Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 July 1879 — NEWS OF THE WEEK. [ARTICLE]

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

EOBEIGN NITS. Information comes from the American Minister at Berlin that Bismarck has been converted to bi-metalism, and is determined to use his influence and authority toward the restoration of the donble standard in the German empire. The Egyptian steamer Samanoot, bound from the Mauritius islands to Alexandria, was recently lost at sea; twenty-five lives were lost Diphtheria is now raging as a terrible epidemic in Bessarabia, and a dispatch from Berlin announces that the Asiatic cholera has made its appearance in Smolensk; so that what with the Nihilists and the evils resulting from an almost bankrupt treasury, Russia is having more than her share of afflictions. The question of the emancipation oi the Jews in Roumania has reached its dish through the resignation of the Ministers, who state that they cannot obtain a majority in favor of the measure demanded by the powers. It is intimated that unless the Roumanians recede from their position on this matter the nations which have already recognized the independence of the countries will recall their Ambassadors. Several disturbances have occurred at Lyons, France, caused by the Bonapartists. A number of officers are implicated, and will be punished. Advices from South Africa state that the King of the Zulus had made fresh overtures for peace, which the British military authorities had met half way. The purser of the steamer Etna, which arrived at New York the other day from Portau Prince, liayti, reports as follows: At Port au Prince Monday, June 30, Petit Canal, brother of the President, shot DeLorme, a member of the Legislative Chamber. A general shooting affray ensued, in which forty other mombers and some of Canal’s adherents were killed. Owing to the rot which has attacked the potato crop throughout France it is estimated that the deficiency in the same will amount to 15,000,000 sacks. Bismarck and family have gone to Kissingen. Advices from London state that E. P. Weston will leave for New York with the Astley belt on the steamer Arizona in the last week of August. Sir John Astley intends to accompany him, and several distinguished pedestrians, Corkey, Rowell, Brown, Vaughn and Hazael will follow to compete for the trophy in New York in September. It is reported that tho mental condition of tho ox-Empress Ca lolta is much im]>r ivod. Hurry Palmer, of the firm of Jnrrett A P. m ir, New York tLmtti -al managers, died h i. n on, mi the‘Alb of July. A Mo-tcmv journal has just been supI'lossod lor arguing in favor of larger li:.criy fin the pices.

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE. Kn»t. Postmaster General Key and family »re on a pleasure tour through New England. Several Tennessee colonies are being formed in tho region of Lowell, Mass. They will settle in East Tennessee. The Duke of Argyll and his two daughters arrived at New York last week, and were privately entertained at a dinner party by Cyrus W. Field. Among those present were Secretary Evarts, Teter Cooper, JamesG. Blaino, and Mayor Cooper. A furious tornado visited Boston, a few days ago, causing tho destruction of a vast amount of property and considerable life. A yacht was upset in the bay, and five of its occupants found a watery grave. Several smaller crafts wore wrecked and the occupants drowned. In the city, numbers of houses were unroofed, chimneys and signs blown down, and thousands of dollars’ worth of window-glass broken. The storm swept over Fitchburg, Springfield, Pittsfield, Worcester and other towns in the interior, playing havoc wherever it struck. It was the most furious and destructive visitation of tho kind ever experienced in New England. Pitts’ Agricultural Works, at Buffalo, one of the oldest and largest manufacturing establishments in Western New York, has been destroyed by fire. Cox, the negro who murdered Mrs. Hull, iu New York, has been found guilty and sentenced to be hanged on the 29tli of August. Gov. McClellan, of New Jersey, granted a reprieve in the case of Covert Bennett and Mrs. Smith, for the murder of Police Officer Smith, until Aug. 15. The storm in New England, heretofore mentioned, was more wide-spread in extent and destructive in its effects than first reports indicated. A yacht capsized off Nat.tasket beach, and four persons were drowned One man, two women and two children were lost ofT Governor’s island. The rain-fall was vory heavy in various places, and some of the hailstones measured seven inches in circumference. Lightning caused tho loss of a few lives. Two boats capsized off Scituate, and three persons wore drowned. Near Montreal, Mrs. Peter Robertson was killed by lightning. Round about Kingston and Baugerties, N. Y., the crops were ruined, and barns and outhouses blown down. The hailstones resembled large chuuks of ico. Gen. William F. Barry, commandant at Fort McHenry, and Colonel of the Second United States Artillery, died last week at Baltimore, after a brief'illne=s, of bilious dyeeutery. John Hope, convicted of the,robbery of the Manhattan (N. Y.) Savings Bank of $3,000,000 securities and cash, has been sentenced to the Slate prison for twenty years. A “Granger law” has been passed by the lower house of the New Hampshire Legislature. A board of commissioners will have power, under this act, to regulate the charges of all railroads in the State. In the case of Chastine Cox, the murderer of Mrs. Hull, of New York, a stay of proceedings has been granted by Judge Noah Davis. The case will come before the New York Supreme Court in Ootober. Vvesfc. Daniel Rouser, a well-known temperance lecturer, was receiltly drowned in the Miami river, near Dayton, Ohio. Chicago elevators contain 3,649,080 bushels of wheat, 2,578,278 bushels of corn, 367,127 bushels of oats, 61,689 bushels of rye, and 81,377 bushels of barley, making a grand total of 6,789,552 bushels, against 1,203,137 bushels at this period last year. Milwaukee warehouses contain 1,397,060 bushels of wheat, 7,654 bushels of corn, 13,880 bushels of oats, 3,794 bushels of rye and 92,817 bushels of barley. Stock of lumber, etc., in the hands of ninety Chicago yard-dealers: 282,282,633 feet of lumber and timber; 1.35,755,C00 pieces shingles; 21,891,790 pieces of lath; 539,351 feet Qt pickets, and 306,273 pieces of cedar posts.

