Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 January 1885 — GENERAI. [ARTICLE]

GENERAI.

- The cotton report of the National Department of Agriculture indicates a smaller yield than the returns of the condition in October. The October average was 4, against 68 in 1883, 88 in the great harvest of 1882, and 66 in toe disastrous season of 1881. The returns of the condition in October and toe product in December have been unusually divergent this year. The first indicated a larger crop than last year; toe latter a product slightly less, or about 98 per cent. The comparative decline is in States west of Alabama. The comparison with last year is as follows: North Carolina 101, South Carolina 107, Georgia 101. Florida 103, Alabama 105, Mississippi 94, Louisiana 98, Texas 89, Arkansas 99, Tennessee 101. Applying these percentages to our figures for toe crop of 1883 they indicate a product of 398,000' bales in North Carolina, 502,000 in South Carolina, 760,000 in Georgia, 60,000 in Florida, 661,000 in Alabama, 847,000 in Mississippi, 480,000 in Louisiana, 995,000 in Texax, 513,000 in Arkansas, and 314,000 in Tennessee. The remaining territory will probably give about 50,000 bales. This makes an aggregate of 5,580,000 bales. President Arthur’s reception at toe White House on New Year’s was a brilliant affair. The President was assisted in receiving toe guests by Mrs. McElroy, Mrs. McCulloch, Mrs. Chandler, Mrs. Brewster, and Mrs. Teller. The toilets of the ladies were very elaborate, and together with the uniforms of the military officers and foreign legations made a fine display. The diplomatic corps was first presented, and then the Judges of the Supreme Court and members of both Houses of Congress. The army came next and the navy, followed by the survivors of toe Mexican War and the Grand Army of toe Republic. The Executive Mansion was beautifully decorated. .... At Albany, President-elect Cleveland stood at his desk in toe Executive Chamber for two hours and shook hands with a vast multitude of people, presented by his military staff. The Phoenix Manufacturing Company’s building, at Erie, Pa., and three residences were burned, causing a loss of $30,000. The Hon. Horatio Seymour’s residence, at Marquette, Mich., was burned, the janitor, who slept in the basement, being suffocated.... Two stores, worth $15,000 at Mexico, Mo., and a residence valued at $20,000 in Syracuse, N. Y., were destroyed by fire. The Glen Woolen Mill at North Adams, Mass., was also burned, causing a loss of SIOO,OOO. A powder-mill near Xenia, Ohio, was demolished by an explosion, an employe being blown to pieces. Transatlantic steamsSli' companieß have agreed upon uniform rates for prepaid steerage tickets westward of $22 for fast steamers and S2O for ordinary steamers.... Estimates of toe cost es toe Nicaragua canal vary from $65,722,000 to $140,000,000. It is claimed by toe opponents of toe canal that it would cost over $200,000,000 to build. A review of toe iron trade, just completed by the Secretary of toe American Iron & Steel Association, shows that toe demand for leading, articles of iron and steel daring the year 1884 was less than in 1883. Prices have fallen enormously, with but little tendency to reoovery. Better days for the iron manufacturers are not expected until the condition of the farmers improves.. . .The failures are reported of J. A. Andrews & Co., tobacco dealers of Cincinnati; Graham, Walls & Co., dry goods merchants at Crawfordsville, Ind. Marks Brothers, cigar manufacturers of East Saginaw, Mich.; Thomas H. Phillips, Jr., a hardware dealer in Montreal; and Levy, Heineman <fc Co., lace merchants of Boston.,. .The Irish Republican League have issued an address to their fellow-countrymen counseling them to continue and increase their organization.... Chief Justice Waite will take a trip to California for the benefit of his health.