The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-24 00:00:00

54tourbage &saber.

SATURDAY, JULY 24, 1875.

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

The weather which has prevailed since the
middle of June not unnaturally gives rise to
gloomy apprehensions. We have, indeed, to
go back to the year 1860 to find anything like a
parallel to the summer through which we are
now passing. Throughout that year there were
only tan weeks out of the fifty-two-70 days out
of 365—free from rain. Indeed, so far as the
lase of life is concerned, the present has been a
nor* disastrous season than any which has
visited us for three an twenty years; and we
have to go back to the fatal Holnifirth inundation
of 1852 to And a parallel to the calamity which
haa just descended upon the unsuspecting people
of Abercorne. Week after week, when the sun
Ought to be shining so as not only to ripen the
sorn, but to enable the farmers to carry their hay,
we have had sunless skies and torrents of rain.
It is inevitable but that immense qnantites of
of hay must have been destroyed—a fate which
has also fallen upon many descriptions of a more
perishable nature. The elements thus combine
to do for the agriculturist what the recent City
failures have done for the trader in town. The
farmer is crippled by a succession of wet weather;
the labour of a year is spoiled; and he is
suatierially injured, if not in some cases well-
nigh ruined, by causes over which he cannot
have the slightest control. At the same tima
the shopkeeper in the town finds trade in an
latterly stagnant condition through the suspension
of great firms in whom the utmost confidence
had been reposed. There is a plenty of money;
but its holders are shy of the investment market.
The Bank of England at present holds more
bullion than it ever aid before, but this, so far
how being a satisfactory sign, is quite the
reverse. It means that people who have a little
money, would rather receive a small rate of in.
terest for it than embark in any enterprise which,
although offering a higher return, was deficient
a the principle of security. Coin stowed away
in the vaults of the Bank of England possesses
the smallest possible fructifying power—nothing
like what it would exercise if it were turned over
in the channels of trade and commerce.

Bak putting aside such considerations as
these, let us look at the wet weather from
another point of view. While the usually quiet
little stream is converted into a rapid rushing
torrent, contributing to overcharged reservoirs,
swamping the low lying lands, carrying away
sheep, and sweeping off tons upon tons of hay
on its angry turbid surface, there is no doubt
that these continued rains are telling seriously
upon the public health. A. man need not be
acsuaed of sentimentality if he declares that to
a sousiderable degree his health depends upoli
his spirits, and that it, is impossiblg for him to
keep up his spirits in the face of gloomy
firmaments, drenching rains, and sodden earth.
such depressing intlueue,es positively forbid u
wan from being cheerful, and much of this kind
of feeling cauuut but tell upon the constitution.
From childhood both sexes have been told that
suwaier is the time to lay in a stock of health,"
the meaning of this being that the frame is
invigorated by that fresh air and exercise which
they are enabled to take in the tine warm duys,
se wetter still in the cool pleasant evenings. Hut
neither old, young, or middle-aged can take out-
deer recreation in such weather as we have had
foe thy past six or seven weeks; and upon
children more especially the effects of prolonged
oonfinsineut to the house very soon begins to
toll. The annual visit to the seaside, regarded
by many as such a valuable institution as tend.
nig to brace up the jaded frame, is out of the
quesilou during the continuance of iucessaut,
mains. The householder naturally argued that if
be aid his kith and kin must remain indoors, it
te far better to be under their own roof than in
indginus in a strange town. It is true that the
affect of a pro:unged season ut rain is not zo
perceptible in the bills of mortality as are tilos,
at a hard and sudden host. But at whaterei
*pinion tueLeorulogists may ultimately urvA,e,
they cannot pustibly make a wet SUMlller bealL 1, ;
sue 44 reau.Ls, although not apparent upon tin:
outface, are Its curtain to be felt as the euttitiLl
north-wind or the bitter trust.

