The Bismarck tribune., 1928-09-01
PRICES DURING
NEXT 90 DAYS
GOVERN TOTALS
Production Is Greater But the
Prices Are Less Than Dur.
ing 1927
CATTLE HAVE ADVANCED
Business Shows General In
crease Over State, Accord
ing to Clemens

Fargo. N. D., Sept. 1.-iR-Cash
returns from wheat will be less this
year than in 1927 unless the market
price of wheat raises, despite the
greater production this year as COM
pared with 1927. according to P. w.
Clemens, Fargo, president OF the
Northern cnd Dakota Trust COM
pany.
Grain prices during the next 30
daysswill be the all-important factor
in determining the extent Of in-
creased business volumes as re-
suit sof North Dakota's 1923 crop,
he said. II present prices continue,
cash returns from wheat will be low
er than in 1927, despite total pro-
duction estimated as somewhat
larger than that of last year.
The Report
Mr.. Clemens review follows:
The reduction in income as COM
pared with last year from wheat and
flax will be materially offset by in
creased returns from beef, hogs and
dairy products.
"Cattle have advanced in price
Nbout $2.40 per hundred and on the
basis. of normal shipments in the
rourSk of a year this would mean a
gain Of about $7,250, ,O00," comments
Rex. E. Willard, farm economist with
the North Dakota Agricultural col
lege.,, "Hogs have advanced about
e1.90 per hundred weight in the same
period and this advance on the basis
Of rormal shipments represents a
gainsbf about $3,O00,0O0. The price
Of butterfat August 18th was 5 1-2
cents higher than a year ago and If
the general level of butterfat prices
throughout 1928 remains in about
the same proportion higher than a
year ago the next increase in income
will amount to approximately $2,-
600, go.
Mr.. Willard ALTO points out that
farmers who have greater proper
tion of livestock and less proper
tion Of grain are more favorably sit
uated with regard to income because
Of their changing prices. Since grain
prices sandrgla ain tprOducts are on a
world basis to greater extent than
the Other commodities, fluctuations
lin grain production and prices may
be due quite largely to foreign con-
tions.
Conditions Fair
In the northeastern portion of the
State conditions are fair. In this Sec
tion, stores at Devils Lake, Grafton
and Grand Forks are showing gains
over 1927, and indications are that
these gains will be increased during
the fall and winter months.
As an indication of business condi-
lions in southwestern North Da-
kota, stores at Dickinson are show
Ing the very healthy increase of Is
/ per cent over the last year. The two
stores operated by the Penney COM
pany in the central part Of the
state, at Darlington and Harvey, are
showing gains which average 20 per
:ent over the same period last year.
The situation in the southeast corner
|o1 the state is revealed by the in
grease of % per cent at jamestown,
FL per cent at Valley City. "a per
cent at Wahpeton and 81 per cent at
Fargo. e8
A check on harvesting and thresh-
Ing operations report satisfactory
Progress. It seems conceded that
North Dakota will complete its
|threshing in ample time to permit
very general fall plowing and some
[observers declare that unless wealth
Ter conditions take an unusual turn,
There will be more fall blowing this
+rear than for the last several years.