John Charles Adrion Hamilton, grandson of Alexander Hamilton, died at Merced, Cal, a few days ago. Arthur Townsend was murdered by Indians in Tulare county, CaL, last week. The Indians were lynched by white settlers. It is currently reported in Milwaukee that Alexander Mitchell, President of the Milwaukee and St Paul railroad, has gone to Europe to negotiate for the control of the Northern Pacific road. Advices from the West report that “Gem Miles is in the neighborhood of the Bear-Paw mountains, where lie expected to find a large party of Sioux. The General’s fighting force does not exceed 600 men. Tho wood-choppers and hairbreadth-escape fellows along the river say that he will be cleaned out if he strikes the main body of Sitting Bull’s followers. Old officers on the frontier who fought the Indians before Miles entered the army say he will get caught. They predict for him the same fate that befell Custer.”

Houth. In one day last week there were fifteen deaths from sunstroke in the city of Charleston, 8. C. Southern lynching: John Breckenridge, a young mulatto, who committed an assault upon a respectable young woman near Carlisle, Ky., was taken out of jail at a late 'ionr of the night, carried by a mob beyond the city limits, and hung to a tree. A negro named Lucius Weaver, charged with a similar offense upon a married lady at Strawberry Plains, Tenn, was taken from the guards by a mob, carried into the woods and shot to death.

A party of Indians have been murdering and robbing near Fort Davis, Texas. The meager accounts of the outrage do not indicate whether the raiders were from across the border, although the nearness of the locality to the lurking ground of the Mexican cut-throats makes it likely that such is tho case. Five new cases of yellow fever were reported to the Memphis Board of Health on the 17th. The cases occurred under one roof in the southern part of the cUy. A general panic ensued, and citizens began to flee from the pestilence as fast as they could get a way. Five new cases of yellow fever and one death were reported at Memphis on the 18th inst. There was great excitement in the city, and everybody was leaving that could get away. The relatives of the late Mrs. Dorsey, who bequeathed $350,000 worth of property to Jeff Davis, will contest the will. Davis was the guest of the lady before her death, and the contest will doubtless be made on the ground of undue influence or the insanity of the testatrix. There were five new cases of yellow fever, and one death, in Memphis on the 10th of July, and on the 20th seven new cases and four deaths were reported to the Board of Health. A Memphis dispatch of the 21st says: “ Business is dead. The wholesale merchants have nearly all made their arrangements to continue business at other points. Many retailers have closed their stores and left the city. The city authorities recommend the immediate evacuation of the city, and a number of prominent citizens have paid tho passage of all their employes to other points. The officers of the Hebrew Hospital Association to-day distributed about SO,OOO to 100 poor Jewish families, thus furnishing them the means to leave tlis illfated city. The city authorities are sending the poor people out of the city, having made arrangements to get half-faro rates over the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. Dr. Dudley D. Saunders, acting President of the Board of Health, states that the fever is not so malignant as last year, and yields more rapidly to treatment. Citizens continue to leave in large numbers. The Memphis and Paducah railroad has ceased running trains. Tho Avalanche, Aj>peal and Ledger will, from date, issue only half-sheets.” In New Orleans, last week, according to the report of the sanitary director, there were eight fatal cases of malarial fever, the whole number of deaths being goventy-one. The health authorities are still confident that there is no yellow fever in the place.

