Omaha daily bee., 1912-05-08
DUE TO ABUNDANT MOISTURE
Slight Damage in Some Sections, but
Does Not Affect Situation,
WINTER Is IDEAL FOR WHEAT
Acreage, is Greater in Grain Belt
Than Ever Before Reported.
SOIL CONDITIONS ARE PERFECT
Railroad and other Experts Reply
TO Inquiries rs to Conditions In
west, and All Reports Are
Flattering.

Returns from the wheat belt Indicate
the best condition and greater acreage
than has ever prevailed in the west. Re-
sponses made to inquiries sent out by G.
C. Rosewater are Of the most optimistic
sort. and everything points toward the
greatest results In the history Of the
Transmissoun agricultural area. Here
are the reports:
Records VIII ne Broken.
II. NJ. Cottreli. agricultural commits
sioner Of the Rock Island lines. The
crop conditions IN the fourteen states
served BY the Rock Island H-Hre excep-
tionally good. The prospects are the best
that have been for many years. The
heavy snowfall and late rains have sup
piled ample moisture in the dry farming
section, 80 that the moisture extends In
many places TO the depth Of five to six
feet. The unusual cold last winter froze
the soil deeper than usual and added
greatly to its CROP producing power.
Wheat is considerably damaged east
of the Mississippi, but, unless something
new turns up. Kansas and Oklahoma viii
have record-brealSing year. The wheat
is somewhat damaged In our territory
In Nebraska. Tho seeding Of all spring
crops is from two to four weeks late,
but conditions OF soil and moisture are
such that few warm weeks will over
come this difficulty.
Believe farmers and business men are
more enthusiastic about the crop pros
poets this year than have seen them
Tor many seasons"
summed Up as the Rest.
s. r. Miller, general freight and pas
senger agent Of the Northwestern lines
Of the Nebraska and wyoming divisions:
THE situation can De summed up in u
very few words as the best ever With
steady. soaking rain Of two or three
days duration In December and the great
snowfall during the winter the moisture
conditions are better than normal
There is large acreage OF winter
wheat which is benefited immensely by
the conditions mentioned above, and It
all seems to have ccme through the
winter In excellent shape and with splen-
did prospects. except very small per
cent on bottom lands. some Of which has
been inundated during the recent high
water. The government report OF April .
shows the condition Of winter wheat in
Nebraska on April as 90 per cent, com
pared with ten years average Of -
per cent and as compared with last year
I per cent better.
with prospect Of tested seed being
planted. We have bright prospects for
crops from spring seeding. So far as
we can see, there are no dark clouds on
the agricultural horizon In Nebraska for
the year lsi2.'
Prospects Are Flattering.
C. W. Pugsley. superintendent Of the
agricultural extension department Of the
University Of Nebraska: The rains Of
last fall and the large amount Of snow
during the winter have left the soils
well saturated with moisture. With rains
during the spring and summer the pros
poets are very flattering. The late spring.
30 far. has not done any damage. except
to bunch the farmers work. As soon
as spring opens and he Is able TO get in
the field he win have about twice as
much work TO do IN the same length Of
time as usual Many Of them are pre-
pairing for this. however. and are engag-
ing extra men to help them with their
spring work.
Meadows In Fine shapc.
Charles F. Curtis. dean Of the division
Of agriculture Of the Iowa state Agricui-
tural college: Owing 10 the heavy fall
of snow and the prolonged cold weather
The season Is opening about one week late
for small grain seeding The soil. how
ever. is IN ideal condition. The fall
sown grains and the meadows and pas
lures have quite generally come through
the winter in good form The unusual
heavy snowfall has resulted In an ample
supply OF moisture. The indications are
that the corn planting season VIII apen
It the usual time and that the soil and
climatic conditions promise 70 hz Is
good as they have ever been With the
attention that Is being given % securing