The Washington herald., 1918-07-16
WHEAT CROPS
ARE REDUCED
Holland Descants on I'm
favorable Weather in
Many Localities.

ports which have come to New YORK
since that estimate was published JUS
ufy the surnise that the next gov
eminent report may be more en-
eouragfng 1t may be that the farm
ers will not harvest loo, ,O00. 900 bushels
OF wheat. but the chances are that.
unless weather conditions in the
Northwest are unfavorable, go, 900. 900
bushels VIII be harvested. and per
haps more
The weather has not been entirely
favorable In, some parts of the coun-
try, whereas IN other wheat belts,
the climate has been admirably suit
Cd. according 70 reports received here,
TOT growth Of = high quality Of wheat
ana the sarnering Of more than an
average number Of bushels per acre
But the United States Is so large,
is northern wheat boundary reach
ING the Canadian line and its south
srn including parts of Texas, that
Is almost inconceivable that per-
rect crop weather win prevail in
every part Of the country in any one
season.
John H. Rich. chairman and Fed
erei Reserve agent of the Ninth
Federal Reserve district. with head
quarters at Minneapolis has sent
this morning to New York q some
What detailed report of crop condi-
tions in the Northwest. Mr.. Rich is
IN an especially favorable position
for securing accurate statements
from farmers Of the Northwest. since
as Federal Reserve Agent at Min
neapolis he is brought in touch with
the agricultural regions within the
boundaries of that district.
According to Mr.. Rich. 1t is dry
tweather. especially in Montana and
North Dakota, which has played
havoc with the grain crops. Up to a
month ago the weather in that dis
trict was very kindly, encouraging
the hope that the largest harvest
ever gathered would be secured this
year. Then of a sudden came very
dry and very hot weather. 1t was
especially harmful to the crops OF
Montana.
In June the reports from Non
tana led to the expectation that the
state would maintain her position as
one OF the leading wheat producing
states. but heat and sun have played
some havoc with Montana's wheat
production as also with that in part
Of North Dakota. On the other hand
the promise is excellent of a large
wheat harvest in South Dakota,
Minnesota and wisconsin There
fore the belief prevails in the
Northwest that the losses due to hot
and dry weather in some sections
will not be great enough to prevent
the entire district from reaping as
large a crop Of wheat as it has ever
grown.
Red River valley.
II used to be almost a hobby
with James ]. Hill to encourage the
cultivation of wheat in the Red
River Valley Mr.. Hill felt sure
that 1t would. bearing in mind the
extent of the wheat belt as COM
pared with other and larger belts
cit might when entirely brought un-
der cultivation, prove to be the
largest wheat production area in
the United States.
However. unfortunate whether
conditions may have been in other
parts of the northwest. the harvest
in the Red River Valley is likely
TO prove this year as large as any
ever gathered there. This is due
to the fact that moisture has been
abundant and sufficient to carry the
crop through to maturity. So. also.
throughout Minnesota the outlook
for a very large wheat harvest is
excellent, although exceptions
should be made to some sections Of
the northern part of the State.
There, however. the wheat that is
growing may be greatly benefited,
should there come good rainfalls.
We undoubtedly are to have, II
not a record harvest of grain.
nevertheless. one of the largest
ever gathered. and in some parts
of the country the season is so far
advanced that the wheat has been
cut and is now being thrashed.
Great Mind. Eccentric Personality.
There may be some interest IL a
report be made setting forth in ad-
Ndition to the sketch of John W.
sterling. which appeared lately in
this column, some of his personal
characteristics. First Of all, a good
deal of comment has been made
since Mr.. Sterling's death a few
days ago which refers TO the for
tune which he accumulated.
Those who are best informed are in-i
clined to believe that when his estate
is probated it will be found that he
accumulated a much larger fortune
than any other American lawyer ever
gained. There would be surprise IL it
we're found that the aggregate money
value of his estate were less than no.
O00,0Oo. When the will OF Joseph II.
Choate was offered for probate It was
discovered that he left an estate some
what In excess Of $4,000 90. and law
yers said that this was undoubtedly
the largest fortune ever accumulated
by an American lawyer. chiefly
through the practice Of his profession.
Whatever be the amount of Mr.. Ster-
ling's estate, and 1t is certain that he
gained no small part OF It through
fortunate investments and through op-
portunitics which came to him Wills
serving very large interests and per-
fecting railroad reorganizations. He
was . wise investor and as his man
ner Of life was modest his income
must have been SO great as to enable
him TO make each year large new in
vestments-
A TimId Man.
He was a peculiar man in many
things, not being an eager seeker for
money, for il often happened that he
charged nothing for his services. in
that respect resembling the late
John G. Johnson, of Philadelphia.
He did know. however, when and
why TO make large demands
One Of the most perfectly equipped
and from the architectural point of
view, beautiful, OF all the American
homes for aged women was estab-
Iished by a benefaction made by the
widow Of Charles Osborn. who him
self accumulated a great fortune.
In this benefaction Mr.. Sterling was
Of great assistance to Mrs. Osborn
At her death it was found that she
had bequeathed to him $4,000 He
refused the bequest, or at least ap-
Piled the whole of IL TO certain ben
efaetion in which he knew Mrs Os-