The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-11-12
Smoothing the Way.

The failure of the Russian grain crop while
bringing great distress upon the poor of that
country promises to be Of much benefit to
this. Odessa is the grain port of Europe,
and England and Germany draw the major
portion of their supplies therefrom. The ex-
potts of Russian grain to England alone
amount to an annual average value of $50,-
100000, and to Germany TO nearly $2O,000,-
600. The failure Of the crop is represented
TO be total, thus leaving an enormous de-
ticiency to be supplied mainly by this coun-
try. In 1873 our exports of corn, wheat and
-four reached the value of $9O,OOO,OOO. Add
to this sum S75,OOO.0O0 more and we have
the amount Of our foreign trade in cereals
during the coming winter and spring. Nor is
it alone England and Germany that we are
10 supply. Russia herself needs bread, and
we shall find ourselves carrying grain TO
Odessa quite as superfuous proceeding Or
dinarily as carrying Goals to Newcastle. How
much breadstuf Russia will require is not
known, but the quantity must certainly be a
large one.
With the exception Of cotton the cereal
crop is our most important export. Just
Eow it is particularly necessary that the West
should realize handsomely from her crops,
fer much money pouring into that section
will bring prosperity 10 the whole country,
will awaken the long-hoped-for revival of
trade, and will start up business and manu-
factures of nearly every description. II is
evident that England and Germany will need
as much grain as before, ard that we must
supply it. In addition we must supply Rus
sia with her food. An increase of one-halt
in our exports of grain will bring almost un-
exampled prosperity. A doubling of them is
not impossible. This certain revival of for
elgn trade cannot fail to be of the greatest
benefit to all branches of commerce and III
dustry. Over a hundred millions of dollars
poured into the country will throw the bal
ance of trade largely in our favor.
Not the least promising feature of The sit
uation is the assistance which will be given to
the resumption of specie payments. The nee
essary boarding of gold will be made easier,
the business distress enormously attributed
to contraction will measurably cease, the
arguments of demagogues against resump-
ton will thus be overthrown, and the path 10
specie payments will be made much smoother.
Circumstances are apparently ccnspring 10
assist us out of our financial slough.
IHE fifth annual report of the Commission +.
er of Education is completed The Commis-
sioner states that there has been an increase
Of $4,000 children during the year. Thirty
hve out OF thirty-seven states report the num-
ber of teachers. Thirty-seven states and
eleven territories report the public school in.
come, which shows an increase of 81 ,232, 900;
but only thirty.five states and nine territories
can show their school expenditures. There
are enrolled in public schools S,000 900 pupils.
The average daily attendance is four millions
and half. The estimated population be-
tween six and sixteen years Of age is ten mil
lions and half. The total income in public
schools in the states and territories in 1874
was $S2,000,000. The total expenditures for
the states and territories was S74,00O,00
The highest salaries for school teachers re-
ported is accredited to the Cherokee Nation,
1925 monthly for males and 5000 monthly for
female teachers. The District of Columbia
comes next, $113 and $75. Massachusetts
show a greater disproportion, S93 and $33.
The expenditures in the year, per capita of
average attendance in the public schools, is
as follows: Massachusetts, 500; Ohio, $14;
Nebraska, $1S; Rhode Island, $1S; Connecti-
cut. $40; Vermont, $12; New York, $21 !;
Iowa, $4; Michigan, SIS; New Jersey, SIS;
Indiana, $14; Illinois, $13; Maine, $40; Mary
land, $40; Minnesota, S13; Mississippi, So;
Tennessee, s.; Virginia, IS; Florida, S.;
District of Columbia, $26; Montana, $17; Col
orado, 500; Utah, Sc; Cherokee Nation, $24.
In schools of secondary instruction 1881 in
stitutions with 40S more teachers are reported
in 1874, as against 944 in 1878. There was
20,301 less students. The diminution in
attendance is attributed in large degree to
the financial depression Of last year. The eff
fects of business depression are particularly
noticeable in the preparatory schools for the
superior instruction of women, During the
year 5G3 degrees were conferred on wom-
ell. There are now in colleges and scientific
schools 10000; in the preparatory schools
$4,000.
WASHINGTON specials saw that the opir ion