Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-08-05
MAINLAND CROPS
VERY PROMISING

Henry Clews, in his special letter
of July 20, gives the following cheer
full estimate of the business situation
''The prime factor in our business
situation at the moment is the splen-
did crop outlook. Wheat has been
doing particularly well. The result
has been a decline of about II cents
per bushel during the past month, and
the outlook is for yield of about
700,000,000 bushels, compared with
621, 100000 last year, provided no in
jury occurs during the next ten days.
The only crops of Importance con-
corning which there is any uncertain
-ty are corn and cotton. Both are late,
but have recovered much of the lost
ground. Their present outlook is for
a very large yield, but both crops
have a number of weeks to run be-
fore maturity. August is usually "a
month of deterioration for both of
these crops, whose chief danger is
early frost. Fortunately, there is am,
pie margin in present conditions to
secure full average yield If nothing
more than ordinary deterioration oc-
ours. The outlook agriculturally,
therefore, is emfnently satisfactory;
and once more the farmers who must
still be considered the backbone of the
country are assured a profitable har-
vest.
prices are still high for nearly all
agricultural products, but that must
be chiefly attributed to relative scare
ity. The United States is much in
need of better results from the farm.
The last census shows that while our
population increased 20 per cent. in
the decade the acreage under cultiva-
ton increased about per cent. This,
it need hardly be. said, has not little
to do with the high cost of living. Our
farmers should get busy and increase
their product by more scientific meth
DDS, If. not by larger acreage. Living
on the farm is in many respects much
more attractive than formerly, and it
is high time that the tide should turn
back to the farm, if only to prevent
the unwholesome congestion Of popu-
lation in our large cities which Sc
riously augments social discomfort
and unrest.
Another direction in which inn
provement is noticeable is in the iron
trade. The railroads have again been
buying materials and equipment with
greater freedom and in spite of adj
vancing prices. 1t is many months
since the steel trade has been in as
condition as today. Pro-
duction is running on a record-break-
ing scale. General business cannot be
expected to persistently ignore such
encouraging conditions IN agriculture
and in the great basic steel industry
From all parts of the interior come re-
ports of increasing confidence on the
part of businessmen, bankers and
those at the head of industrial affairs
are now being made for
a good fall and winter trade. Politics
are much less disturbing and there is
an inclination to sidetrack such issues
as far as possible. West of the Allie
ghanies the drift Of sentiment is de-
cidedly toward optimism, and this feel
ing is slowly but surely making itself
felt throughout the entire Atlantic
SeabOard.
THE monetary outlook has improv- I
ed. A better demand for funds is an |
ticipated in the early future owing to
crop requirements and the increasing |
activity of business. Our banks have |
been strengthening their position by
calling in of loans, which evidently |
had much to do with last weeks liqui-
dalton in stocks"