The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-07-11
Agricultural Situation Promlslng.


The following article was put in type
about three weeks since and intended
for insertion in these columns at that
time, but has been left out from time to
time to make room for other things:
Agricultural conditions are excellent
in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mis-
souri,, according to the report issued to-
day by the St. Lous Southwestern Rail-
way, popularity called the Cotton Belt
Route, and business is thriving every
where along the line from the stimulus
of large and good crops. The shipments
of early fruit and garden truck from
stations on the st. Louis Southwestern
Railway to Northern and Eastern mar
kets indicate spring movement of
5000 cars, or approximately 15O, OOO, 600
pounds.
Moved, or moving at present, are
1000 carloads Of tomatoes, / 200 carloads
of potatoes and 800 carloads Of miscella-
neous fruit and garden truck, chiefly
strawberries. Within another fortnight
the road will begin hauling 1900 car
loads of peaches to the principal centers.
Most of this freight goes to the St.
Louis gateway, whence large proper
ton is sent to Chicago, st. Paul, Min
neapolis, Denver, Omaha, Kansas City,
Detroit, Buffalo, Montreal and New
York City.
The finest commercial peaches of the
season, Elbertas from Texas, are selected
with special care for the leading North
ern and Eastern markets, and packed in
bushel baskets. A large percentage Of
the products is transported in refrigera-
tor cars, and all the early fruit and
vegetables are moved on fast schedules.
These trains cover the 500 miles between
Texas points of origin and St. Louis in
thirty hours, and the management con-
tends that they are the fastest freight
trains operated in the United States, or,
at least, in the West.
AS the freight is perishable, unusual
preparations are made for its transport
tation. The exact number of freight
cars must be on hand for loading, and
the train movement must begin promptly.
Sixteen tons Of ice are required in each
refrigerator car for the movement to St.
Louis. The first icing consists of eight
tons, there being four in each of the two
bunkers; four tons additional are used
before the car sets out on the run, and
four more are used en- route. Abou,
200 tons of ice will be needed for this
seasons refrigerating.
; The Texas cotton crop is very prom
, ising.
The condition is 86 per cent, as com.
) pared with ten year average Of 80 PEI
: cent, and with SO per cent for this timt
a year ago. Practically the cotton out
look in Texas is on parity with that O
1911. Floods did considerable damage
. in Missouri and Arkansas, necessitatinf
: replanting.
r The condition of oats in Texas Jun
list, was 81 per cent as compared with 6
per cent for the same time last year, an
with "a per cent for ten year average
3 Wheat in Texas June list showed
z condition of SO per cent as compare
z with ten year average Of Y per ceni
3 and with 70 per cent for this time las
2 year.
5 The agricultural situation is regarde
z as being exceptionally bright through
3 out all the Southwest and it forecast
2 heavy autumn trade.
8 The Gould lines originate about II &C
z carloads of early fruit and vegetables
3 Texas and Arkansas, and the st. Lou
z Southwestern Railway handled nearl
q half, or 5000 carloads.