The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-05-13
Commodore William David Porter,
United States Navy.

Commodore WILLIAM DAVID PORTER, Uni
ted States Navy, died at New York last Satur-
day morning at St Luke's Hospital, after a
painful and lingering illness of four months
duration. About three weeks ago he became
an inmate of this hospital, with view to re-
conduce to his speedy recovery. His disease
had at times given hopes of his getting the bet
ter of it, and again a speedy dissolution was
apprehended About five o'clock Saturday
morning he sat up and conversed freely. An
hour later, however, he failed so rapidly that
it was apparent that he could not live but a
few moments, which proved true. ra.
The Commodore has participated in the fol-
lowing engagements Mexican war, 1S46-47 !;
Panama riot, 1860; engaged and disabled four
rebel gunboats at Lucas Bend. Mississippi river,
January II, 1862; at Fort Henry, February 6,
1862; attacked the ram Arkansas and forts at
Vicksburg, July 22, 1862; Baton Rouge, Aug.
5, 1862; bombarded Natchez, September q
1862; attacked Vicksburg batteries, September
5, 1862; Port Hudson, September Z, 1862.
He was appointed q midshipman January 1,
1928; acting master, March 10, 1880; passed
midshipman, March %. 1929; lieutenant Dec.
81, 1888; commander, January 6, 1859; COM
modore, August 4, 1862. He was wounded at
Fort Henry in the attack on the 9th of Febru-
airy, 1862, and also at Vicksburg, July % 1862.
He claimed the founding of the present light
house system. and was the designer of the IRON
clads Essex, Fort Henry and ChOctaw. The
Commodore was about fifty years of age a
doc fi,lI Of inv
and esteemed by large circle of friends. AT
the time of his death he was waiting orders.
Prospects Of the Wheat Crop.
Some of the Western papers have said much
about the effects of a bad winter upon the
growing wheat, but after careful inquiry, the
Cincinnati Gazette does not anticipate diminu-
ably an excessive estimate of the damage. The
Gazette concludes an article as follows:
It is safe to say that the average wheat crop
of these States should be this year at least
200, 900, 900 bushels. On the suppostion that
there will be two-thirds OF ? crop, the delin-
quency will reach &C 900 900 bushels, which, at
present prices, would leave the farmers short
about $50, 100000. They will, therefore, per-
ceive the necessity of directing unusual atten-
ton to the spring crops.
1t should be noticed, however, that while
the month of April has thus far been unfavor-
able for the preliminary labor Of the corn field,
It has been exceedingly propitious to the de-
velopment of the wheat field. Where it was
then in the ground it will be found that the slow
growth consequent upon the cool weather,
will induce much larger stools, and where
little was expected much will be gathered. A
warm April would have shot the stalks rapidly
forward with less development at the base.
On the whole, under the stimulant of high
prices it is quite probable that the agricul-
tural products of these States will fully equal
an average year in quantity, and the value
thereof be much greater than that of any pre-
vious year, especially when measured by the
value of land that is, the greenback value of
the production of 1864 will purchase more
land in those States than The gold value realized
at any previous time.