The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-20
President Harding Makes Pub
lie the Crop Summary
Prepared Annually
FINANCIAL CONDITION
SHOWS HEALTHY TUNE
Summary Is Optimistic over. situation
and Favorable Business Is Expected
Throughout State After Crop
Movement Is Begun

w. p G. Harding, president Of the
First National bank of Birmingham, yes
terday made public the banks annual es-
innate on Alabama's cotton crop. The
estimate for this season is 100000 bales.
Accompanying the crop summary, which
has been prepared by Mr.. Harding, are
reports In detail for each county. The
summary is as follows:
Inquiries as to crop prospects and gem
eral conditions were mailed on August Q
to about 80 correspondents. farmers,
merchants and bankers, in all the coun-
ties of Alabama, and an average of the
expressions of opinion in replies received
is given herewith.
In our crop report of August 4, 1909, We
made an estimate based upon statements
made to us, that Alabama crop of cot
ton for 1909 would amount to a minimum
of 100000 bales. The government report
shows the acutal production to have been
1,c40137 bales. At the date our report
was published our estimate was. fully
Justified, and there was possibility of a
larger yield Hot winds &C.
curing about the middle of August, and a
early frost, however, re-
6uced the yield to slightly below our
minimum estimate.
THE present crop has been a very ex-
pensive one, owing to the large amount
of corn and meat purchased at high
prices and the abnormally late frost of
April 26-27, which made replanting gen.
orally necessary. This gave the crop
late start. and the constant rains from
the middle OF June to the list of August
put the crop badly in the grass and added
much to the cost of cultivation.
''Our reports, which are of the average
date of August 10, show that the weather
during the last three weeks has been
favorable, so that conditions now indicate
that the crop this year In Alabama will
be in excess of that of 1909, and we figure
l 200, 900 bales as our minimum estimate
for Alabama's cotton crop for 1910. We
would remind those who may regard this
estimate as being too high that the larg-
est crop ever produced in Alabama was
that of 1903, 1,345, 713 bales, and that during
August of that year conditions were Of
ficially reported at from 80 per cent to
SIS per cent With the present acreage a
crop showing 100 per cent condition would
amount to 100000 bales, SO that our es-
innate of 100000 bales is based on an
average condition of 10 per cent.
TT is particularly gratifying to note the
growing tendency towards diversification
and the increa sed acreage in corn, hay,
oats and peas, showing that our people
realize the importance Of raising their
own food crops The three counties on
the western border, Choctaw. Pickens
and Sumter, which lie directly in the path
of the poll weevil, and which will un-
doubtedly be the first In the state to be
attacked by that pest show an especially
large increase in corn; this increase, how
ever. Is general throughout the state,
only two counties reporting smaller
acreage than last year. The crop ap-
pears beyond question to be the largest
ever produced in Alabama, and the yield
will probably approximate 70,00o,O00 BUSH
els against 81, 600, 900 bushels last year. The
season has been favorable to corn, but
the improved methods of cultivation, and
the general use of nitrate of soda as a
fertilizer has had much to do with the
large production that is now assured.
Reports as to financial conditions in
dictate healthy state of affairs. Al
though the farmers are generally more
heavily in debt than usual at this season,
they have made bumper corn crop with
good prospects of an average cotton crop
Should there be no unfavorable climatic
conditions between now ard November,
and with no great recession in present
prices, 1t seems probable that the values
of farm products in Alabama will be $40
COO. 900 greater in 1910 than in 1909.
Merchants throughout the state have
handled their business in a conservative
holding their stocks well down,
so that their Indebtedness is not larger
than usual The mineral districts of the
state have felt somewhat the depression
in pig iron, but the coal business during
the spring and summer has been unusual
ly good and in the Birmingham district
the effect of the dullness in pig iron has
been more than counteracted by the good
coal trade and by the demand for steel
products The new developments that
are being made near Birmingham by the
United States Steel corporation have
placed large sums of money in circulation
so that bank deposits have been larger
this summer than usual.
I'VE are optimistic on the situation and
expect favorable business conditions
the state after the crop move
ment Is we'll under way, and the large
yield of corn and other food crops will
not only help collections this fall, but
will add much to the volume OF mosey In
next spring as the tremendous
drain for purchases OF corn outside OF the
state will be stopped. Plentiful stocks of
corn at home will stimulate the breeding
OF hogs and mules and. 1t is not unlikely
that in the course Of few years Ala
bama farmers will be raising their own
supplies, leaving the proceeds OF their
cotton practically as net surplus
FIRST NATIONAL BANK,
Birmingham Ala.