The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-03-18
WEEKLYBUSNESSREVEW
AN OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK
BY STATE BANKERS
Unusual Development Of Agri-
culture On Diversified Basis;
Late Farm Notes

81. Paul, MINI, .Marcu lo.-lHe
year 1921 promises to be memorable
as recording an unusual development
of Minnesota agriculture on a diver
sified basis, judging from information
state during the past week for the
weekly review of enterprised issued
by the Merchants National bank OF
Saint Paul. o..
Although Minnesota farmers hold
unusually large quantities OF wheat
and other grains and although not
much has been said thus tar regarding
the wheat acreage for this year, 1t
has been noted quite often that far
mers have not BEEN backward In max
ing plans to obtain a maximum in
try resources. Diversified farming
has made great strides in the state
for several years. Bankers and con-
sentative business men are inclined
to believe that the progress will be
even more noticeable this year. Some
OF the reasons follow:
- =.
Success of farmers on trunk, line
highways who sold large quantities of
ENTHUSIASTICALLY on Sundays-last
season, to motorists. Impending. drive
the company at Chaska, for unlimited
acreage. Aggressive campaign Of
state, district, and county farm devel-
opment associations. Pure bred cattle
and hog activities. The fact that a
number OF counties which have start
ed to prepare for their fall fairs, are
behind movements to award prizes to
boys and girls clubs for blue ribbon
exhibits: Unprecedented land clear
ing activities In the northern coun-
ties. Development Of the clover in
for Minnesota's high grade cattle and
hogs. Publicity which Minnesota stock
and dairy products are receiving in
farm journals, trade magazines, bust
ness reviews and the like.
Bankers have made practically no
comment for several weeks on the
grain situation. A recent statement
issued by the federal department of
agriculture announced that grain
stocks in storage are unprecedented
to the opinion that farmers through
out the state have quietly disposed Of
considerable part Of their wheat,
oats, corn, and other grains. Never
theless, 1t is fact-according to mill
ers-that elevators in Minnesota are
hlled and that at no time has the
movement Of grain to market been
noticeably heavy. This Quietude in
the grain field may be contrasted with
increasing activities in practically ey-
cry other branch Of farm business.
II
A great many interesting flashes OF
optimism were received during the
week just past. Crow Wing county
announced that its road building pro-
gram will lnvolve q total expenditure
of $250,000. An S0-acre farm near
Claremont, Dodge county, sold for
$4,000. The saltwater city council
appropriated $4,000 for the new city
and county hospital; a similar appro-
prtation recently was authorized by
the county commissioners. A theatre
to cost $4,000, will be erected in
Fergus Falls, More school houses are
to be erected in Martin county-in
fact indications are that consider
able number Of rural schools will be
built throughout the state. .>..
In 1900, the Christianson farm, near
Thief River Falls, was purchased for
80 an acre.. 1t sold the other day for
500 an acre. A motor bus line is to
be operated between Faribault and
Redwing. The Dent creamery, Otter.
tail county, did a 100000 business
last year. The assessed valuation of
Bemidji is $3,136,000 or an increase OF
$322,000 over a year ago. An Elks
home is to be built at Little Falls. A
cow auction at Little Falls showed