Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-07-20
POOR CROPS AND GOOD SENSE

FOOn NNOF0 ANO WV 0CNoc
Conditions of the northwestern
crops and the banking situation are
closely allied subjects just now, and
much Of an interesting character
comes into the larger reserves center
banks One letter written by one of
the foremost business men OF North
Dakota, who is also banker and is
we'll known both here and in the east
for his conservatism and business
Judgment, to the Continental National
OF Chicago is worthy of reproduction
as rejecting conditions not only in
the northwest, but elsewhere.
The correspondent says:
Il have no doubt that you have
received all sorts of reports regard
ing crop conditions in North Dakota
and | feel sure that the dark side Of
the question has been fully presented
to you from various sources, and that
there are plenty of persons who would
have you believe that North Dakota
is a ruined community, and it's people
on the point of starvation and have
no doubt that you will be relieved to
known that there is a bright side to
the question and that we expect to
have three good, square meals day
and a little spending money for a
good many years to come.
Undoubtedly this state will pro-
duce a much smaller crop than 1t has
done for a good many years; but II
North Dakota, after nine fat years.
cannot stand one lean one, then our
condolences have been misplaced, and
the sooner we find it out the better
it shall be for all concerned. have
as much at stake as most people in
North Dakota, and believe am fair
ly conservative, but l have been in
the game rather long time, and
am in close touch with men who
know, and l want to tell you that the
short crop in North Dakota is not
half the calamity that people would
have you think, and that am not
so sure but that it will prove
blessing in the end.
Suppose we raise 40 or so per cent
~of a crop, or say 4O,OOO,OOO bushels.
In 1900 North Dakota raised 100000
bushels of wheat; and, as remember,
the price was between IS and 70
cents. Certainly it can stand a short
crop now better than it could ten
years ago, Another thing you must
M. forget, and that is, that crop con-
ditions at this time of the year are
always over-estinated, either for good
or bad, A big, heavy stand OF grain
rarely Yields as much as is expected;
whereas a dry year like this one near
1y always produces better yield and
a higher grade than appearances
would indicate.
Furthermore, the half of the crop
which we won't get this year is the
half that would be spent for Things
which we do not need. Some farmers
won't buy automobiles, others will NIX
up the old binders and separators and
be surprised to find how we'll they
work. There won't be as many build
ings erected, nor as many pleasure
trips taken, nor as much Canadian
land or timber or mining stock sold
in North Dakota; but the half crop
which we get will stay at home. we
won't raise as much oats and hay as
usual, but neither will burning stra"
stacks light the way across the state
We will feed up the straw instead OF
hnrning it, and find it makes pretty
good feed at that.
Zone very fortunate feature apou'
the present condition is the fact tha'
our crop was injured in June instead
of late in the season. If we had the
crop prospects in June this year tna'
re had last year, the 1910 crop would
have been spent by this time. Farm
.rs would have bought many things
that they won't buy now, and the
hanks would have been loaded WIFI
tneir paper. Then III the crop had