The Washington herald., 1917-07-11
HOLLAND LETTER
The Biggest Daily
Financial News Feature of
the Counhy's Best Newspapers.

Should there be no price fixing by
the government for the products of
the soil that will be garnered In the
next three months the probabilities
are that as much as fifteen billion dol
lars would be received for these har-
vests. That is the amount which
James J. Hill ten years ago. when
there was no excessive demand due to
war. said should be realized by the
American farmers for their crops and
could be IL skillful. scientific and
economic farming methods were
adopted.
Undoubtedly fifteen billion dollars
is a figure considerably larger than
the one which will tell of the money
value of the crops. including cotton.
harvested this year. But whatever the
price fixing may be the probabilities
are taht the crops will yield In money
value the largest amount ever re-
Ceived for them. As midsummer
weather is at hand it is possible now
to forecast the harvest providing only
weather conditions remain as favor
able as they proved to be for the past
two weeks. All the indications point
to bountiful harvests, for although
there may be falling off in wheat
this Is likely to be more than made
good by the increase in other crops
The large havests reflect in part the
vigorous campaign carried on in some
of the greater agricultural sections
for the purpose of persuading the far
mers to increase their acreage. The
Dakotas responded to this appeal by
cultivating approximately one million
acres which before this year had not
been cultivated. The food crops of
the Northwest are regarded by those
who are in authority at Washington
as perhaps more important. certainly
fully as important as those which
may be garnered in other sections of
the country. Not only the United
States government but, there Is rea-
son for believing. the allies as well,
have their attention fixed upon the
great agricultural Northwest in the
hope that these may yield not only
bounttiful harvest of wheat but also
of other small grains, as well as corn
and potatoes.
Some of the heads OF financial insti-
tutions in New York keep in daily
touch with the agricultural section of
the country and there also come re-
rorts from those who represent some
of the largest commercial houses. es-
pecially of Chicago. These reports
lead to the strong hope that very
large harvests will be gathered
throughout the entire Northwest, the
outlook being excellent that the yield
on the whole will be greater than any
secured in the past.
How swiftly and satisfactorily agri-
culture upon a large scale followed
the laying of railroad tracks and oper-
alton of trains in the enormous agri-
| cultural district which stretches from
the Mississippi River westerly to the
Rocky Mountains. and which is bound
ed on the north by the Canadian line.
/ is demonstrated by the very favorable
reports which have been received in
New York for several days from that
region. Montana, which is apparently
20 gain prestige for her agricultural
| triumphs that will compare favorably
with the record the State has made as
mineral producer, is. weather condi-
tions being satisfactory. to make prob
| ably record in the production of
| grains. So also South Dakota. Minne-
sofa and Wisconsin are to Weld I'm