The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-05

SPRING BUSINESS.
Boston's Comforting Assurance Of
Trade Revival.
TILE NEW ENGLAND COMMERCIAL GAUGE.
The Old Dominion Working Carefully
on 'Hardpan."
TILE NEW ENGLAND COMMERCIAL GAUGE.
WILMINGToNs UsURY BUGBEAR.
The Past Winters Cold and
the Crops.

The cold or this winter OF 1875, commencing
Nth January is said to have had no parallel since
174l. Exactly how cold It then was is not stated.
except Win reference TO regions along the sea-
board, when ice filed all the ocean bays. In the
Interior the cold cou.d not have been severe, be-
cause 10 ests covered the lace OF the land. me
year 1885 certainly cold; but that or 1917 was
the most terrible ever experienced IN this coun-
try. The wlnler then was, on the whole, mild,
but heavy frosiS were frequent through the
spring. There were sharp frosts IN June and
July Scarcely any corn was raised and wheat
produced little more than seed. The following
winter almost brought famine; mon and beasts
were put UPON short allowance, and wnen
spring opened green heritage was eagerly
devoured. During the two following years
the great concern lr rural lie was TO OBJ
tain grain IN quantity sufficient Tor seed,
and 1t was not until 1920 that the country re-
covered from that cold summer. Wnen grain
Dnce more bee tme abundant prices Were ex-
lremely low, lor the effects or the war from 1919
20 1914 pressed upon the people. Money was so
scarce that taxes were paid with the grearest
difficulty; in many parts OF the country wheat
would not bring twenty-five cents in cash
busuel, ana lie was wholly sustained by family
industry and manufactures.
In regard to tnls-our cold winter OF 1s75-it Is
TO be SAID that there Is abundance OF bread food,
Ior wheat was an excellent crop last year, and
mucn accumulated wealth enables thousands to
live comfortably; but the masses are put 10 great
Inconvenience anu deprivation IS common. Nor
Is tue commercial world much less affected Than
the dustrlal world. Several causes besides tine
cold have combined 20 make our winter long to
be remembered. Tnese are the snort grain crops,
especially OF corn. IN those States winch hitherto
have lurnlsned large surplus; prorracted
drought, widespread visitations OF destructive
insects ana general depression OF business.
BY all accounts the loss OF vegetables, and In
particular OF potatoes, must have been enormous
this winter. In prairie regions and Wherever the
nature OF the ground demands That SO mucn OF the
cellars as IS possible snail above ground, frost
has freely penetrated; while vegetables in pits,
amply protected against common winters. have
been badly frozen. Indeed, all houses seemed TO
freeze through from the top to tue foundation.
Window garaening having been widely established
within Anew years-an evidence OF refinement AID
culsure-nas suffered 0 loss u perhaps three
fourtns OF all house plants and little was saved
except where fires we're kept al night.
During tine last two years drought has pre-
vailed through most OF the Northern states and In
paris OF the Soutn. and so severe was t in some
portions oil the West that railroads were
obliged TO run water trains TO supply their
engines. This winter an Immense number
OF wells went dry, creeks were Tozen to
cattle Tn ough plindIng snow ana intense cold by
means OF the most desperate Efforts. Tnese.dts-
tresses were augmented by reason OF the pro-
tracted cold and the absence or the usual January
thaw; bur, 1nang, IN February wdespreading
rams descended streams again ran. and almost
Immediately wells began to rise, which must be
considered singular, Tor meanwhile tue ground
was frozen 10 great DEPTH but undoubtedly
water soaked through from the bottoms OF I'M
frozen swamps. No sucn scarcity or water has
been experienced for at least two generations.
and the question or even living upon many farms
was beginning to be considered. 1t now seems
evident that ordinary VEINS Of water do not de-
pead upon interior reservoirs. but upon rainfall,
and rnat our general water supply IL much more
limited than mas been supposed.
Toe cold has been more remarkable for rs
duration than or its intensity, since previously it
was Dy no means uncommon Tor the mercury 10
SINK below zero on q lew occasions, bat now we
have reports from many quarters OF the mercury
having oeen &C an average OF ten degrees below
Tor more tnan thirty days. The eject on fruit
trees and snrubDery must be disastrous. Peach
buds are widely killed. and It Will De fortunate II
the wool itself is not fatally injured Hair hardy
apple ana other trees may be expected to be
killed BACK hall and three-ourtns, while vines and
berry bushes, unless protected or In favored
localities, are likely 10 be killed 10 the heart.
Nursery stocks, by reason or thick planting,
should be less injured. IL wiz take some time,
perhaps until early summer, before the extent OF
such losses can oe fully ascertalned, but, In the
aggregate, they are certainly more serious than
we have ever had before. Tue southern States
are or course more fortunate, and they will nave
@ great advantage In this Nor shern disaster.
The cattIe-IeedIng interest OF the West Ia far
nom oelng prosperous At present With corn at
sixty and slxty.hve cents Q bushel and beer on
foot bringing Cnly I'VE cents q pound there il
loss or ABOUT ten cents on every busheI led; and
yet there Is no help for IL. The cause tins EN-.
barrassment lies directly In the short corn crop or
last year. which Iorce1 cattle the market beyond
Its needs but with the coming season increased
prices Tor stall.isd beef seem certain. the drive
nom Texas wnch Is now getting ready for the
journey 70 Kansas City 10 estimated to reach the
number Of last year-that 10, 100000 head; but not
much good beef can be expected rom this quarter
before autumn. Sneep seem to have come
through tne winter In good heart, and on the
Western plains the snow fan has been so ngnt that
both sheep and cattle are IN excellent condition.
Beef OF good quality can be had from this region
BY the middle o. Juae.
the coming winter wheat crop IA thought to
be promising In all regions north OF tnirty.nlne
degrees or wherever snow has lam on the ground
during the extreme cod. But from south OF tails
latitude and reaching into KENTUCKY where
shoice white wheat Is grown, come gloomy reports.
Recently mucn or tnat country mas been covered
with glare ice several inches thick, which ought
10 afrvra protection. In California fail rains we're
10 timely that an uncommon Dreadtn was sown,
and the yIold Will probably much exceed that OF
last year. However, there - 90 much old wheat
on hand that Gue question 10 more Ia regard 70
corn They VINO are Ia tue habit q propnesSing
sag that the coming season Is TO be fruitful Frost
has penetrated TO . depth hitherto unknown,
whereby elements or fertility wlll be set iree
Wnne the drought has, In a manner, opened pores
IN the soil, nyiog OIL me advantages 81 UNDER
drained land. Thua, whether we season snan be
vet Or DRY, crops are lixely to 40 wehi ana all
sness conditions are In toe highest degree favor
able Ior corn.
THE MASSACHUSETTS OUTLOOK.
BOSTON, April 2, 1879.