The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-06-02
CONDITIONS IN
STATE BETTER,
REPORT OF BANK
Shows Greater Gains in Re-
serve District No, 10,

General business and crop conditions
throughout Oklahoma are better than in
any other state IN the middle or south
west, according to a report OF the fed
eral reserve bank at Kansas City for
district No 10, made public today
Even though the past month has been
abnormally cold and wet, retarding farm
work, there has been some improvement
IN growing crops and according to re-
ports received from reliable authorities
in all parts of the state OF Oklahoma the
indications are that the wheat crop this
year will be more than 100000 bushels
IN excess OF the 1910 crop in this state.
Wheat in Good Condition.
Only about IS percent OF the wheat
acreage has been abandoned and there
has been material Improvement III the
cvop remaining to bc harvested the
growing condition of which, OF May !
was u percent or seven points lower
than at the same time last year Present
indications are that Oklahoma will pro
duoe 3l800000 bushels of wheat this
year as against D,SSS0OO last year.
Contrary TO predictions the price of
crude oil in the mid continent field re
mains unchanged The shortage OF cas-
ing and the scarcity OF rigs has reached
an acute stage according to reports
received. causing a number oi shut
downs While there is an increase III
completed wells in April over March in
this state, there was a net loss IN new
production.
Oklahoma field mining operators as
sert that unless materially advanced
prices soon occur, there will be many
shutdownS because OF the increasing
prices OF everything that enters into pro
duction. However, IT the remaining
eight months prove as productive as the
first four. all records " the production
and valuation Of zinc. lead and calamne
ores will be broken in this field for the
current year
While reports indicate a most salts
factory increase in the gross earnings
OF railways, the effect OF rising ex-
penscs is revealed in the decreases III
Net earnings in several instances. Well
maintained business activity is REELECTED
BY the largest total clcarings even re-
corded for April, with gains Of from
l0.2 TO 1886 percent, the average tor
the fifteen most important centers be
ing So percent The repor, shows
that the greatest Of these gains were
made in Oklahoma, business conditions
being unusually favorable Throughout.
this state.
Bank Deposits Gain.
Bank deposits show healthy gair
over the same period a year ago, though
the larger city banks show something
OF 4 decrease IN deposits and IN in.
crease in loans since March 5. as is
usual in the spring Of the year De
sirable loans ooh,inue in demand
throughout the district. but there is evil
dcnce OF a stiffening in discount rates
From Colorado comes reports that
the winter wheat crop is generally good
and that materially increased acreage
Is under cultivation
April rainfall in Kansas was almost a.
much as during the five previous
months combined, causing a general inl-
= provement in all crops, State and gov
eminent estimates oil this years whea
production IN Kansas agree OF approx
imately 100000 bushels against las
years estimate Of 97,sO0,0O bushels
The gardening area in this state is Saic
TO have been doubled
Missouri reports the wheat forecas
on MAY exceeded las, years final es
innate by approximately 100000 bush
els
Conditions in Nebraska are slight,
brighter Reliable estimates are tina
not more than so percent has been killet
whereas earlier estimates ran as higl
as rs percent In many localities trac
tors are being operated twenty y-iou
hours day by two or three shifts.
The claim OF shortage Of food stuff
and the efforts put forth to induce econ
omy arc said by many to have been car
ried to extremes and critics Of this pol
Icy. believing that legitimate bushes
has been uniavorably affected, arc urg
ing the use Of the British slogan, Bus
iess as Usual" There has been n,
discernible abatement in the volume o
general business. as indicated by banl
clearings and other business baromc
eers, and the attitude Of commercial in
erests is by no means one OF apprehen
sion. Government purchases in variou
directions arc adding materially to IN
normal consumption, As soon as III
governments plans arc fully outline
any uncertainty which now exists vii
give way to the generous co-operativ