The Cordova daily times., 1917-06-05
Maximum Industrial Activity But Only Moderate Crops

serve bank at Seattle, Portland and Spokane. Plans for the branch al Spokane are we'll forward. The eli | gible state banks of that city have given assurance of their intention tC make application for membership and the clearing house banks have offered to employ the branch to conduct the examinations hitherto conducted by l the clearing house examiner, paying the branch for this service an amount equal to the present cost of conduct ing such examinations, 1t being as- sumed that the clearing house exam iner will be appointed branch man. ager. It is anticipated that Seattle and Portland will offer similar CO., operation
 The May 1 government report esti- mates the winter wheat crop for this district at 39,25O,OOO bushels, against 53,330,00O last year and a five year average of 62.235,000 According to reports from the Spokane section, last fall was unfavorable for planting win ter wheat, and this spring has been so cold and backward that it has pre- vented planting a full acreage of spring wheat. Private estimates indi- cate a total crop perhaps 30 per cent below normal in amount.
 The acreage in beans has been in creased about 50 per cent over last year, that in California alone being estimated at 100000 acres. Last year over 260,00 acres were in sugar beets. The acreage this year has been largely increased in Idaho and Utah. Last year Oregon and Washington produced about 1O,000,0OO bushels of corn. This year 190000 acres have been planted as compared with 121, 900 last year. A recent survey in California shows the wheat crop about 90 per cent of nor nal, pasture grasses 75 per cent, rice 13O per cent and potatoes about normal.
 A report from Idaho estimates that 120,000 acres in that state are planted in fruit, 115,000 acres being in apples. Prospects for deciduous fruits are for only moderate crops. Apricots and al monds have suffered from frost. Gen. erally speaking the increase of new acreage coming into bearing will to l considerable extent offset losses by frost
 Railroads are preparing to provide cars for large shipments of fruit from California, 15,000-18,00O being the es- innate for deciduous fruit, 14,000-15,- 900 for Valencia oranges (2,O00 more than in any previous year), besides 10000 for cantaloupes.
 A large salmon catch is anticipated this year because of the quadrennial run of the sockeye and the biennial run of the humpback varities.
 It is said that 315,0OO head of sheep are grazing on the Humboldt national forest in Nevada, the largest number on any single national forest, while the largest number of cattle, 76,00O head, is found on the Tonton in Ari- zona. Both cattle and sheep are com handing extraordinary prices and wool contracts have been made at 50 to 52 1-2 cents.
 Potash, formerly obtained from Ger many, is now being obtained from the kelp along the California coast; while at much higher cost, the availability commercially has been demonstrated.
 In California $2,0OO,0OO worth of quicksilver was produced in 1916.
 A Los Angeles shipyard has received an order for eight steel vessels of B. 300 tons each.
 The lumber output of this district during the past year has amounted to 9,070,000.000 feet, about 1,5O0, ,00O, 900 more than last year.
 Production of petroleum in Califor- mia in April amounted to 269,0S5 bar rels daily, shipments being 309,OO1 barrels. On April 30, 1917, stored stocks were 39,976,3S6 barrels, com pared with 6O,S2O,315 barrels on April 30, 1915.
 Pacific coast banks, particularly those of San Francisco, are steadily expanding their acceptance business. From April 1 to May Is the federal reserve bank bought their accept ances, covering the following importa- tieii rice from China and nd South South erica; beans, raw silk, pongee, curios, surgical instruments and buttons, hats, and cigars from the Philippines; tea. cotton goods, toys, walnuts, carpets and peanuts from China.
 Loans and deposits of member banks in reserve cities in this district each expanded more than 25 per cent from May l, 1916, to May l, 1917.
 The prospects at this time are for maximum industrial activity, but for only moderate crops, with generally hiph nriras