Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1922-05-05
DAMAGE
GRAVE TO FARMERS
EIGHTH FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
TELLS OF DELAYS IN
REPORT.
FLOODS WORST IN YEARS
Mississippi Valley Farm Operations
Have Been Seriously Retarded-Re-
port Optimistic on Business Out
Iook-Easing Money Stlm-
uIates Manufacturing.

st. Louis.-Floods in the Mississippi
Valley have retarded farming opera
lions seriously and have caused total
destruction Of crops in SOM sections
the Federal Reserve Bank OF st. Louis
declared in its monthly review Of bust
ness conditions.
The report said the floods were
the worst in many years, had inun.
dated great stretches Of rich farm
land, wrought much damage in towns
and cities, and hampered railroad
traffic.
i. Reports from all sections Of the
Eighth federal reserve district, accord
ing to the summary, indicated that
seeding of the spring crops has made
little progress, and that irreparable
damage had been done to the winter
wheat and alfalfa crops, as a result
of rivers and creeks overlooking their
banks. Relatively little cotton has
been planted, it was reported.
An optimistic business outlook and
a continued steady improvement in
many lines Of industry, was shown
In replies to missionaries sent to
manufacturers and merchants in the
district, the review continued. Com
ment was made in the answers that
conditions Of stocks and prices are
more stable, and that the public is in
need of commodities, the report as.
sorting:
Stocks of merchandise in retailers
hands continue abnormally low IN
many sections, and orders for goods
are being placed in large numbers.
Manufacturers are increasing their
purchases Of Jaw materials and fol-
the first time in a long while, are
accommodating finished goods in antic.
ipation of a demand later. Plentiful
and easing money has a tendency to
broaden manufacturing programs and
buying of merchandise for forward de
livery"
IlCNulllh6 COhoCA VottoAA q OhlPho
sized as the result Of the first month
Of the nationwide strike of coal min
ers, and some building and purchas
ing were curtailed. No advances In
prices Of coal and coke were noted
and consumer are said to have suffi
cient reserve stocks to last them si1
weeks longer. A radical curtailment
In production occurred.
Improvement took place In the mar
ket for iron, steel, lumber, shoes
clothing, groceries, automobiles, candy
and hardware, while dullness was re
ported in wholesale dry goods, floul
and electrical supplies.
Reports from scattered sections o
the south indicated that while foo(
raised last year wss in greater guam
tity than previous seasons, 1t will b.
necessary for many southern planter
to purchase cor and hay for liv'
stock and meat for their labor duriny
the next few months.
Throughout the southern states,
strong campaign Is being pushed TO
Investigation and production of foo
crops and live stock, the report de
clared. A number of banks in Missis
sippi are reported to have announce,
they will not grant credits for tn
purchase of food and fodder.
An abundant fruit crop Is promises
in the district, and an especially goo
crop of strawberries in Arkansas, de-
spite slight frosts.
Not much corn was reported planted
In Kentucky, the acreage in corn wa
reported smaller, while in Tennessee,
Arkansas and Mississippi slight d.
creases were indicated. In Missouri
Illinois and other states of the di
trict, the area sown in corn is expec
ed to be about the sam as last yea
Cotton planting was reported to b
progressing slowly, probably due t
: the flood situation in the lowe
reaches OF the Mississippi river, d.
handing the attention of workers I
help strengthen the levees. Arkansa
, reported an increase of 16 per Gel
, would be made in cotton acreage /
that state.
The soggy condition Of fields as
. result of many heavy rains and tn
lateness Of the season has caused a
, unusually light acreage Of oats to b
;, seeded, it was reported. and in SON
: localities a shortage Of cereals
: feared.