The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-05-07
A TRIPLE IN COMPARISON
 TO RAILROAD NEEDS


 Large as tnIs amount Is it dwlndles
 to almost nothing when compared to the
 S6,000,00U,O00 which must be expended II
 the railroads are put into condition wnleh wlil tnaDie them to handle the oIIeFeu
 traffic. Ine engineers will be greatly
 occupied in case thls water route IS aae- quately improved. For between the east
 ern end Of Lake Ontaria and Montreal
 there is fall of 240 feet. This has been
 partly overcome by Canada through the construction of large canals around the rapids of the St. Lawrence. So also upon
 the American side of the St. Lawrence
 the rapids which rush tumultuously by the banks at Messina Springs have been
 utilized for the construction of one Of
 the great electric plants of the United
 States
 In order to overcome the navigation
 difficulties which these rapids occasion It
 will be necessary to build four or llV9
 locks one or two of which may De as
 large as the great steamship lock py
 means of which passage from Lake su-
 perior to Lake Huron is made.
 A communication received this morning
 from the northwest that with the pres ent critical transportation situation, and
 with the prospect that during the next
 five years the ability of the northwest to
 markt it's grain crops will create prop-
 lem of the utmost importance, then the proposition that theer be opened up
 waterway, through which export gram can move from the. head of the lakes to
 destination without breaking bulk IS deemed one worthy of the most carelui consideration and earnest support. Water transportation of this kind need not Greatly impair rail traffic, for rail serN- ice to the eastern consumers II llS needed capital be secured whereby thls service can be made adequate. Will sup plement the improvement of the water ways.
 THE GRAIN OF THE NORTHWEST Last year the chief grain producihs states of the northwest fell short, espe-
 cially in wheat, on account of untaVor- able climatic conditions. FortunateAS the south as well as Kansas and Okla homa were able to make good Tn part this deficit. This year. although there IS a decrease in acreage in the northwest as there is in fact everywhere, neverihs- less, the early promise of the harvest is very favorable. Montana, unless there should come unfavorable climate, IS likely to harvest perhaps a record maN- ing crop of wheat and other grains. New ertheless on account of the decrease III acreage the Montana harvest will be probably 10 per cent less than that Of last year But if theer should be a serious falling off in Montana wheat there IS civ to De all lllCItdSo III tiiS iit'A >--N of corn in that state.
 WHAT FARMERS ARE FACING Much have been said about the earn ings of the farmers, especially of the northwest. They are said to have had money in plenty and, comparatively speaking, have matched the rest Of the country in their purchase of liberty bonds Farming operations are now ac- tive throughout the northwest, and yet the faI~ers are somewhat concerned over the money situation. The demand for money is very large. And there are three reasons why the farmers will De obliged to borrow from the banks in con siderable amounts First, there IS the difficulty in marketing grain and i've stock on account of transportation con- gestion; second the wages demanded py farm labor are veryThigh, but these de- mands must be met if the farms are to be cultivated; and in the third place the cost of seed, which in the aggregate makes up a very large item, is high
 Therefore, the farmers of the northwest and possibly in other parts of the coun- try are seeking large bank accommo- dations and the banks of the federal re- serve system are making unusual efforts
 to meet these needs.