Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-05-28

cautious policy and prepare them
selves for the changes which business
experience naturally suggests must
come after a long continued period of
rising prices. : t ~ aes-
The strain upon all banks in this
double burden imposed by carrying
the remainder of the last crop and the
demands arising out of spring plant
ing operations. Due to the policy of
conservatism and prudence, the bank
ing situation has recently shown some
slight signs of improvement, and
there is nothing ~unfavorable in the
present outlook other than the fact
that it may be necessary to carry the
present burden for some time in order
to take advantage of the prospective
liquidation.
Good Crop Conditions.
Crop conditions, are promising. The
seeding of spring wheat which repre-
sents the bulk of the northwest's pro-
ductiOn has progressed rapidly and is
completed with the exception of some
have been too wet. The acreage will
be approximately is per cent less
than a e 6 owing to the shortage
of farm labor, the high price Of seed,
the ateness of the eason and the
shrsakagef that is inevitable after the
intensified production of the war
period. The reduction in acreage will
not be important if the present favor
able crop conditions continue, and a
good average yield in the acreage
seeded will give q very satisfactory
total production. The shortage of
acreage will be largely overcome by
increased seeding of flax, barley and
oats. Corn shows indications of be
ing an. unusually large crop this year
i vH}N%Ar> ryhnot b. xyHjoh To- 1oSs i'm ponrf
ant from the standpoint of it's proper
ton to the total production, is making
slow progress owing to COO weather
and unusual rains. Different esti.
mates indicate hat from rs to 80 pc,
cent went through the winter without
damage.
Live stock conditions arc improving
under h influence of spring rain:
which have been general oyer the en-
tire territory, and which Have yer
come the impairment Of pasturage
due to the drouth last year. In the
western half Of the district mucf
stock is still On feed. 1t is estimated
that the carrying of live stock since
last fall represented. in this distric'
chiefly in Montana apd western NORTH
Dakota of which 80 per emf wa:
shipped into the territory owing tt
the acute shortage of local supplies
The herds ARE in much poorer condi
ton than this time a year ago, and If
} the western end of the district goot
} pastures cannot be expected until tn.
middle of June. This years Shipment
of cattle will likely be much less thai
norlna4sas cattlemen wish to build III
a 1.hs z nsEass - cover losses o. during
Receipts at the South st. Pau
Flfstockyards during April showed
substantial decrease in cattle; an,
t sheep, but a large increase in calve
: and hogs. Fo the first four month
: Of the year cattle receipts fell off 33,
: $50, and sheep receipts decreased 90.
$40. Calves increased 50,O4S, hog
1879, and horses 1919.
Lake Traffic Bad.
Lake transportation conditions ar
very unsatisfactory, although tn,
t lakes opened a month ago. Railroad
) strikes n strikes at the lower lax,
ports have severely hampered vesse
owners and have SO reduced the avail
tied UP and have discharged. thei
crews. Ore shipments down the lake
are reduced to about half of normal
. and receipts Of coal at Duluth ant
Superior are not more than 20 pc
cent of what they were at this tim,
a year ago. On May LIST last year tn,
Duluth and Superior coal docks htlt
1900 900 tons Of coal. On May / thi
year there were only between 200, 90,
! and 900. 900 IONS on the docks. North
ern Minnesota iron mines are work
ing at from Is to 80 per cent of ca
} pacity. but stripping operations a
to 20 per cent of normal to conserv,