The Coconino sun., 1927-02-18
BUSINESS CONDITIONS IN THIS
STATE GOOD IN JANUARY

~
ally good level in January, though
subject to the usual post-holiday and
inventory influences in wholesale
and retail trade. AS in other parts Of
the country, business men are follow
ing a conservative course, but with
the states basic industries proceed
ing as usual, and with tourist travel
and new development expenditures
largely making up for reduced crop
returns in the agricultural communi-
ties, the outlook for the new year
promises continuation of the pro-
gress of the past half decade.
Virtual ending of cotton ginning
and of winter lettuce movement has
definitely turned interest in agricul-
tural pursuits to the Forthcoming sea-
son, with much greater diversified
ton Of crops and material increase
in dairying as promising indications.
Preliminary estimates of the depart
ment of agriculture, compiled only
for comparative purposes and based
on prices as of December I, give Ari-
zona hypothetical value of $25 5,852,-
900 for all crops last year, and re-
vised figures based on average prices
more likely will be about $30,000,O00
Natural conditions have continued
favorable for live stock, with ranges
reported good to excellent. Lambing
has been very good, and shearing is
general Movement Of cattle from the
state last year was unusually heavy,
being estimated at 325,000 in addition
to some 10000 slaughtered, and has
been reflected in reduction in the
number on the range. Including cat
tie shipments, movement of around
100000 lambs, and shipment of g.
100000 pounds of wool and close to
100000 pounds of mohair, Arizona's
1926 livestock production may be con-
servatively estimated at $685. 900.
There has been no change worth re-
cording in the mining industry, with
new development active and the cop
per market unimproved. The states
1925 record peace time production of
the red metal was slightly exceeded
last year, with increases in gold, sill
yer and zinc output as well, though
the value of all metals declined to
Sill, 100000 from $113,138,198 the
year before.
Checking transactions in principal
cities of the state as reported to the
Arizona Industrial Congress exceeded
figures for both December and Janu-
ary, 1926, in a majority of cases. Inn
provement in banking conditions dur
ing the past year was shown in the
consolidated statement of the state
banking department covering the con-
dition of all banks as of December 81,
deposits on that date aggregating
$72, ,167, $50 against $70,210,313 on De-
cember 81, 1925, and loans and dis
counts amounting to $40,147,281, com
pared to $43,187,0 ,075 year before.
Agriculture
January brought to an end the 1926
agricultural season, with virtual con-
clusion of cotton ginning and winter
lettuce movement and the beginning
of preparations for the new crop year.
Cotton ginnings to January Is
amounted to 101 400 bales for the
state, and on January 29 totaled 56,-
457 in, the Salt River Valley and 28,-
O45 in the Yuma Valley. The state
total probably will be about 10000.
Lettuce shipments to February /
aggregated approximately $500 cars
from the Salt River Valley, 100 from
Casa Grande and 220 from Yuma.
Movement from the latter point will
continue for several weeks. The Salt
River Valleys spring crop, amount
ing to close to 5000 acres, is reported
in very good condition, and under nor
NAL conditions movement should mate
rally exceed that of the winter.
Although the low cotton market, a
dull season for alfalfa, and varying
returns for cantaloupes and lettuce
10 4f1o ,fox y 10 f.ov1a fhs4s
financial viewpoint, Arizona farmers
appear to have Jared better than
those in other parts of the country,
due mainly to generally higher yields.
Preliminary production estimates OF
the u. s.. department of agriculture
give Arizona highest rank among all
states in the average yield per acre of
eight crops and second place in two
others, while comparative valuation
estimates put this state first in aver
age value per acre Of five crops, and
second in three.
The government figures, subject to
later revision, show that Arizona
ranked first in the average produc-
tion per acre of winter wheat, all
wheat, sweet potatoes, alfalfa, all
hay, grain sorghums and cantaloupes,
and second in cotton and lettuce The
valuation estimates are made purely
for comparative purposes and are
based on prices as Of December Il
lower in most cases than the actual
returns. They give Arizona first place
in average value per acre of oats,
sweet potatoes, barley, alfalfa, tame
hay and all hay, and second in cotton,
barley and wheat. In many cases the
Arizona figures were double the acre
averages for the entire United States
in both yield and value.
State crop valuation totals made
available thus far by the department
also are based on December prices,
and on this basis Arizona is given a
hypothetical value Of $25, ,852,000 for
all crops, compared to $32, 1881 900 for
1925, decrease in value of crops be-
ing shown by almost every state. Lat
er figures based on average prices un-
doubtedly will raise the 1925 total
materially, especially as the Decem
Der / comparison is based on short
staple cotton prices and does not con-
slider Arizona's proportion Of Pima
long staple which brought much high
er returns. The final total more
likely will be in the neighborhood of