The Portland daily press., 1872-11-25
Cotton Prospects

tenders for redemption of certificates of deposit,
SIG $685. 00
Cotton Prospects
WASHINGTON Nov. 23.-The Agricultural
Report for November says of the cotton pros
poets that the frosts have been earlier than
usual in the more northern States, but the
earlier maturity of the plant is indicated every
where, and the past month has been quite ia
vorable for the development of the maturing
bolts. The total productions as indicated by
the returns of the first week in November is
made nearly 3,450,000 commercial bales. AT
that date apparently from % to 80 per cent.
remained to be picked and was subject to the
vicissitudes of the weather, which might decrease
the final aggregate by beating storms, or slight
ly enlarge it by favorable season for opening
and gathering the fibre of the top crop.
WASHINGTON, Nov 23.-The following of
fetal report has been received at the Signal
Service Department:
Boston, Nov. 10.
To the Chief Signal officer Of the Army, Wash
ington, D. C.:
In reply to your Geographic dispatch received
this morning, directing me to make full re-
port of the mcteoric phepomena attending the
the wind at this station during the progress of
the fire varied from northwest to north, with a
velocity of from five to nine miles per hour.
The weather was clear, cool and pleasant. On
approaching the fire on the north or windward
side as close as the heat would allow, the in
draught of air through the burning streets as
sumed the character of a brisk wind, probably
sixteen or eighteen miles per hour, while the
heat was so intense as to cause the smoke,
steam &c. to be carried up in sprals to great
elevation. On the south or lee side the induced
currents of air were very strong, probably 80 or
80 miles per hour, carrying the fire bodily to
windward. This state of affairs appears the re-
verse of the Chicago fire, where the strength of
the wind was sufficient to overcome the induced
currents and the fire burned to leward. 1t APP
pears as if the high wind permitted the in
draught to rise at a considerable angle after
reaching the fire. leaving large space of rari-
fed air in its front, inducing stronger currents
of air to flow on, which meeting the indraught
gave the spiral or whirlwind form to the ascend
ing current. During the fire a flock of ducks
passed at great height overhead and the light
reflected from their plumage made them appear
as fire balls passing rapidly through the air.
Many who saw them called them meteors and
likened them to the balls said to have been
seen in the Northwest, during the great fires in
that region. As an example of the great heat
diffused, would state that during the night L
exposed n thermometer in the observatory to
the full glare of the fire, when it rose nearly
five degrees, although placed upwards of 1000
feet from the burning district and dead to wind
ward of it. No other phenomena occurred.
The barometer rising slightly and the weather
remaining unchanged. I'll. T.. COLE
.Observer of the Signal Service, U. S. A.
appointments.
CluCS TIC u OouSISSo tilo lcsi-
dent has made 1877 appointments, as follows:
For the Department of Justices15, Z. S. Mar
shals and District Attorneys; For the Navy De-
partment, five boatswains, sail-makers and car
penters; Post-masters, IL; For the State De-
partmeut 81, of which IL are Consuls, and most
of the others were Centennial Commissioners;
for the Treasury Department 81, of which ten
are Supervisors of Internal Revenue under the
new law. The most of the other appointments
are for the Internal Revenue and Customs
service.
The Outrages on tho Rio Grande.
The commissioners to investigate the outrages
on the Rio Grande border have completed their
report. They spent two hours with the Presi-
dent yesterday, when he asked many explana-
tions, taking a deep interest. The commission
ers confined their investigation to distance of
900 miles from the Rio Grande to Rio Grande
city, estimating Americans incln.ed within
that limit to have by Mexican raids suffered to
the extent of So, 000,0 to say nothing of muir
ders committed by Mexicans They think if
they had continued investigation as far as Eel
Paso, it would have been discovered that the
total losses, including those caused by Indian
raids would be increased to $10,000000. They
urge protection to the border by an increase of
cavalry, otherwise predatory war will result.
The approp riation for the commission is ex-
hausted, but new one will be made to continue
the investigation. There is no doubt the Presi-
debt will urge prompt legislation upon Con-
gress.
Estimates of Appropriations
The estimates of appropriations for the next
fiscal year are now completed. Those for the
Navy Department are smaller than last year,
as are also those of the Indian Bureau, which
are cut down from quarter to half million,
but there is a slight increase i'll the legislative,
judicial and executive appropriation bill, rem
dered necessary by the increase in the number
of members III the House of Representatives
under the new apportionment act, and enlarge
ment of the number Of cadet appointments in
military and naval academies. All things con-
sidered, the aggregate of appropriations will be
the same as heretofore. The committee of APP
preparations are disposed to keep all of them
within estimate
Detention of Foreign Mail.
"A telegram was received by acting Post
master General Marshal last night, from the
Postmaster General of Great Britain, stating
that the steamer City of Brooklyn, which left
on the 18th inst, 18th the American and
New Zealand mails, had put back into Queens
ton disabled, and these mails would be for
warded by the Cunard steamer to-day.