American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-08-09
CURRENT TOPICS.

The Congressional Labor Committee
composed of Messrs. Wright of Penn
sylvania, O'Connor of South Carolina
Dickey of Ohio, and Sherwin of Illinois
have arrived in Chicago, and begun tn
takingof testimony regardingt the cause
of the depression of the industrie
of the country, and especially of labor
The investigation is to be continued il
other cities.
RETURNS from all parts of Kansas
show that while the wheat yield may
possibly not be so large this year as last
the quality Is better, and the value to
the farmer will be greater. The corn
crop of the State for this year will be lit
orally immense, and all other crops will
turn out much better than was antici-
pated early in the season.
THE coinage for the standard silver
dollars for July fall some $500, 900 short
of the minimum amount fixed by law,
$4,000, 900 monthly. The deficiency was
caused by scarcity of bullion at the San
Francisco and Carson City MINIS. The
Mint at Philadelphia will be run night
and day during the present month to
make up the deficiency.
A COMPARATIVE statement has Just
been completed by the Internal Revenue
Bureau showing the receipts from sever
al specific sources of revenue during the
fiscal year ending June so, 1889, and
giving the increase and decrease there
of. The principal decrease is on tobac-
o,taxed at the rate of24 cents per pound.
In 1873 the amount paid upon this
grade Of tobacco was s25, 32O, 064. In
1879 it was 81 1863 1856, being a de-
crease in 1879 of $3.50, s29. The prin-
cipal increase is ON tobacco taxed at the
rate of 16 cents per pound, of which
there was none in 1878. The amount
realized from this source in 1879 was
%, 7S4, ST.. The aggregate receipts are
rs follows: In 1878, Sill, 0s7, 1925; in
1879, eilS,91s. 465. Total increase In
1879, 81, SEC, 74o.
The amount Of public land entered
for homestead settlement in the year
ended June so, 1879. was q triie over
5000, 600 acres, or an area a little great
er than that of the State of New Hamp-
shire, and considerably larger than that
OF New jersey. Tho average number
of acres taken by each homestead set
tier. as shown by the entries of the last
10 years, is 100. From an unpublished
statement made by the Com
missioner OF the General Land
Office, it is claimed that the whole num-
Der of homestead settlers from the time
the Homestead law went into operation
to June so. 1873, q period of 16 years,
was sS4, 848. In the number of home
stead entries Kansas takes the lead with
81 ,034. Minnesota stands next, with
81 ,573, and Nebraska third, with 40, 962.
In the rate of increase from 1877 to 1878,
Dakota took the lead.
IT is said that our Government in
tends to hold the Canadian Government
responsible for the results of Sitting
Bulls invasion of our territory, he hav-
ing placed himself voluntarily under its
Jurisdiction, and that country having
accepted him as de facto citizen or
ward.
TIE Boston Commercial Exchange
has resolved to follow the example and
advice of the New York Commercial
Exchange in adopting the GENITAL system
- the basis of trade. On and after the
LIST of next October the members will
use the GENITAL system in all their trans
actions, 80 far as is compatible with ex-
sting laws; and they have resolved to
petition the State Legislature to make
such changes as are necessary in the
State laws to conform to the change
agreed upon.
THE Cabinet has decided that the
money appropriated by the recent act
making appropriations for rivers and
harbors should not be withheld. The
'ull amount. nearly %. OOO, 900, will
therefore be expended this year.
The gross earnings of all the railroads
Of the country for last year were $780,
los, S61, against S472, 909, 272 for the
year. The gross earnings of
he railroads of the Western States were
BIOS, S52, 275, against $193, 2O4 $40 for
1877; net earnings. 81, 1858, 229, against |
b66 ,065 ,243 for 1877. The dividends
paid amounted to s19, S41 ,222, against
B14, 556. 1862 for 1877. The earnings
rom freight, mails, etc., were $3.50, $780,
1876, and from passengers, s49, 1895. 4sO.
These figures are from Poor's Manual.
GENERAL TERRY, commanding the
military in the Department of Dakota,
IN the Slst received . dispatch from
General Miles, dated at q camp on Rock
Creek, IS miles south of the boundary,
Iaying that Sitting Bulls band of Sioux
lad fed northward to Wood Mountain,
eaving their property scattered along
he line Of their route for so miles. The
,ioux are estimated to number 5000,
With 1000 fighting men. General Miles
ays he believes he has force enough to
Ieal with all the Indians Sitting Bull
or vx,x,o<or