Arizona republican., 1918-01-07
LACK IF RA|NF ALL UNAVOIDABLE FACTOR
 IN CROPS FUR 1913


 l. made public yesterday, has this to say:
 Lack of precipitation has been an unfvorable factor throughout this district during the fall. In Washing ton, fall blowing was restricted by dry weather, and wheat, which was planted in the dust, did not germin- ate effectively. Rains in the first part of December in the Walla Walla (Wash) district and snow in the region of Spokane Wash) have tardily bettered slightly the prospects for winter wheat Farther east, ill the vicinity of Lewiston, Idaho good moisture is reported and good wheat. In California the precipitation for the season beginning October l has not been much more than 10 per cent of normal. It is, of course, not a defin- ite indication that there will not be abundant moisture later, so as to as- sure the crops for 1918, but the COL tnued dry weather occasions concern.
 The Pacific coast potato crop is re- ported as 4S,105,000 bushels, an in crease. over last year of 3,105,000 bushels. This increase amounted to 7 per cent, the acreage, however, in creasing from 216.000 to 32S,O00, or 52 per cent. The barley crop in Cali fornia aggregated 40,000,000 bushels, which was an increase of 17,00O,0O0 bushels over 1916.
 There has been a general effort to increase acreage, and this has been the cause of an increase in some pro- ducts. The season, however, which has just closed has not been gener- ally favorable for agricultural pro- ducts in this district. It is in spite or this that the summary of totals shows that the aggregate tonnage was exceptional.
 The supply of farm 1aborers, which has been inadequate during the past year. and which has been diminished by the military draft, promises to be materially short of the needs during the coming year. The suggestion is being made with increasing ire quency that a large Lumber, perhaps 100000. of Chinese farmers be brought to this country, under bond for their return, to raise crops dur ing the war. Cuba has pursued this course to secure labor for handling the crop of sugar cane. Apparently, no objection is made to the proposal except by labor unions. The im- portaLce of increasing production of foodstuffs is vital.
 Curtailment of available range for feeding, the high price of feed. ana 1 inability to secure labor have resulted | in the marketing of much livestock in the northwest. In Oregon, Wash | lngton and Idaho the holding of hogs are at present 2,550,O00 head. com pared with 3,920000 head at the same | time a year ago; of cattle 915,00O | head, compared with 1,790,000 head a year ago; and 3S0,000 dairy cows. compared with 510,0O0 in 1916. Hold : inss of sheep and lambs alone show an increase, being 4.340, 900 head, com pared with 4,260,000 head a year ago. l Ihe campaign for more sheep and more wool has been influential for an increase, but extraordinary prices nave likewise been a potent influence, Labor conditions, which have been very unsettled during the year, ap- pear to have reached a state of greater stability. There have been strikes in copper mines of Arizona II. lumber mills of the northwest. in shipyards and allied metal trades. no, only in San Francisco, but also in Portland and Seattle. There has beer telephone strike at Seattle and a bitter and violent street car strike in San Francisco. The intervention Of the Federal Wage Adjustment board. Secretary of Labor Wilson coming himself to the Pacific coast was effective in reaching settlement In several cases. The intervention ordinarily resulted iH prevailing upor employers to concede the demands in large part, of the striking work. men, but at all events a basis wa. usually reached under which tn. processes of production were re. sumed..
 In southern California cannin. tuIa fish has become an importan industry, large contracts having beer made with the government for arm, needs. The salmon pack of tn, northwest, however, is the grea fish industry. The value of the 191' salmon pack in Alaska alone is place, at S3O,O00,000, comparing with s21 000.000 in 1916.
 ShipbuildiLg has advanced witl huge strides. Both steel and woodel ships are under construction in larg numbers at Seattle and Portland While San Francisco is doubling an, quadrupling her facilities for build ing chiefly steel ships, ard Los An geles is also engaged in importan construction.
 The construction of buildings i decreasing, reports from the princi pal cities of this district showing decrease of 17 per cent during tn past five months.
 Imports and exports, measured i dollars, are at record figures i spite of deficient tonnage. Seattl leads San Francisco in foreign trad, the estimated figures for 1917 beint respectively, $500O000O0 and s3S0, 100000.
 Petroleum production in Californi during November was S,112,17O bar reis, while shipments were 9.3O3. .66 barrels. This excess of consumptio reduced stored stocks by 1,l91.4s barrels to 32,6O3,625. On Decembe Sl' 1915, stored stocks were 57,147.05 barrels.
 Bank deposits and bank clearing continue to expand. Lending rate or member banks have tended greater firmness and there has bee considerable rediscounting with Fet eral Reserve bank, but all legitimat requirements of borrowers are heir readily met. The influence of Fec erai Reserve bank in imparting f nancial stability and serenity is va, marked. This influence is beir steadily enhanced as the exchange
 made of federal reserve notes f, gold, the banks reserve thereby bei1 continually expanded. The issue
 lederal reserve notes is freuuent
 referred to as being an addition
 the money in circulation and evider,
 ing a corresponding imitation. I'll
 fact, however, is that for the mo
 part gold has been drawn into fl
 reserve of the Federal Reserve bar
 pari passu with the issue of feder
 reserve notes. Every one who uses
 federal reserve note instead of 20