Evening star., 1926-04-06
GOOD CROP YEAR
FORECAST FOR us.
Latter Half of 1926 Bids Fair
to Be as Prosperous as
Early Part.
By j c. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, April Elbows
crops?"
Even the city slicker has become
wise to the fact that the above ques-
ton Is no bucolic platitude; that It
means something to every business
man and worker in the United States.
On the answer depends whether the
iast half of this year will be pros.
porous one for America or not. From
present indications, it will be a good
crop year.
The weather has been favorable FOR
Winter wheat throughout much OF
the bread basket" section OF the
Middle West. A rapid improvement In
the business situation in the North
west from Lake Superior to the Pacific
Coast Is In prospect, now that farm.
ing Is getting under way and railroad
improvements are calling for men.
About 10000 railroad workers Will De
needed in the next few months on
repair work and new construction
bringing the total employed IN such
work to around $4,000.
The employment of workers IN tne
fields and on the rights of way VIII
take up whatever slack there mas
been during the Winter in Northwest
employment.
Not Dependent on Grain.
This section Of the country. accord
ing to bankers of st. Paul and MIME
apolis. Is no longer so dependent on
grain growing as in the past. DIVER
sifled farming has resulted In an at
tention to dairy products which has
yielded tremendous sums to the farm
ers of Minnesota and Wisconsin and
is now spreading into the Dakotas.
This trend is being helped by the re-
cent addition to the tarif on imported
butter.
Total values of dairy products for
the coming year in the Northwestern
district Is estimated at $340, 600, 600
1t Is not surprising. therefore, that
talk Of big butter and egg men is
something more than mere Gotham
slang. Flour mill and grain products
In Minnesota. the Dakotas, Wisconsin
and Montana are expected to yield
around $210,0 900. while meat pack
ing can be counted on 10 make re-
turns Of around SIPS 900 900 for that
district.
The live stock men are doing far
better than they hoped some months
ago all over the country. Pork prices
are now such that il is estimated
that with caah corn at around 73
cents a bushel the farmers are re-
ceiving $1.1S a bushel for their corn
marketed in the form Of meat. Wool
prices are low. but most growers
can afford TO wait for a more favor
able marketing opportunity and, after
all. since this country uses more wool
than ii produces, the price reflects
g. contest of endurance between buy
ers and sellers. Low prices for the
raw staple were reflected today in
reductions in floor coverings from
last November's level.
Range Cattle Doing Well.
Range cattle are doing splendidly
and herds which were sadly depleted
are being built up again. Fruit has
been injured in various sections. but
orchardists declare the returns from
the reduced yield will probably be
fully as large as those resulting
from a big production with con-
sequent Cutting of markets.
California has a splendid prospect
for pertshable fruits and vegetables,
although more moisture and a larger
flow in streams devoted to irrigation
would not come amiss. The railroads
are already spending big sums in
equipment to rush the crops to
market.
Shipments Of fruit and vegetables
from the South are now under way
and are bringing splendid returns to
growers. Cotton planters are still on
the anxious seat and only the weather
can spell profit or loss correctly to
them.