The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-12
CONDITIONS BETTER
IN THE DOMINION
Feed Crops Saved by Rain
and Cattle Situation
Improves.
HARVESTING HAS BEGUN
Banks Take Cheerful View Of
Outlook, and General Trade
is Good.
HARVESTING HAS BEGUN

Special Correspondence to the Canadian
Section OF THE Sum.
TORONTO, Aug. Il.--That the tendency
In the general financial and commercial
situation In Canada during the week has
been toward an improvement during the
past week there can scarcely be any
doubt. While the latest advices from the
prairie provinces indicate that the heavy
rains which were experienced the pre-
yious week came too late to lie Of much
benefit to the grain crops. except those
which we're late, they were fortunately In
time TO greatly benefit the feed crops.
A few weeks ago the situation in re-
spect to feed was decidedly alarming
In the dry belts Of Alberta and Saskat-
chewan, and appeals were sent out to
the provincial and Federal Government
for assistance In relieving the situation.
Believing the farmers In these dry belts
would be compelled to sell much OF their
live stock in order TO prevent 1t from
starving to death during the winter
months SPECTATORS were soon on the
spot for the purpose of picking up cattle
at bargain prices With the advent OF
rain, however. the situation has been
modified to a material extent.
Harvesting is now in full swing
throughout the West. and at that about
three weeks earlier than usual, thus
lessening the possibility Of damage by
frost. On the other hand. as harvesting
operations proceed It Is discovered that
considerable rust exist among grain
crops in general. and particularly those
In the Province of Manitoba.
Banks Take Cheerful View.
1t, is significant. however. that not
withstanding the disappointment that ex-
lists regarding crop conditions In the
West, the banks are not at all pesimisS
tic in respect to the general OUTLOOK.
We" remarked the manager OF one OF
the leading banks, which Is noted Tor the
completeness of its system OF correspond
ents in the West, by no means view the
situation with alarm. True, the wheat
crop is disappointingly small. but the
farmers Of the West are less dependent
upon that grain than they ever were,
while their holdings of live stock. Tor
which they are assured good prices, have
materially Increased during the year
The situation regarding the marketing
of the wheat crop Of the Dominion mas
been materially improved by the action
of the Federal Government In appoint
ing a board whose duties apply not only
to the purchasing Of the total crop out
the control of lake and rail transporta-
ton as we'll. The board will alsb control
the export trade in both wheat and hour.
Apparently the only criticism is In re-
spect to the s1.75 per bushel, which 1t Is
understood the board is to advance when
purchasing the wheat, and In view OF
this criticism 1t Is possible that higher
figure may ultimately be decided upon.
But whatever the advance figure may be,
the farmers when selling their wheat
to the board, will be furnished with a
participation certificate which guaran-
tees them a share Of the profits at the
close of the crop year or when all the
wheat has been delivered to and sold
by the board at the worlds market
prices obtaining.
General Trade IL Good.
That the general trade of the
Dominion Is being we'll maintained is
evident from the bank clearings and the
railway earnings. The clearings for
July were the largest in several months,
and in excess Of the corresponding month
of 1918 by 15% per cent, while those
| for the first week IN August show a gain