The Washington herald., 1921-06-20
CROP PROSPECTS
BREAK RECORDS
In NORTHWEST
All Grains Reported in
Fine Condition After
Recent Survey.
GREATEST SINCE Is
Gratifying Outlook Is Basis of
Hope for Return of In
dustrial Activity.
GREATEST SINCE rs

rsrsisn oerrsspsndsnes Of The wsshinstss
ST. PAUL. Juno ls.-Your North
west correspondent has just COM
pleted a 3oo-mile motor trip through
Southern Minnesota and Northern
Iowa and Is in a position to state
from first-hand investigation that
the crops of this section Of the
Northwest never looked more prom
Using than they do this season. As
stated in previous dispatches, spring
seeding and corn planting opera
tions were ended fully a fortnight
earlier than in most years. This.
coupled with the fact that ideal
growing weather has prevailed
practically all spring. has advanced
all crops in a rapid fashion, and the
outlook Is very promising.
The belt traversed is particularly
noted for its corn, and everywhere
the corn crop shows a most healthy
condition. In some parts of north
ern Iowa rather excessive rains
have retarded corn plowing, but in
most localities farmers are in the
fields cultivating the grain. OBJ
servers with years of experience
assert they never knew corn to be
SO tall for the first blowing. Some
farmers have even been known to
complain that the corn was growing
SO fast it was apt to break off, AS
a matter of fact, with normal tenn
perature during June. the corn in
all parts of the Northwest will
have exceeded the knee high by the
4th Of July" condition which Is con-
sidered satisfactory at this time of
the year.
All Grain Crops Promising.
But it is not corn alone which is
making a good showing. All the
small grains are enjoying a SINH
larly remarkable growth. Winter
wheat and rye are fully headed out
now and will be maturing rapidly.
AS for spring wheat and oats, both
these crops are well in advance of
their usual condition for the middle
of June. In the case of the terri
tory inspected, namely, Southern
Minnesota and Northern Iowa, 1t is
not so essential that the small
grains shall mature early. because
the moisture is usually Dlentifuh
enough to carry the grains through
case Of Montana and the Dakotas an
abnormally early season of growth
is useful, since the normal fall of
rain is not abundant enough to
carry them through to maturity.
Therefore it is rather gratifying to
be able to report that the Western
and more arid sections of the North
west are having plentitude of
rain and their crops of all kinds are
also quite a little beyond the usual
growth for this period Of the year.
4 Cure for Pessimism.
For those who may be inclined to
take a pessimistic attitude toward
the economic future of the United
States it would be highly useful to
make tour of the agricultural
districts of the Northwest, particu-
larly at this season of the year.
The country is one vast garden, and
everywhere one sees the farmers
toiling in the fields, preparing their
soil for the current years crops.
They haven't gone on a strike, and
they aren't working on any eight
hour-a day schedule. On the con-
trary, they are laboring intensely
early and late to restore their pre-
war status.
And the appearance of their
farms is evidence sufficient of
Americas economic stability and
ultimate prosperity. Everywhere
ones eyes rest on handsome farm
houses and barns. The whole at
mosphere of the country Is that of
cheerful optimism and faith in the
future.
May Help Railways.
The gratifying crop prospects are
the basis for all the Northwest's
hope for a return of industrial ac-
tivity.' The railways particularly
are counting on the maturing crops
to lift them out of their existing
depression. Indeed, many railway
officials are saying that with July
and the harvesting of the first of
the 1921 crops, transportation may
be expected to get back gradually
on a normal footing. Officials argue
that with the largest crops since
1915 maturing, and with a very
large carry-over from 1920, their
lines will be taxed to capacity to
move the grain of the Northwest.
Other factors in the revival of
railroad activity counted on to re-
store the lines to a stable condition
are the reduced wages, which take
effect July 1, and the carriage of
coal, deliveries of which are far be-
hind the Northwest's needs. On the
other side of the ledger must be
listed the sharply reduced prices for
most of the materials which the
railways purchase. n
1t would thus appear from an
analysis of the situation that the
hoped-for revival of railroad pros
perity can hardly be DELAYED much