Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-08-26
Outlook Is for Much Bigger
Agricultural Product Than
Ever Experienced
Big Wheat Crop Has Been
Harvested Which Is Bring .
log Good Prices
Merchant. Throughout North
West Are Confident Of
Brisk Business
Special to The Tribune.
" Henry CleWs.

NEW YORK, Aug. 26.-This Is the
season when crops are the controlling
factor in business. At the moment
the outlook is for q much bigger agri-
cultural product in both quantity and
values than the country has ever ex-
perienced. A big wheat crop, fine in
weight and quality, has already been
harvested and is bringing good prices.
The biggest corn crop on record will
soon begin to be ganerderd. This
crop has already overcome its back.
wardness and is now normal as to
time In another week or two cut.
ting will become more generally and
If frost is only escaped in the corn
belt until the usual date, which is
about October I, the biggest crop on
record will then be practically safe.
Some enthusiastic estimates are rum
ming as high as 100000 900 bushels.
The only important crop concerning
which there is real uncertainty is cot
ton. Present expectations are for a
$4,000, ,O0OIbale yield or over, but an
other three or four weeks of good
weather Is necessary to bring these
results. August is usually q
month Of deterioration in cotton. it
would be we'll to hold extreme optim-
Ism somewhat in reserve. 1t is a.
ready an old story that we have se-
cured big crops of hay. oats. fruit,
etc. Nothing short Of disastrous
weather, therefore, can now prevent
b year Of record-breaking prosperity
for the American farmer. This means
powerful stimulus to many lines of
industry. The corn crop by itself is
OF incalculable value, because of the
many directions in which it is utilized
as food or for manufacturing pur-
poses. Cotton, too, Is one of the vital
elements in our national prosperity;
being one of our mainstays in the ex-
port trade, as we'll as ruling factor
in our textile industries. These two
great crops will not only vitalize
many industrial pursuits, but will also
enable our farmers to be liberal buy.
ers OF both luxuries and necessities
during the coming winter.
Local merchants throughout the
Northwest are confident of good bust
ness this autumn. The leading bank
ers in that section are also exceed
ingly optimistic. Railroad managers
throughout the Northwest are strain
ing every effort to avoid a congestion
OF traffic when the crops begin to
move. Reports of an impending car
famine are coming from all directions,
and can only be averted by shippers
promptly cooperating with the rail-
roads In avoiding such conditions.
One Of the most beneficial effects of
a big harvest would be it's tendency
to reduce the cost Of living Food,
the principal item in the cost of liv-
ing to the masses, will certainly be
cheaper at first hands; and if there
Is not substantial decline in the
prices of breadstuffs and meats next
winter 1t will not be the fault of the
American farmer. The blame, If any,
will be more likely to fall upon the
distributor.
The activity of the iron trade con-
tinues phenomenal. Prices have risen
$6 to So per ton from the lowest point.
Many plants are running to. the full
limit OF their capacity, and COM
plants are increasing of trady deliv-
cries. The demand for steel products,
OF course, comes chiefly from the rail-
roads, which are compelled to renew
both equipment and rails upon an ex-
tensive scale. The possibility that
steel prices will advance still further
Is also forcing out many orders which
have been deferred as long as pos
sible. Orders Tor rails thus far in
August have reached over 100000
tons and are quite likely to exceed
100000 tons before the month closes,
There is also q notable increase in
the construction of large buildings In
our principal cities which of course,
consumes heavy quantities Of iron.
This is proving the second element OF
Importance in the iron industry. The
iron trade has always been consider
ed one Of our best barometers, and
its activity in this instance can be
directly attributed to increased traf-
fic and housing requirements follow
ing the growth of q wonderfully ac-
tive population.
With the two greatest industries in
the country-farming and steel-in
such sound and active condition, how
long will 1t be possible to defer bust.
ness activity? At present business is
prosperous here and there because OF
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