The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-17
Washington.
REPORT OF THE COTTON CROP.

WASHINGTON, September 15.-The Stats
tician of the Department OF Agriculture
reports the condition Of the cotton cror
during the first week in September as aver
aging for the whole cotton belt the same a:
in September OF last year. Florida, Ala
bama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas,
and Tennessee make higher averages than
in 1876. The Carolinas, Georgia, and TeHa:
report less iavorably, the greatest reduc.
ton being in Texas as compared with last
month. Florida, Arkansas and, Tennessee
only report improvement. The percentage
OF conditions are as follows: North Caro-
lima, SO; South Carolina, S.; Georgia, n;
Florida, "a: Alabama, 81; Mississippi, 50
Louisiana, 90; Texas, 70; Arkansas, 90:
Tennessee, 100.
The caterpillar is present in all OF the
Gull States and in South Carolina, but has
done little damage az yet, except in Texas
In several parishes in Louisiana the loss i
considerable from this cause. Where it lla:
made late appearance 1t will benefit rather
than injure the crop.
In the Atlantic States there is much com
plant OF rust, mainly resulting from
drought, but in some counties from injury
by beating storms.
In this section the growth is late, and the
effects OF frost in shortening the harvest i;
feared.
THE PRESIDENTIAL PARTY.
Secretary Evarts and his two daughter:
left this morning for Louisville, stopping a
Grafton, W. Va, where they will remain
until the arrival OF Secretary Schurz ant
Postmaster-Gcneral Key, who leave this eve
ming. The Postmaster-G General will accom-
panv the presidential party on their south
ern tour. Secretary Schurz expects t
leave the party at Louisville and return t
the city, arriving on Wednesday evening
the 10Th instant. Secretary Thompson vii
accompany the party as far as Chattanooga
from which place he will proceed to Pcnsa
cola, Fla. for the purpose OF examining thu
navy-yard at that point. The President
accompanied by number OF the party
among them being Secretaries Evarts ant
McCrary and Postmaster-Gcneral Key, vii
proceed to Chattanooga, Nashville, ant
knoxville, and return to Washington. per
haps uia Richmond, about the 25th.
GOVERNMENT REAL ESTATE.
Within the last twelve years the Govern
mcnt has accumulated large amount O.
real estate in various parts Of the country
particularly in the South, by reason OF VIC
lation by owners OF provisions in the inter
nal-rcvcnue laws, and it now appears thai
the accumulation Of that class Of Govern
ment property makes a very valuable aggrc'
gate. Attention has not been giver
TO the matter, however, says SchurZ
to an extent that the interests OF the
Government require. Some time age
the Commissioner Of Internal Revenue ap
pointed two agents to make a personal eI
animation of the subject, to ascertain ant
report upon the localities OF such rea
estate, the condition OF the titles thereto
the value, ETC., and solicit purchasers. Mr.
e. D. Webster, one OF the agents OF the
Department to prosecute this business, j:
now in Washington, and had an interview
with Secretary Sherman and Commissioner
Raum. No formal reports on the subiec
have vet been received from either Of thu
agents.
DEATH OF Mr.. HUGH CAPERToN, OF VIRGINIA
Hugh Caperton, a prominent citizen ant
well-known lawyer OF Georgetown, D. G.
died suddenly of paralysis last evening, IL
the fifty-sixth year OF his age. Mr.. Caper
ton was born in Union, Monroe county, W
Va. He was a son OF Hugh Caperton,
Virginian, who represented his district IL
Congress for several terms, and brother
the late Allan Taylor Caperton, OF Yves
Virginia. For many years he was law
recorder OF the corporation OF Georgetown
and recently served on the commission ap
pointed by the Supreme Court OF the Dis
trict, under an set Of Congress, to revise tn
laws OF the District of Columbia.
VARIOUS ITEMS.
The Secretary makes a mystery Of th
new Commissioner OF Indian Affairs unit
he returns from Louisville. 1t does no
matter as much as the Secretary seems t.
think.
It is intimated that the Commissioner o
Indian Affairs will be Dir. Ezra A. Hoyt, o
New York, who is at present member
the Board of Indian Commissioners.
First Assistant Postmaster-G ~
ner has dispatches that there is no particu
lar change in Morton's condition to-day.
Thirty temporary clerks were g bounced
at the Treasury Department to-day.
Seven thousand five hundred dollars Wer
contributed to the conscience fund OF tn
Treasury Department to-day by an obscur
person.
Senator Ransom is quoted as saying tn
Democrats will not attempt to organize tn
Senate by seeking aid from disgruntled Re
publicans. -,
Schurz has discovered some logs and ivy
saw-mills in Colorado, which he has ordere'
replevined. The squatters are orderln
dictionaries to know what repleyin means
Wholesale Divorce Business.
ppnRATE JrDGE ELIAS SMITH IN TROUBLE.