The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-16
WASHINGTON.
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Unfavorable Prospects for the
Cotton Crop of 1871.
The New York Central Railroad Tax Case DE-
cided Against the Company.
inspection of Life-Saving Stations
on Long Island.
Important Amendments in Regula-
tons for officers Of Lake
and River Steamers.


WASHINGTON, June Is, 1871.
The Cotton Crop-Unfavorabie reports from
the SOuth-Dccrense of Acreage.
The Bureau OF Agriculture has received returns
from nearly three hundred counties, representing
the most productive districts OF each or the cot
ton states, and showing the comparative acre
age and the condition of the crops In the
first week OF June. diminuton i'll the
planted In cotton appears In every
State except Florida. The most careful analysis OF
the returns with due regard In making averages to
the extent OF cotton production In the respective
counties, gives the following percentage OF reduc-
ton In comparison with last year:-Vlrginia, thirty
per cent; North Carolina, fourteen; South Carolina,
thirteen; Georgia twelve; Alabama. thirteen; Mis-
sssippi, fifteen; Louisiana, eight; Texas, fourteen;
Arkansas, sixteen; Tennessee, twelve. These State
averages reduced to general average, the assumed
acreage OF the respective States being an element
In the calculation, will place the reduction OF the
cotton OF 1871 as compared with that OF 1870, be-
tween fourteen and fifteen per cent, equivalent to
nearly million and third OF acres. This would
leave between seven and half and eight millions OF
acres as the present area III cotton.
The average yield has not, In former years. ex.
ceeded $50 pounds per acre. That for 1870 was
more than 200 pounds The condition OF the grow.
ing plant Is below an average In nearly every State
The spring has been unusually wet and cold, retard-
Ing growth. causing many Of the plants to turn
yellow and Ole, and obstrucLing cultivation
To a large extent replanting has filled the
vacant places Of 'lmperfect stands" The
weather has recently been more favorable,
and 1T not impossible that an average
condition may be attained by the commencement or
the packing season. The condition of cotton In
1869, year favored with an abundant yield. was
only little better than the showing OF June this
year. While the prospect Is slightly unpromsing
there is nothing in it OF decisive character. The
percentage below average condition is follows
In the respective states:-North Carolina, 10 per
cent; South Carolina, s; Georgia, IS; Alabama,
IL Mississippi 16; Louisiana 10; Texas Il;
Arkansas, II; Tennessee, TO- In Florida the cOndi-
ton Is three per cent above average An official
estimate OF the result SO early In the season would
be an absurdlty. The influence OF the future rains
floods, frosts and insect enemies cannot be calcu-
lated In ADVANCE, but In view of The extremely favor
able circumstances affecting the crops OF last year.
there cannot be expected IN The present year upon
reduced area a crop exceeding three and onehalf
millions OF bales. An early frost or the prevalence
OF insects, or q very unpropitlous season. might
reduce the yield to three millions and still further
reduction possible in union severity OF
raj OF these causes OF failure.
New Regulations for the Government Of On
GERS Of steam Vessels.
The Board OF Supervising Inspectors OF steam.
boats to-day concluded the important business
for which they convened under the act or February
2s, 1871. The rules and regulations for the govern
ment of all pilcts OF steamers navigating seas gufs
| lakes bays or rivers. except rivers emptying into
the Gulf OF Mexico ana tributaries, as prescribed
under previous acts were readopted, and
having been submitted to the Secretary OF the
Treasury were duly approved and are now In force
as the rules prescribed under the 'act TO pro.
vide for the better security Of life board of YES.
sells propelled IN whole or In part by steam, and for
other purposes" The extracts from the Steamboat
act Of August 80, 1852 now appended to the present
rules having been superseded by the new law, the
following are substituted and binding, as taken
from tho act Of February %, 1s7l:-
SEC Is. But such licenses shall be suspended or
revoked referring to captains or masters or steam
vessels upon satisfactory proof OF bad conduct,
Incorporate habits incapacity. inattention TO his
duties or the wiliul violation OF any Of provisions OF
this act.
SEC 20. Should any pilot, engineer. mate or mas
ter Of any steam vessel neglect wifuly refuse to
observe the foregoing regulations, such deln-
quent so neglcctlng or refusing shall be
and TO all damage done to any passenger, his per
son baggage, by such neglect or refusal and no
with another.
SEC. 10. And every sailing shall, on the ap-
proach OF any steamer during the night time, show
lighted torch upon that point or quarter to which
such steamer shall be approaching.
The new regulations will be Immediately placed
In the hands of the printer copies distributed
for the information Of all concerned. The rules and
regulations for the government OF pilots of steamers
navigating the flowing into the Cuff OF Mexico
and their tributaries, under the new act are the
same as the old rules, with the following
rule eight has been substituted the following:-
When steamers running In the same direction,
and the pilot OF the boat which astern shall desire
to pass either side OF the boat ahead he shall give
ahead shall answer by the same signal Or II he
prefer to keep on his course, lie snail make the
sgna poIv ~, 70 pass
ahead shall IN no case attempt 10 cross her bow or
crowd upon ner course.
In rule sixteen, third section las, lne have been
struck out, before the word abeam, ''at ana also.n
The new rules are as follows:-
RULE Is. Steam feriyboats with two chmneys
shall in all cases carry the same signal lights a.
passenger steamers.
RULE Ie. All the steamers. ferry or otherwise
having but one chimney Shall have brackets
securely fastened to each side OF the same so as to
carry the red and green lights, the same passen
RULE 20. When q license OF pilot is suspended
or revoked he shall not act AS seersman nor take
part in the .vigation OF any steamer during the
time for which his license shall have been suspended
or revoked.
The Inspectors this afternoon witnessed practical
experiments OF the value OF lfe-preservers offered
for their examination and tomorrow will test the
steam gauges submitted for their consideration.
Clearance Fees Of Coasiins Vessels.
The Secretary Of the Treasury to-day decided that
the Joint resolution Of Congress OF February 10,
1871 Is construed by the Department to exempt
enrolled and licensed vessels engaged In the coast
ing trade ana touching at intermediate foreign
points from the payment OF the entrance and clear
ance fees required from foreign going vessel, but
that the resolution IL not Interpreted to exempt
vessels engaged in the coastlng trade, whether