WASHINGTON NOTES Commissioner of Internal Revenue Raum has sent a circular to all Collectors of Internal Revenue in the “moonshine ” districts informing them that, although the usual appropriation for the fees of the United States Marshals has not been made by Congress, his office will not relax the efforts to suppress fraud by the seizure of illicit distilleries, and the prosecution of offenders. He directs Collectors to relieve as much as possible the Marshal from the embarrassments of his situation, and informs them that he proposes to give the necessary force to execute the laws. An Associated Press telegram from Washington says: A memorandum of the financial operations of the Government has been issued from the Treasury, Bhowing that the reduction in the interestbearing debt from the highest point, Aug. 31, 1865, to July 1, 1879, amounted to #583,886,594, and the reduction in the annual interest charge, when the present funding operations are completed (Aug. 1, 1879), will be #67,203,919. The total debt has been reduced #729,224,315, and the reduction since March 1, 1877, is #61.553,886. The bonds refunded under the acts of July 14,1870, and Jan. 20, 1871, amounted to #1,390,022,000, on which the annual interest charge was $81,673,947. In place of these bonds there will be issued when the present refunding operations are completed, which will not be later than Aug. 1, 1879, bonds on which the annual interest charge will be #61,765,880, making an annual saving hereafter in interest charge, on account of the refunding operations, of #19,907,607, of which amount #14,207.177 arises from transactions bince March 1, 1877. Bonds have been sold for resumption purposes since March 1, 1877, the interest on which represents the annual cost of coin reserve, as follows: Rate Annual int. Title of loan. p. c. Amount. charge. Funded loan of 1891..4)4 $65,(100,000 $2,925,000 Funded loan of 1907..4 25,000,000 1.000,000 Total $90,100,000 $3,925,000 Making a net annual saving in interest through the refunding and resumption operations since March 1,1877, of #10,372,177. In addition to the above bonds, there were issued in 1878, to replace the coin used in payment of the Halifax award, 4 per cent, bonds of 1907 amounting to #5,500,000. Two vessels on the Eastern coast, one at New Orleans and a fourth on the lakes, are enlisting boys for the United States navy. A Washington telegram says that on account of the extreme bad condition of the I low lands or flats, and eastern shore of the Potomac river lying directly sonth of the Executive Mansion, President Hayes has arranged to absent himself from the city during the month of September, in order to escape the malarial atmosphere which will necesearily rise from the quarter mentioned. The President intends spending the greater portion of the month at his home in Fremont, Ohio. Since the Ist of July the Treasury Department has issued warrants for arrears of pensions to the amount of $4,840,000, igalting

the whole amount paid under the appropriation of $25,000,000 for that purpose $10,219,000. At the present rate the appropriation will be exhausted in a few months. Under the provisions of the Thurman act, the Treasury Department is baying bonds to be applied as a sinking fund for the final redemption of the bonds issued m favor of the Pacific railroad by the Government Every month an amount due those roads by the Government for transportation is withheld, and to that amount purchases are made. The bonds are 5 per cents., as prescribed by the act. So far $318,500 in these bonds have been placed to the credit of the fund.

CHOP PROSPECTS. Summary of Reports from the Entire Country to the National Department of Agriculture. Returns to the Department of Agriculture at Washington of the eotton crop show that the condition of June, which was ninety six, has not been maintained, and is, for July 1, ninetythree. Figures indicating the condition compared with June figures are: Condition. Gain. Loan. North Carolina IU4 0 South Carolina Si .. 13 Georgia 86 .. 7 Florida 91 .. 4 Alabama 96 .. Mississippi 92 .. 7 Louisiana 93 .. 8 Texas 90 .. 4 Arkansas 103 8 Tennessee 101 1 The condition of the other crops is thus stated: Corn—The area planted in the whole country exceeds tbat planted last year. Carolina, Misissippi, Arkansas and Tennessee show the largest gain in the South. Ohio and Indiana show some decrease, while Illinois increases 7 per cent The States west of the Mississippi river make the largest gains as a section, Nebraska, Kansas, lowa and Missouri all ranging from 104 to 118. The condition in all the Southern States is low, on account of drouth in Texas—not over half a crop. The Northern States show a fair condition, while those west of the Mississippi river show a very high average, over 100.

Tobacco—The acreage for the whole country shows a decrease. In the four States of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania, in which the bulk of seed-leaf tobacco is grown, there is an increase in average of about 13 per cent, as compared with 1878. Of the States producing shipping, manufacturing and smoking tobacco, which constitutes ninetenths of all tho tobacco grown in the United States, North Carolina alone shows an increase in area planted. All the others indicate material decrease from the acreage of last year. The condition for the whole country is slightly below that of July 1, 1878. Massachusetts alone, of the States bordering on the Atlantic, shows increased condition; and Tennessee, in the West, places her condition at 94, against 89 last year. Spring Wheat—Returns for July give average condition of spring wheat at 91 against 106 on July 1, 1878. The Northern New England States range nearly up to the average. A few counties in Northern New York average 89. Texas, the only Southern State producing it to any extent, roports but 61. The Northwest spring-wheat States range from 92 to 96, but lowa falls to 88. The spring-wheat crop of Kansas is but 6S. On the Pacific coast most of the California crop is returned as spring wheat, and the average 93. Tho small spring wheat crop ot Oregon is full average. The condition of the crop in the Southwest and Northwest was largely affected by drouth. In some sections the Hessian fly was injurious. In the Northwest local storms were more or lews destructive.

