The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1917-05-02

is also a well defined indication that
the increased costs are beginning to
shut off the demand for such merchan.
disc as may be termed luxurious rath-
er than necessities. This applies ia
practically all lines except provisions,
The prices of all steel products have
gone up veryIapidly in the past few
months. Some manufacturers have
been hampered by inability to obtain
raw materials and others have been
hampered by strikes and other labor
troubles. One or two cases have been
reported where manufacturers have
made large profits through reselling
their contracts for raw material to
others not equally well supplied.
Climatic conditions during the later
part of March and the first half of
April, have been more favorable than
they were the early months of the
year. Generally speaking, the rainfall
was deficient throughout January and
February and the ground needed mois-
ture. Precipitation in the Southern
portions of the district was largely
above the normal in March, and in fact
the continued rainfall has hampered
agricultural operations. The precipi-
tation in the Northern half of the dis
trict was approximately normal dur
ing the later part of March and some
what 0hnyo thu ~@~~no1 J,>-n- H.
first half of this month. 1t is believed
that this has improved the crop pros
poets.
The Government report on the
wheat crop issued April 7th, showed
the April LIST condition in all of
the States in this district, was mater
tally below the average. The outlook
the winter wheat crop is not
bright. The crop in Missouri was
was badly damaged, but the condition
is believed to be improving slowly
but steadily, particularly in the dis
trict from Marion to Franklin County.
The condition of the wheat in Dade
Lawrence Counties, Missouri, is
reported to be very poor.
Reports on the new cotton crop, in
that the season is two or three
weeks late. The cold and rainy wealth
er in the belt has delayed planting
and the cultivation of the ground, so
that conditions are not entirely fav-
orable. There is a strong agitation
for an increase in the production of
food stuffs and the reports indicate
this will limit the acreage in
spite of the tempting price of cotton.
There is a scarcity of grain in the cot
ton belt and provisions of every kind
kind are climbing higher. The old
crop movement from Memphis is still
delayed, principally on account of car
The stock on hand on April
18th, 1917, amounted to $4,000 bales
as against 216,000 on, the same date
1916 and 1853: 900 in 1915.
It is reported that considerable
ground has been prepared for the corn
planting and some planting has al
ready been done in the Southern Sec
of the district. Frequent rains
the early part of April have retarded
work. Flowing and planting
have also been hampered by the scar
city and high cost of seed and the lack
IF sufficient labor. The oats appears
to have been planted under favorable |
a0r11fyonc Th4 1o%~%o 1900 = l
than usual and would be still
[arger, were it not for the almost pro-
nibitive cost Of seed.
The outlook for the fruit crops, ex-
:ept peaches, is fair. The strawberry
:rop is beginning to bloom in the
portions of the district but
Indications r that the crop is mater
ally smaller than last year. In st.
louis and other large cities, provisions
ire generally high and in some cases
scarce. The movement of fresh pro-
'isions, cabbage, tomatoes, asparagus,
strawberries, onions, cts, is la
er than usual. The onion movement
rom the Texas district began a few
lays ago and is now in fair volume
md some relief is anticipated. The
'tock of canned goods in the hands of
commission merchants and wholesale
is reported to be extremely
ow due in part to a shortage in the
'ield last year and in part to the small
AIRY over from the previous season.
'rices in many instances have increas-
d in the past few months forty to
lightly per cent. Sugar is reported to
equally scare and the jobbing
rice Of this staple has increased from
to ten cents in the last few
Little relief in the canned
situation can be looked for until
he new crop comes along in Septem-
er and October.
The st Louis National Stock Yarks
eports a slight decrease in the re-
eipts of cattle, sheep, and horses and
lules in March for 1917, as compared
. March, 1916, and an increase in
ogs during this same period. The
rice Of hogs has gone up fram manth
. month in this district, on April 18th
eng $16.40 . hundred. |,
Building permits for March, 1917.