The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-05-31

tifcates in New York for gold and take
the latter away, and we should rapidly
become monometallic silver nation,
and the disasters that have come upon
India, threatening to produce public and
private bankruptcy, would be experien-
ced here.
The Bulletin presents statistics show
ing large decline in farming operations
in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey
and Pennsylvania since 1875. While
New York has increased in population II
per cent. agricultural interests have ut
terly failed to keep pace with the general
progress of the State and therefore, re-
latively, farming is retrogressing. Nor
is this the worst aspect of the case. The
impoverished and debt purthened condi-
ton of the farmers leaves no hope for
their recuperation, but rather fore
shadows still worse condition of things
in the future. What we have here shown
to exist in New York is but specimen
of the state of affairs in Connecticut, New
Jer ey and Pennsylvania also; and the
con fusion to be drawn is that in this
group of States farming is verging to-
wards condition of things in which it
will be virtually confined to dairy pro-
ducts and vegetable growing to the ex-
tent necessary to supply city populations,
while larger and more solid branches
must steadily decline.
A fire at Brooklyn in fowler Crump-
ton, & CO. S linseed mill, extendingfrom
55 to 63 Furman street, burned all night.
and the owners estimate their loss at
from $3.50, 600 to $500, 900, and storehouse
3D." of Watson's stores, the lessees
Bartlett & Green, burned fiercely. 1t
was filed from the ground floor to the
roof with sugar, jute, hemp, cotton and
other infiammable material. As the fire
continued, mixture of water and sugar
came from the windows and doors in
large flow. AT ten to night, with all the
streams upon it, it was feared that the
flames would communicate to other stores
but by persistent work of the firemen,
apprehensions were allayed. Bartlett a.
Green's loss would probably reach half
a million dollars. But it is not known
who the owners of much of the property
are. There may be 80 or more At
noon, laborers were set to work re-
moving goods to storehouse &C. adj
journing, as they were being damaged by
water. Danger was also anticipated
from the walls bursting through. En-
gines are still at play upon the burning
pile, and the fireman are nearly exhaust
ed by continuous hard work.
Returns to the Department of Agrieul-
ture show the average wages of labor
without board on yearly engagements
have declined from S21 80 per month to
$40 26, or 4.S per cent. during the last
year The cost of board of farm laborers
has declined $4.15 per cent, or from
81 As per month to 81 Il. Four States
and two Territories show increased rates
of wages Minnesota, Colorado, Califor-
MIA, Oregon, New Mexico and Washing
ton Territories. All other States show
decline. The decline is greatest in Yer
mont, 30 per cent. Maryland, % per cent.
and Virginia Is 4 per cent. The cost of
subsistence has advanced in four States
and two Territories--New Jersey, ] en- L
sylvania, Texas and Colorado, New
Mexico and Washington Territorie All
other States show small cost of sub. ist-
ence. Vermont has declined 3 per cent
in the price of board, and Maryland 4
per cent. The general tone of cores
pondence to the Department of Agricul-
ttre is hopeful of revival of industry,
and the surplus of unemployed labor is
growing less. Good labor can generally
find employment at fair prices. Many
are idle because they will not accept the
reduced wages offered.
For the past three days in obedience
to orders from John Taylor, and dis
patch from Geo. O. Cannon, at Washing
tor, petitions to President Hayes for a
pardon of the convicted polygamist, Geo.
Reynolds, have been sent for signatures
all over Utah. The case being urgent,
they were requested to return the petit
ton to Salt Lake this week to be fore
warded at once to Cannon, president. In
order to anticipate the Mormons, the
ladies of the anti-polygamy society held
a meeting and this morning sent the fol-
lowing protest to Washington To the
President ofthe United States: - A peti-
ton has been circulated in this city for
signatures asking your pardon of George
Reynolds, convicted of the crime of polyg-
amy. The ladies of the anti-polygamy
society of Salt Lake City, respectfully
protest against the interposition of exc
cutive clemency IN the case for the fol-
lowing reasons First-The anti-poly-
ganiy law of Congress was passed in 1862,
and through defect in its provisions no
conviction has been obtained of any per-
son guilty of violating the law until the
present instance. This immunity has en-
couraged the Mormons in lawlessness,
and more polygamous marriages have
been entered into during the last few
years than at any time preceding Sec
ond-The Mormon leaders set up God S
law, as they call their celestial marriage
ordinance, above mans law. The decis-
ion of the Supreme Court of the United
States in the Reynolds case affirming the
validity of the anti-polygany law of Con-
gress, is condemned by the Mormon
newspaper organs as the award of feeble
witted and clouded minded judges, act
ing under popular pressure and the case
is therefore appealed from the supreme
tribunal Of the law to the court above.
Under this higher law or doctrine, polyg-