The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-06-01
No. Oak. Farmers
Show DiyersificatiOn

Continued from page one)
not available, but records of the mum
Der of grocery stores in the state over
a series of years were secured from
r. O. Baird, state food commissioner,
at Bismarck.
Estimate 3 per Cent Shift
These show a total of 1852 grocery
stores In the state in 1925, and 1911
III 1928. III 10 cities Of the state which
have a population in excess of 1000
the number Of grocery stores In 1925
was 276, and III 1928 the number had
increased to 289. In the smaller popu-
lation centers the number fell off
from 1886 in 1925 to 1922 in 1924
reduction of 1874 In four years, or less
than 3 per cent per year. This change
probably is no greater than the popu-
lation shift which has occurred dur
ing that period.
Last year 80 chain grocery stores
were operating III the state. while
none were listed in 1926. OF this num-
Der. II we're in the group of 10 cities
mentioned above. Since the total
number Of stores in these cities in
creased by Is, it would appear that
the chain stores have not had the eff
feet of reducing the number Of other
establishments.
Lumber sales showed a 10 per cent
increase in April over those Of a year
ago. Building permits for Fargo,
Grand Forks and Bismarck were
nearly one-third larger in number
and valuation.
Life Insurance Sales
Life insurance sales for April were
only "a per cent Of those Of q year
ago. In March North Dakota was
ranked forty eighth among the states
in the percentage of increased life In
surance sales. For April the state
moved up n notch and is o lead
ing Delaware and has As states ahead
of 1t.
Retail sales of the ]. G. Penney
stores increased 1 per cent in this
state during April. and May business
was very satisfactory. helping to make
up for q slump which occurred dur
ing the first quarter Of the year, Of
ficials declare. This same trend was
evident In other parts OF the country,
they say.
Extremely low wheat prices prevail
ing at present are bound to have some
psychological effect in slowing up
business, ven though little Of the
crop is marketed at this time.
Some Wheatless Farms
OF minor Importance at this time,
but significant Of the great changes
which may take place in the neal fu-
ture in North Dakota'S agriculture.
are the number Of "wheatless" farm
ers and "horseless" farmers.
A farm without wheat or one with
out horses would have been very
much Of q rarity in these parts q
few years ago. Yet this year. In the
counties bordering the Red river, es-
Inmates are that from 3 TO 10 per
cent Of the farmers will grow no
wheat. This is partly due to un.
favorable weather conditions for seed.
ing. but each year the number who
abandon wheat production entirely and
depend upon livestock 1or their prtn.
ctpal income is ~iacreasing.
Comment was made Z few months
ago on the enormous increase "a
tractor sales and the trend toward
motorized farming. A few days go
ono OF the leading farm implement
corporations announced the names o.
s. North Dakota farmers who are op-
Grating without horses md are using
tractors manufactured by this or
e~ani1Ation.
Using Soil Fertilizers
While North Dakotans have always
believed that their soil contained a.
the necessary elements Of fertility u
sufficient quantity. during tho pasl
few years experiences have demon.
strated that commercial 1ertili1erl
can b profitably applied Tor certain
crops on certain soil types.
sales Of commercial fertilizers
mostly Of the phosphate type. for us,
! Ii 1896 totaled - tons, 7S6 tons Il