The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-02-10
John H. Rich, Federal Reserve
Agent, Sees Improvement
Over January
YEAR. WILL BE UNUSUAL
Guaranteed Wheat Price and Elk.
traordinary Foreign De-
mand for Rye Noted
JOHN n. RICH.
Federal Reserve Agent.
January.

A substantial fall OF snow, and a
sharp drop in temperature following
-one of the mildest Januarys on record,
has already done much to improve
outlook preparatory to the spring crop,
particularly as the snowfall was pre-
cetled by rain and sleet.' The frost
line up to the end of january had
reached only moderate depth, after
period Of extraordinary mild wealth
err. The beneficial action of deep
frost is necessary, and the general
stOrm><which terminated the mild
weather will probably prove to be
quite as beneficial and valuable as are
widespread rains coming during the
planting and growing season.
Although it is still far in advance
of spring planting, winter copditions
have an important. effect on spring
prospects, and are usual watched by
those interested in agricultural mat
tiers with keen interest. The coming
year will be in many respects quite
as unusual, from an agricultural
standpoint. as was 1915 With guar
anteed wheat price, with an extra
ordinary foreign demand for rye, and
with no. prospects of anw substantial
falling, off in the demand for other
grains, live stock and dairy products.
the outlook is for continuation of
extremely satisfactory returns for the
produce of the farms and ranches. I'm
doubteJly some items will show Il
price reduction as compared with last
year, but important staples, salchyas
wheat and livestock, promise nearly
In nc, r1,vE2 In
son. Farmers did well last year, and
one more season Of high prices will
60 long way toward reducing their
outstanding obligations and putting
them on much more satisfactory
financial basis.
The OutpOuring of wealth from last
seasons operations is not yet at an
end. "A large amount of ii livestock
will come into the market bAtween
now and spring. Avery nsiderabaa
amount of wheat ands other small
grains Is still the fermsr- and for
one cause and another, has not, yet
been put u, the market The 1919
crop, with favorable weather condi-
tions, win be large, and will probably
show, SO far as wheat and rye are
concerned, a Substantially increased
acreage. and d heavy production, IL the
season is favorable. IL marketing con-
ditions, particularly transportation, do
not improveilt he new. crop NIL move
before a large part of the old crop
is cleaned up, iitand marketing Of the
production Of this year will extend
well into the following twelfth month.
In district, where financial con-
ditions are largely dependent on agri-.
cultural conditions this outlook is en-
couraging, and if it is not impaired
by a bad spring, ought to mean the
continuation Of very satisfactory
and prosperous trade in both retail
and wholesale lines, and active busi-
ness conditions throughout the entire
year.
The banks Of the district have the
burdens of one more Liberty Loan in
prospect, with the financing that ac-
companies such campaign. The out
look for the Fifth or Victory Loan is
satisfactory. While the opinion has
been expressed that the distribution
of bonds may not be as widespread
as in the Fourth Loan, it may prove
that this view is 5sllortsighted. A peo-
pie who have beer spared the sacri-
fees and the loss of our best men that
would surely have come il the war
had continued for IL to 49, months,
as was the prospect prior to the sign
ing Of the armistice, cannot and will
not refuse to pay their just obligations
to the government They should and
will consider that the Victory Loan
is small thing compared with the
suffering and sacrifice they have been
spared. The immediate excitement and
inspiration of the war has been to a
considerable degree lost, but it is ur-
doubtedly true that the deeper pat
riotism that has been stirred by what
the nation has gone through will prove
to be a sufficient foundation upon
which to anticipate that the Ninth
District will do in the Fifth Loan
what 1t has already done in the pre-
ceding loans, and that whatever al
lOtment Is made the subscriptions will
be made promptly, literally and freely.
There is grave dOnger that one Of
the greatest benefits of the war to
the people ut home will be lost If
banks and bankers do. not promptly
realize that there is a disposition to
slight the war savings certificates
and thrift stamps, and If they do not
take steps to educate the people of
their communities to the splendid OPP
portunities these little government OBJ
legations offer to anyone who will
adopt habitual thrift. No result could |
possibly be SO valuable to the Ameri- |
can people rs that which would be
obtained If every boy and girl, and
every man and woman, could be made
to regularly buy war savings and
thrift stamps, even If only in small
amounts. Saving has been difficult to
the greater part of the American peO-
ple only because they have not made
It habit. IL they, could b induced
to adopt the policy Of putting aside
I little something and Of buying reg
ularly each week or each month 4
definite amount Of these small severn
ment obligations, they would lay the
foundations for q competence and q
comfortable old age. It Is astonishing
to realize that the amount a. money
thrown away from dry to day on
,trihing luxuries and non-easentials,
that people really care nothing Tor,
would represent, In the ninth district,
in the course o. . year, consider4]
ably larger anonnt than the districts
entire contribution TO- War Saving