The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-08-07
TIMELY RAINS
IMPROVED ALL
SMALL GRAINS
Federal Reserve Bank Head Sees
Prospect for Good Money
Crops
RUST TOO LATE TO HURT
I Appears in Some Sections, But
Harm Is Past
RUST TOO LATE TO HURT
MONTHLY REPORT
OF Crop and Business Condi.
lions in the Ninth Federal
Reserve District-J0hn H.
Rich, Chairman and FEEDER
al Reserve Agent

Minneapolis, MINI, Aug. Tn Wis.
consin, Minnesota and South Dakota
the harvesting of a very large CROP
is in progress. Opportune rains in
July have materially improved the
condition of all small grains and
/, helped fax especially. While more or
less hot weather was not especially
hen fcial to the grain crops, no great
amount of damage occurred, and 1t
was a valuable help to corn, which
has made unusual progress, and Is at
this date considerably further adj
vanced toward maturity than in an
average year. Late fax in central
Minnesota and in other parts OF the
eastern half OF this district promises
to be avery good crop.
The harvesting OF wheat is in prog
ress in South Dakota and southern
Minnesota, and little threshing has
been done. Within ten days it is ex-
pected that threshing will be quite
general.
Black rust has appeared in South
Dakota and some parts OF southern
Minnesota, but has come too late to
do much harm.
The western half of North Dakota
benefited by rains during July. which
improved the condition which exist
ed during the first part of the month.
Opportune moisture helped the early
grain to fill and was very valuable
in assisting the development of the
late sown grain, especially wheat and
flax. Flax gives evidence of cOnsid-
cradle Improvement. On account Of
the very spotted condition, no gen
eral statement as to the crop in west
ern North Dakota is of much value.
In evidence Of the Improvement, it
may be stated that some fields which
earlier in the month gave promise
Of not more than S bushels, are now
rated at from 6 to Z, and that where
grain was not too severely hurt by
dry weather at an earlier date, it has
revived and made very substantial
progress which will result in consid-
cradle. Improvement and in a yield
over that expected during the first
nalf of July.
1t will probably prove true that
western, North Dakota will hayest q
considerable amount Of grain, which,
when the present high prices are con-
sidered,, will represent q money re-
turn that would ordinarily be consid-
cred very fair.
In Montana, as we'll as in western
North Dakota, rains have greatly i'm
proved the feed situation and helped
out the pastures. Moisture came TOO
late to save the ~crop In northern
Montana or to make much improve
ment lin the outlook. The central
counties OF the state and the valley
and irrigated districts are in good
shape and will harvest good crops.
In the eastern end OF the Yellow
stone valley and the easter and north
ern sides Of the Judith Basin, and
the northern portion of the state be-
tween Sheridan county and the Rocky
mountains, is included the area which
has suffered most and in which most
o fthe damage has occurred. In the
section thus outlined crops will be
poor and in some cases, very poor. A
July brought no change in the ac-
tive demand on country banks, and
the consequent heavy call upon city
correspondents. Large amounts of
money have been sent into the coup-
try to meet the cost of current agri-
cultural operations, and the flow will
continue until late September, when
the marketing y0f the crop begins.
Currency shipments during the next
60 days are likely to be heavy, due
to the larger amounts Of money re-
quired this year to handle the crop.
Interest rates maintain approximate
ly the same level as before and are
very firm.
Business conditions show no change
Of consequence. Trade in both whole
sale and retail lines is good and the
people appear to have plenty Of money
to spend for the things they want.
1t is noticeably true that the war has
not appreciably curtailed the volume
Of business OF concerns engaged in
the merchandising of the less neces-'
sary articles and Injuries. !. Jewelry
concerns are doing good business
and, except for conditions within the
trade, the automobile houses are SELL
+ ing cars much as usual:
The curtailment of purchases by q
part Of the population Nhave so far
been offsetfh by the increased purchas-
ing power of another element which
has benefited by unusually favorable
wage rates and by. the very heavy de-
mand for every kind and variety of
skilled competent labor
In the meantime, there is distinct
movement toward the restriction Of
credit for n0n-essentials. There is no
universal test that will disclose what
Is essential and what is non-essen-
tial, but 1t Is clear, as the problem
OF government financing is carefully,
studied, that the ability Of the United
States to meet, future demands that
Will result from the continuation of
ten war will be largely proportionate
to its ability to save and that the
saving habit must be very much more
widely adopted by the people. Banks
generally are giving serious consid-
Grafton to their part in preparing for
future war demands and 1t is likely
that borrowing with the expectation
of renewing will be curtailed The
government Is taking the position that
the public can very well get along
without new. parks, new public build
.iass,-new highways, new irrigation
nttc4RrOjects, the reclamation OF ad-
diffonaf arabic land and similar en-
terprises until the close of the war,
An 4 - % mn - pos,O h tho mi \3nv,