New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-01-05
Northwest Expects
Prosperous Year
Based OH 81 Wheat

Special Correspondence
MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 1.-Closing 1915
with rs per cent increase and new
high record in the volume of business.
Minneapolis is looking forward conf
IDENTIFY to activity and prosperity in
1919! The farmers of Minnesota, North
Dakota, South Dakota and Montana
will plant the biggest spring wheat
acreage OF record if conditions permit.
Just now there is a moisture deficiency
shown in the western end of the North
western spring wheat area, but if there
is an early and favorable spring the
farmers Will make up for the failure
to plough as much land as usual in
the fail of 1918, this being due to dry
SOIL, labor scarcity and other causes.
1t IS estimated here that about SO
per cent OF the 1918 spring wheat and
! % to so per cent of the barley and
the farmers. The biggest considera-
ton of all out here, and the thing that
overshadows all else, is the wheat price
guarantee This extends to June, 1920.
Any farmer may sow wheat to the
limit, with the assurance that, what
ever happens and no matter how much
he raises u she world raises, or what
happens to ,iie prices of other grains
or other produce, he is going to get So
bushel or more on the farm for his
wheat if he has No. quality, and
prices close to 81 even if his crop is
little off grade.
long ago since dollar wheat" in Chi
cago and Minneapolis signalized great
prosperity for the West and was wide
Iy commented upon everywhere, 81
wheat is really q most remarkable
thing--only the farmer and every one
else by this time has become so used to
it that it seems commonplace. But if
the 1919 spring wheat crop in these
1our states comes up TO the 272,O00, 900
bushels that were raised in 1918, it will
again represent $40 100000 Of
value. These states produced last year
go 100000 bushels Of ali kinds of
1918, on the farms was 81 423 900, 900.
What will happen to prices of other
grans-corn, oats, barley, faXseed, rye
is a very speculative matter, but
nearly every one here expects that
prices will remain remuneratively high,
no matter how much the world pro-
duccs in 1919. AS to wheat, there is, of
course, nothing uncertain, and as pro-
ductiDn runs, so viii value run very
definitely.
Comparisons That might be given
covering many lines show results that
were nlgny gratifying. Dulness in
co. struclIon work, new building, realty
SAFES and farm land transfers were
pronounced IN 1918, but this was Of
no local significance, rejecting only a
condition everywhere apparent and
due to governmental restrictions.
There were two other ines of gen.
eral business that did no. prosper in
1913 in Minneapolis, but those also re-
fected only conditions that were gem
cral. The Twin City Rapid Transit
Company, operating the strectcar sys
tenn Of Minneapolis and st. Paul, was
very seriously affected by increased
wages and other operating costs and
other rising expense, Coupled with IN
ability to get an increased rate OF
fare, and the Minneapolis Gas Light
Company also experienced the effect
OF rising operation costs against al.
arbitrarily fixed selling price. Four
brewcries and several mating plants
closed, as many such plants did else
where.
The city's mills made 1878 900 bar
rels OF -four, or 100000 more than in
1917, and grain receipts ran up to
213,OO0,O00 bushels, or $4,000 900 more
= an IN 1917. Wholesale trade was
large, and the Christmas retail bust
ness Of Minneapolis was estimated at
10000, new high record.