The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-07
GRAIN PRODUCTION
 IN THE NORTHWEST
By HOLLAND


 New York, June 6-(Special) )--W ere James J. Hill now living he would not at tempt to conceal his qualification at the information which was received in New York today from the far northwest. Howard Elliott, who is as familiar with the conditions, opportunities and re- sources in the northwest as any man now living, will certainly be pleased when he learns of the promise of a great grain harvest throughout the northwest. Great 1 ly occupied as John D. Ryan is with his service as head of the aircraft con l struction work nevertheless he, too, will | find few moments in which he can l yield to his sense of pleasure over this news, for he assisted in the agricultural ! development of Montana. That is also true of Col. William B. Thompson. For Colonel Thompson was born in Montana and when he was a lad mining and rarching were the only industries of any consequence in that state. He did learn. copper industry that Montana was likely 1 to become one of the leading wheat pro- ducing states in the union. Busily occu-
 pied as Colonel Thompson now is with l Red Cross work, with his reSponsibili- I ties as a director in the Federal Reserve l bank and with winding up the remark
 able campaign he made in aid of the Red
 Cross he, too, will spare a few moments 1 in which to express his delight at news l which came from the northwest this morning.
 l MT. Hill is president of the Great 1 Northern and MT. Elliott. as president Of the Northern Pacific, gave much time to the development of the agricultural re- ] sources of that section. Both predicted that when the land was subdued to cui- tivation and when farmers took advan- l tage of the opportunities that opened to l them there this vast region would be- come one of the greatest wheat producing areas in the world.
 1 Just at this time favorable climatic con diticns, combined with the energy of the !, farmers and the remarkable campaign l which leaders in the northwest have car
 ried on with intent to increase food pro duction, have resulted in establishing 1 conditions which now justify the state ment that that great district in the I northwest has never had finer agricui- tural outlook, especially for its wheat harvest, than is the case today. Author itative reports which reached New York this morning from Minneapolis state that the wheat COnultiOli Pi iSoShs' eA ti'St'e s~e tractive appearance all the way west al most a thousand miles to the Rocky mountains In these words the report
 stated that "Grain has rooted firmly
 the plants are strong. with a fine color
 and an even growth" It is noticeable \ that it is difficult to find break in
 the rows made by the seed drills, and
 this gives excellent promise Of very
 large yield per acre.
 WHEAT IN THE NORTHWEST If the other wheat belts of the United K States are able at this time to furnish
 such excellent promise for wheat mar
 vest as is that contained in the infor-
 nation received from the northwest, then
 there seems to be good reason for the
 hope that the harvest of this year vii eoual and possibly exceed the phenome nal billion bushel harvest of few years ago. of course, MT. Hoover has al ready been informed respecting conditions in the northwest and in other whea growing belts of the United States lnti nations reached New York from Wash that nothing but unfavorable climati' conditions now stand in the way of ; great wheat harvest and perhaps rec ord breaking harvest,
 WHAT WOMEN ARE DOING | line women or lne ioi Fl" oSs eAAo ". trbuting greatly in aid of the farmers For the first time in the history o | the northwest women now work side b | side with men in war industries. The ! are becomingly and conveniently dressed They show a good deal of skill in op erating some of the lighter machin tools. They are taking the places mad vacant in banks through the calling t the service young men who were banl | employees.
 In the report which was received Iron the northwest this morning it was state \ that one of the most interesting and sig