Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-10
Promising Harvest
BY HENRY ClEWS.

New York. Aug. 10.-The United |
States seems to have taken in Mother |
Nature as a special partner, and once |
more the country promises to be fav-
ored with good harvests. II present
calculations are realized We shall gar
ner a 100000, 900 bushel wheat crop,
a 2,90O.000.oO corn crop and 1900
10000 bushel oat crop. The yield OF
potatoes and hay is also likely to be
considerably ahead of last year. The
total value of these five crops Is esti-
mated at $3,6OO,O0O,00O. or about
$500, 100000 ahead of last year. In all
probability the aggregate of all agri-
cultural wealth produced this year will
be about $4,000, 100000, as against
SIS, 500, 100000, the figures of the de-
partment of agriculture last year. What
this annual production of new wealth
means to this country may be estimat-
ed when il is remembered that the
capital stock of all the railroads in the
United States is placed at SS,47O,OOO,-
eco. An increase of $500, 100000 in agri-
cultural products in single year can
not but be a powerful stimulus to bus
/ mess.
Bankers In all portions of the west
are agreed that the crop situation is
satisfactory. that business is in more
promising condition than for several
years past and that the business men
of the interior have decided to elm
mate politics from their calculations
This is a practical expression OF in
creased confidence based upon posi-
lively improved intrinsic conditions.
The cotton crop seems likely to fall
below early expectations, but the yield
will, nevertheless, be large, and plant
ers are securing prices which afford
good profits The south enjoyed eX-
Ceptlonal prosperity last year and is
not likely 10 fall behind seriously
during the next u months. August
is usually a month of deterioration,
so a moderate falling off in condition
need cause no surprise in the final re-
ports.
Wall street Is somewhat concerned
about the future Of the railroads, arts
ing from the persistent demands OF
labor. Should the engineers obtain con
cessions in the recent arbitration case
it is expected corresponding demands
will follow from other classes of rail
road labor The railroads have al
ready raised wages very literally dur
ing the past two years, and in COnse
quenCe have suffered severely in net
earnings. Further advances could be
endured possibly by few of the more
prosperous companies. For the veal
railroads, however, or those not en-
jOying an abundance of traffic, any
further advance in wages would be
a serious matter; the theory of uni
form wages in spite of varying con
ditions on different systems, Otter
works injuriously and unjustly Il
, those less favorably situated.
In the steel trade business contin
ues active. The last quarterly repor
: of the United States Steel corpora
ton was fairly encouraging Stee
prices are constantly advancing in al
I, directions, and the results of the mex
! quarter should show a much more lib
1 eral profit. Other lines of industr.
have given evidence of prosperity
, notably the great electrical concerns
The textile industries have been mucl
embarrassed by labor troubles, AM
dividends have been temporarily i'm
paired. The outlook, however, is 70
less disturbance in these quarters, es