The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-01
Year 1917 Saw Records
Made in High Prices
of Commodities
CROPS BROUGHT
BIG CASH RETURNS
New Year Will See Diver
sion of Capital and Labor
From Non-essentials

- IGNlEW VI AAAG bAGAAC0G
conditions of the last year and the
in part:
Nineteen hundred and seventeen
will be memorable because the great
est of the worlds democracies, the
United States Of America-its for
eign commerce forbidden, its mer-
chant ships sunk and its citizens
foully murdered-forsook the paths
of neutrality and. went forward TO
seek with the sword peace and
reparation from the country which
through two years preceding had
broken its plighted word to us, had
treacherously assailed US while pro-
Tossing friendship, and had drenched
the world in blood.
BY and through this act and the
consequences growing out of Ameri-
cas- absolutely necessary step, the
war took on a new character, the
irrepressible conflict between the
worlds two great systems of govern
ment became clearly defined, and
this country, once sneered at as a
mere collection OF traders in the
misfortunes of others, stood revealed
as one willing to battle and suffer
for ideals to which its enemies
declared 1T was an absolute stranger.
Naturally, the trade history OF such
a year as that just closed Is a diff
cult one to write because old stand
ards of living were perforce abandon
ed, now and strange problems
presented themselves to be solved,
and new rules of action and meas
Hres OF attainment were set up. It
liz still, even nine months after our
formal embarkation in the war, diff
cult to say what final success attend
ed this country's efforts to adjust it
self to war conditions, but il may at
once be said that many of the steps
taken and the progress made in
Transforming it from a peaceful neu-
tral to a great military and naval
power have been comforting to those
who have believed not only in the
desirability, but in the efficiency
under strain, OF a Republican form
OF government.
The Price Movements.
Perhaps no single development OF
the year surpassed the record made
by pricea OF commodities. The
deficient food harvests Of 1916, which
fell one-fifth below those OF 1915,
were only partly responsible for the
acceptance flight OF prices. For
eign demand, sharpened by lessened
yields, especially of grain abroad,
was very large, while our own or our
allies calls for all sorts of war sup
and woolen cloth,
leather, iron, steel, coal. copper, lum-
Der, provisions Of all kinds, chemicals
and drugs-drove prices to unex-
ampled heights. Nearly all Civil war
records of food prices were broken;
wheat sold up to $3.50 per busheli
- 90 e. - - 1G nnWfus HnNUrz
SIT per barrel; hogs. $40 per hundred
pounds, live weight; lard, 20 cents
per pound: pork, S5s per barrel; re-
fined sugar, $8.A0 per hundred
pounds: pig iron, S55. and steel. 500
per ton; lead, ~ cents; tin, 81 cents;
copper. 81 cents; cotton, 31.25 cents,
and print cloths, u cents per yard;
and, indeed, the list of articles ad-
vancing to dizzy heights was a
virtual roll call Of the products Of
farm, forest, mine and factory. Most
Of these peak points were reached in
the fore part of the year. and food
and fuel control undoubtedly held
down prices later, still only three Of
the thirteen groups OF commodities
failed to reach peak points in 1917.
The Crops.
The crop results of 1917 show that
the balance lost by the unfavorable
and short Yields OF 1916 was
partly restored by the efforts OF the
agricuIturalist. This is true, at least
0f most of the crops, though the loss
Of winter wheat in 1851 was not
made up in spring wheat, and the
bumper yields Of corn, oats, rye,
white and sweet potatoes and beans
were the result rather of enlarged
areas than OF increased yields per
acre. However, the yields Of leading
sereals-meat- animal feeds foremost
were over one-fifth larger than the
year before, and potatoes, an import
Int human food, were FAR in advance
If any previous year. The plant-a-
garden movement, was triumphantly
and should see further
expansion in 1918. The EFFORT to
plant a tremendous area in winter
wheat in the fall Of 1917 was check
ID by adverse weather ldrough),
but still record area has been
planted, though the condition Of 1913
g points below a year ago. 10 points
below the ten-year average, and is
he lowest December condition on
record. The comparatively moderate
-eturns i'm q uuantitative way In 1917
we're, thanks to insistent demand,
urned into a veritahle gold mine in
/ money way, cereal crops gaining So
Der cent in value on a gain OF only
Il per cent in quantity; the values
II twenty-four leading crops were so
Ser cent in excess OF 1915, and all
arm produce reached the sum OF
i21 900 900, 900, or about what win
ave been spent for all purposes by |
he United States government from |
AN. /. 1917, to June 80, 1918.
Looking Forward.
Inasmueh as the war has been and /
s the great moving feature in this
trade, as 1t is indeed ia
CONTINUED on page SIS