Our men of science ere obvious!y as much
tlaa dark respecting the causes of ueh caw
Olt AUlla nal U. 4 they are power!. els to avert
thie surmise is that idle vast tireenland gla,„ r,
utiteil is ouly it of the ihiniens.: Polar
of iev, is forcing its way southward ist ',oil,
faster rate 111.11 L did a century ego.
ii iu is voyage at sea, have come ait,liin
Wei UiSlli lieu la au leetwrg, have deserthea
eittrisurdinury frigiuity oh the 10.1110 There wild,
Das prevailled until they have gut. away
iiaagerous visitor. Every mile that thi•
tirsoulano glacier approaches nearer oar
soca must have its effect not only upon th.
•Imusphere but also upon the temperatur,
if the water in which it moves. tmi,
loosing the h)pothesis to be correct, end this
glacier to be gradually bearing dowel upoli
as we can do uuthing to stop this provess
U. tuousiper. we can only speculate upon the re-
sults ui itS appo.rauce iu our warmer waters.
titt.e theSe might destroy it by
lag it away-, but the process must Itiece4sari:y
• stew cue. said *hit, it, was gOlug on, any mo.
stint of mischief would be done. But whether
Ira may expect this unwelcome visitor from
titeauland or not, we are totally helpless in the
*atter. If it conies we must make the best of a
very bad bargain; and unfortunately the severity
d our last winter, the cheerlessness of oar
aud the badness of our summer, seem
kasoutestably to point to the conclusion that,
mu if this horrid glacier is not bearing down
*fen ha, the conditions under which we pass
iu the temperate zone are anything but sat-
isfactory, bat which, as they cannot be cured,
asust be endured with as much philosophy as we
SIP muster under such adverse circumstances.

fbad valutfot money is desired by all, with articles
ON menet b• judged of by appearance, caret al pur-
einem rely on the high standing of thoss with whom
they teal. For 30 years, Huruiroan's Pure Teas in
rackets have given general satisfaction, being exceedingy
serettg, of uniform good quality, and truly cheap Agent,:
Seearlsridge—Clarke, 161, High• street ; Baker, 124, High.
Meeet liewit, Market Place; Morris, 136, High-street
11111—Rawliegs chemist ; Kidderminster, But
aims; Halesuwen, Adam. chemist; Lye, Jones, chemist
um
11110e4eley, Turner, chessist ; Kingswiriford, Pearson
BMW Laos, Collings, ehesnist ; Birmingl, Basks
1,101.4.

- -
Ti HAIR.—For 40 years Mrs. S. A. ALLEN'S
Wont.aHAIN Its•Tottrut has received the commendation
1144 favour of the pubdc. It haa acquired the highest
pies, that can be obtained for any moderate enterprise,
int sentr,butad lo the adornment of tens of thousands of
pareelle, who have the proof of its servicable character
Is will politieely renew and restore the original and natu-
red. eu&wr ef grey, grhite, and fathd flair. It will
Shreagthen and invigorate the Hair, stop its falling, an
Wiwi a healthy and luxorialit growth. No other pre-
paratt.en can produce the Saillle benifie.ial result. Sold by
Chemists and Perfumer., in large bottles, 61. Depot,
114 116, :Southampton Row, London.
Bryant and May beg to direct special attention to their
iets Oval Pocket Vesta Boxes, with Patent Spring Cor-
ley, which are entirely free from all Rough Edges and
liitert terns:it, and admitted b) every °net° be the But
hM t.heitpeat P..ekei Box ever produced. Retailed every
i/bar. Sithie Peariy. Patentees and manufacturers
Regent aid May, London. IC.

Th• PSITITIOX of Vila U.ll ONEs's LIMBS while. the
eibee luastions of Nature cry lutaet is a serious mortifica-
licialo the actively dimpnaed. Such, however, is the con-
dition of the victims a rheumatism or gout. To walk
wit/hutat enduring 'Agony is impossible, to use the snits.
bee front excruciatibg pale, is equally impracticable. A
11_014611 ef 9,lltit,ime theyelore pertovici the frame when
1111* "Nis ars Afoul," of ui all the members without
bacons and fry inent application of PoWItLL'S 1111117-
15117.0 11:11sio.t:Aft..X It is
pail ll doubt ths grandest
sgoweille I.r the evils we have named, and others at a
a
..Mil" """ter• My be obtalued of all Cheutists.
'nee Is lsl. cud 21 9J. Laboratory : 114 and 118 walk-
sepeate-now, Loudon.

