The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-07


In the opinion Of THE SrN the coun.
try has been gloomy long enough about
American business and values. Conced-
ing the force Of the influences operat-
ing abroad and at home in the last two
years to bring about a state OF dc
preston. we desire to express our con-
viction that these forces have largely
spent themselves and have practically
exhausted their influence for the
further impairment of trade and In
tors in the field which give every prom
Use Of working In behalf of recovered
prosperity.
We wish especially to direct the 1T
tention Of our readers to the Govern
ment crop report which will be pub
lished this afternoon. As every one
knows, or ought TO know. who has his
being and business in the greatest crop
country in the world. crops are the
basis Of American prosperity and good
crops are its assurance. Never have
the agricultural auguries Of any year
as they are to-day. All the indications
are that this afternoons report will he
an exhibit of crop possibilities of the
most brilliant character.
The report will, among other things.
present estimates of meadow and pas
turc land conditions aud Of the per-
centage of probable spring ploughing
and planting which has been done. II
we are not greatly mistaken it will In
these respects show the farm season To
be we'll advanced. 1t is. however. in
respect Ia the growing winter wheat
that the return should be stimulus
for q revival of business optimism.
Valuable as it is inca surcd in dollars
and cents. the American wheat crop Is
even more valuable rs II sentiment
making factor. Unless all signs fail
and unless there is most unhallowed
visitation of unrropitlous weather this
month. the winter wheat harvest in the
United States this year will be Of
unparalleled abundance. Last years
crop of 523..aiI 600 bushels was Il rec
ord breaker but the immediate outlook
Is for harvest of winter wheat rang
ing from GOO,Oo0,WO to 10000, 900
bushels.
In the last few days the agricultural
departments OF Kansas. Nebraska Ok
lahOma and Missouri have all published
winter wheat estimates showing only
negligible decreases in acreage as a re-
suit of winter killing What is more,
they have also shown in every ease con-
ditlon figures of May higher than Il
month ago. In Kansas, the greatest
Of all winter wheat States. elevators
are being enlarged and the capacity of
mills Is being Increased in preparation
for handling such crop as Kansas
has never raised in all it's history. II
IS worth noting also that since May
the weather, according to the weekly
reports from Washington, has favored
the full maintenance OF the excellent
outlook for wheat
Now crop enthusiasm may he over
done so early in the agricultural sea
son. Nevertheless. making ample al
lowances for the various Quaifcat ions
which suggest themselves from expert
epce with the various blights that may
blast the fairest farm prospect from
seed time To harvest we believe thai
there is every reason in the agrlcul
tural situation N the moment for tho
American business community To begll
to take new heart at the prospect Of
prosperity given by nature to the
United States.
Men in the grain trade whose ven
lures are determined by their knowl
edge of conditions and their informed
calculations of probabilities sre talk
ing of the reasonable likelihood OF ,
total American wheat yield in 1914 NC
yregnting nt least Wn,OOO,0OI bushels
or about l5O,Ooo.00n bushels in cXccs
Of any previous harvest. There l. ~
guarantee here, of course, tina, such
possibility will he realized, hut there I
ample warrant in the present position
Of winter wheat and its tokens of farm
conditions generally for the adoption
of more optimistic attitudes towar'
the business future than have latel.
prevailed.
1t Is something altogether to tn
good that the agricultural season l
making such hrigh, beginning
Furthermore It's hopeful auspices alt
b thu reasonable Incentives derives
from other considerations for n ne,
stirring of American business life.
Not all business factors ar" ~ every
body's liking and they mr." not going l.
he. bul the terms on which business In
got 10 be done, whether tariff terms q
othcrwi sc, are infinitely clearer thaI