The Coconino sun., 1923-11-23
BUSINESS SITUATION
IN ARIZONA IMPROVES

Taken as whole, business was bet
I ter in October than in September, and
4 better than in October of last year.
4 In some quarters a slight falling-off
was reported, and in others improve
\ ment was not so great as had been
/ expected, but altogether there was no
/ ticeable progress.
I Most pronounced gains of the month
/ were noted in the agricultural COM
munities, particularly Yuma, where
banking transactions doubled those OF
the corresponding period of 1922.
! However, checking transactions re-
4 ported to the Arizona Industrial Con-
gress from ten Of the leading cities
showed gains over September, and
over October of 1922. Next to Yuma,
Bisbee and Mesa showed largest gains
over last year.
The advancing cotton market has
! been the greatest factor in improved
agricultural conditions. The states
crop is estimated at $4,000 bales, of
which almost half has been ginned to
i date.
The mining situation continues dis
couraging, with copper lowering
about 1914 cents pound. Rumors of
4 drastic cuts in production and even
shutdowns were dispelled by an
i nouncement of ten per cent reduc-
I tion in wages effective November /,
4 which was generally accepted as in
4 dicating the mines have no intention
4 Of suspending or materially reducing
operations. The decrease followed
+ 4,x,a ~yol,1~ ,x- s,,nraacar ~, xxyarac nf
ten per cent each, during the last
+ thirteen months.
Cattle and ranges are generally IN
good condition. Prices showed a
slight downward trend. Shipments OF
cattle from January ] to November 1
totaled about 154, 900, against 100000
for the first ten months Of last year.
Of Arizona's 100000 lambs available
i 1t is estimated that only 15 per cenl-
for fall shipment went as fat lambs,
due to lateness of the season.
4 Agriculture
The advancing price of cotton, cou-
/ pied with the favorable condition of
4 the Arizona crop, has been the most
B interesting development in agricul-
ture. Cotton growers are now assur-
ed an allround successful season, and
this is certain to be factor in the
4 business of the agricultural districts.
4 The condition of Arizona cotton was
reported at IS per cent normal Octo-
4 ber 25, forecasting a production OF
+ SO 900 bales. Ginning is well advanc-
+ ed over last year Maricopa county
4 is expected to have about 10000 bales
Z of Pima and 41,000 bales Of short sta
4 pie from 100000 acres; Yuma prob
4 ably will have 10000 bales from TO-
I 600 acres, and Graham, Pima and Pi-
nal counties about 1900 bales each,
I from 5000 acres each. Acre yield OF
/ Pima is expected to average z40
pounds, and short staple 344 pounds.
Indications point to the largest
acreage of winter truck crop IN the
history of the state. Maricopa county
J will have about $500 acres of winter
+ lettuce, coming on the market during
/ December, January and February,
with first shipments the latter part of
November. This county also will
I have about $50 acres of winter
+ peas and 300 acres of spring peas,
about $50 acres of cabbage, and sew
/ eral hundred acres Of spring lettuce.
Yuma county will have 500 acres of
4 lettuce, Pinal county 600 acres, and
Pima county 200 acres, for winter
shipment.
Most of the corn crop will be used
/ for silage, and some exceptionally
heavy Yields have been reported Fig
ured on a grain basis, the crop will
run about 987 900 bushels, against l.
10000 last year.
Production of potatoes this year is
expected to total 100000 bushels,
against $4,000 last year. Sweet po-
tato production is estimated at 1885,
4 600 bushels.
Livestock
Stock and range conditions remain
satisfactory over the state, only a few
districts reporting need of improve
ment. The cattle market has shown
a downward trend, however, declin-
ing about half a cent a pound on
steers, and cent pound on cows.
This is due largely to the large sup
ply of grass fed cattle coming on the
markets.
Cattle shipments this year exceed
ed last years figures, reports to the
state livestock sanitary board show
ing shipments of about 154, 900 head
from January / to November /,
against about 100000 head for the
first ten months of 1922. November
is expected to show large move
ment.
4 Overland movement of sheep to
winter feeding grounds in the south
has been under way for several weeks,
and rail movement is expected to be-
gin in the near future. Sheep ranges
are reported in generally good shape,
but it is believed that not more than
Is per cent of the 100000 lamb crop
are going as fat lambs, due to condi-
tions earlier in the year. Prices are
| satisfactory.