Winter Wheat—July returns show an average condition of winter wheat of 91, against 101 on Jnly 1, 1878. The New England States average 99. The crop here was small and late, but promising. Middle States, 86. Complaints of drouth, 'nildew, Hessian fly and local storms. In the Sortth Atlantic States the condition is 95; stands thinned by winter killing and growths stunted by drouth in many northern counties, but farther down the coast the condiiion is greatly improved. This section would be a full average but for injuries in Virginia, bringing the State average to 85. Georgia reports 108, with au excellent quality of grain. Commercial authorities report an almost entire cessation of the movement of North-

em wheat to Georgia, the local mills finding materials sufficient in their home growth. The Gulf States) report an average of 75. The small crops of Alabama and Mississippi are in high condition, but the crop of Texas is a third below the average, through drouth and local storms. Southern inland States, 98; grain of remarkably fair quality generally. States north of the Ohio river, 101; straw short, but grain plump and heads heavy, and greatly improved by recent rains. States west of the Mississippi, 89; injuries by chinch bugs in southern parts, and by storms in northern portions. Pacific States, 108. The winter wheat of Oregon averages 112. POLITICAL POINTS. A Washington special to the Chicago Tribune says : “A gentleman here who received a letter by the last steamer from one of the persons accompanying Gen. Grant’s party, says that the report recently started that Gen. Grant does not intend to return to this country until next spring must certainly be a mistake, for in this letter the announcement was positively made that he expected to return about Sept 10 next.” The Wisconsin Greenback State Convention was held at Watertown on the 15th of July. Col. R. May, of Yernon county, was nominated for Governor; Col. W. L. Utley, of Racine, for Lieutenant Governor; George W. Lee, of Grant, for Secretary of State; P. F. Griffith, of Oshkosh, for State Treasurer; George B. Goodwin for Attorney. General, and Mr. Searle for Superintendent of Public In struction. The pith of the resolutions adopted by the convention is as follows: They denounce the money despotism that has grown up in this country; demand the payment of the bonds in greenbacks; convict labor to be abolished; the rate of interest on money should not exceed the rate of profit; denounce all efforts of both parties to make a solid South or a solid North; denounce the coinage of gold and silver dollars; the issue of greenbacks may be limited to the demand of trade; demand the abolition of the national banking system; denounce all fusion or coalition with either of the old parties, and invite all honest men to join them; a man may deduct his indebtedness above nis credit when listing his property for assessment; the public lands must be kept for actual settlers, and no more grants to corporations. The Greenbackers of Pennsylvania also held their State Convention, on the 15th. A full ticket for State offices was nominated, headed by Peter Sutton, a wealthy farmer of Indiana county, for State Treasurer. The Pennsylvania Democrats held their State Convention at Harrisburg on the 16th inst D. O. Barr, of Allegheny county, was nominated for State Treasurer by acclamation. The platform “favors a constitutional currency of gold and silver and of paper convertible into coin,’l upholds Congress in its fight with the National Executive, and denounces the latter as a usurper and conspirator agaiqst the people’s liberties.

The lowa Prohibitionists met in Convents at Cedar Rapids, the other day. After considerable noise and confusion, a resolution was adopted that it was inexpedient to make nominations for State officers, and then an adjournment was voted. Subsequently about forty delegates met and nominated the following State ticket: For Governor, Prof. G. T. Carpenter, of Oskaloosa; Lieutenant Governor, Frank S. Campbell, of Newton; Supreme Judge, J. M. Beck; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Prof. J. A Nash, Des Moines. Washington dispatch: “A telegram from Si Panl anc ounces that the President has stood by his original intention in offering the position of Secretary of War to ex-Henator Ramsey. The appointment is to take effect when McCrary can assume the lowa judgship. A letter has been received by the President from Mr. Ramsey, accepting the office.” The Chicago Daily News prints a sensational dispatch from Washington, announcing that President Hayes has concluded to be a candidate for a second term; that Senator Logan is to be Secretary of War; that Hon. E. B. Washburne is to be appointed Senator in Logan’s place, and that Gov. Cullom is to be appointed Minister to Russia. A call has been issued for a convention of the National Greenback-Labor party of New York at Utica, Aug. 28, for the nomination of a State ticket