THE IRON TP A DE.
WOLVERHAMPTON, Wednesday.
Satisfaction was expressed on 'Change this after-
noon with the prompt manner in which the miners
of South Staffordshire had agreed to abide honour-
ably by the terms of the Birmingham agreement
with reference to the notice for a reduction in the
rate of wages, which expires on Saturday. Such
conduct will do much to strengthen the confidence
of employers in the efficacy of Arbitration and
Conciliation Courts in the adjustment fo_ w:oyes
questions. The course of business in the c'oal
trade has not much improved since our last notice,
and contracts fur the common classes of coal and
slack are being accepted at rates which, under ex-
isting conditions of yield, carinot,afford much mar-
gin for profit. The ironstone market is steady, at
about late rates. The iron trade, but in the pig
and the finished departments, presents little
change since our last report. Common cinder
pigs are quoted £2 17 lid, and all-mine hot-air
£4 to £.l 5s per ton. Foundry pigs are in much
steadier request than forge qualities, the local
consumption at the pipe foundries and engineer-
ing establishments being just now very consider-
able. Finished iron is in very slack demand, with
the exception of sheets, which, both plain and gal-
vanised, command, a fairly sustained inquiry.
Marked iron is now uniformly quoted by the lead-
ing makers on the basis of £lO per ton forbar s,
the Earl of Dudley and;Messrs. Barrows claiming
as usual 12s Gd per ton extra for their particular
brands. Common unmarked bars are selling at
as low a figure as £8 per ton, and common sheets
(singles) range from .£ll 5s to £l2 per ton, ac-
cording to make. The reduction of £1 per ton
announced last week in the price of galvanized
roofing sheets has somewhat stimulated the de•
mand for the particular qualities of sheets to which
this reduction especially applies. Buyers do not
hesitate to express their want of confidence in the
reduction of rates as declared on quarter day being
insufficient to. restore the trade of the district to
a condition of normal prosperity. Makers, on the
other hand, declare that the existing cost of pro-
duction precludes the possibility of lower prices.
Further contests between the interests of capital
and labour in the iron trade of this and other dis-
tricts will, to .all appearances, have to be fought
out before business resumes its normal condition
of prosperity.
During the afternoon it transpired that at an
early hour this morning the men at the ironworks
of Messrs. Bagnall, of Stourport, were compelled
to .ease work by the heavy rains having so swollen
the Severn as to lead to the flooding of the mills.
The leading engineering and foundry concerns
announce a drop of £1 per ton in heavy castings.

Some slight improvement is reported in the de- '
mand for the common qualities of iron, and works
which were at a standstill or only partly occupied
before quarter day are now in full time.
The improvement applies especially to
sheets for galvanising, nail-making iron,
and angles for safe and bedstead work.
Tube strip is also in somewhat better request.
Makers of high-class brands are dependent mainly
on the demand for Australia., India, and South
America; but on the whole there is no great ac-
tivity in any department. Prices of common iron
are a little easier since the fall in coal was con-
firmed by the resolution of the South Staffoidshire
miners to submit to the consequent reduction of
wages in accordance with the Birmingham scale;
and sales of bars are reported in some cases as low
as .£B. The general minimum for this description
of iron is XS 55., and for sheets (singles) .211. ss.
Branded iron is firm, on the bases of £lO. of bars.
The pig-iron market is quiet, but fairly steady.
hot-blast native all-mine is nominally .24. 10s.,
but may be had for £4 ss. Cold-blast is firm, at
£6. Foundry pig is in rather better request than
forge qualities. In the coal market there is no
further reduction, but the tendency of prices is
easier.