indication that tbs
wheat crop of Canada promised great
deterioration would Immediately
cause alarm abroad and the foreisn
SITUATION which is now exceedingly
oearlsh chiefly because of the excess
sive crops Of Russia, would be subject
to argument for higher prices which
does not now exist. The Canadian |
market does not affect this market
directly because of the tariff wall but
indirectly 1t exercises a great influence
and If the Canadian wheat crop should |
deteriorate so as to lower materially
its exportable surplus the effect would |
be felt in the markets of America.
Higher Prices.
During the last ten years the in |
crease in the prices OF all commodities |
including farm products has been % |
per cent. Alone, the increase OF cost
of. farm products has been 81 per
cent. The failure to increase produc-
ton on farms exerts several times the |
effect on the cost of living that is be-.
ing exerted by all other causes includ
Ing the increased output of gold. There
is little wonder, consequently. that /
the United States is eagerly reading |
the telegraphic dispatches on the cli-
matte conditions in the northwest and
the status of the northwestern crops
The stock markets are excessively
weak and the primary cause Of today's |
decline was the reports of continued |
dry weather in this territory The rail- |
roads will carry less grain. Equipment |
companies will have less orders-the |
erect of the drouth penetrates into
nearly all lines of business and the
stock markets are today dominated by |
the northwestern situation.
Farmers this year will be less of |
factor in the marketing of grains than
in several years. This is because their
financial vitality has been impaired by
the purchase of automobiles, up-to- date
farm implements, new houses. new
barns, and the requirement of Inquiries
which few wears a ro xyaro Fo~1sr.. a