, 1880-05-27

ward on the northwest coast. CHAIRMAN
Wbjtthorne has prepared brief written re-
mort In advance OF the proposed action, set
t,nc forth what growth and importance OF
commerce and magnitude of national inter
eafs ia 10 be subserved by it. The commits
sion are Of course 10 designate what point
on the costs Of Oregon or Washington is
most suitable. rnFg
Clearing House Statistics.
Srw YonK. MAY l3.-The recent decline
in prices has induced largely increased pur-
chsses both for export and for domestic con-
sumption. In spite OF the shrinkage of val
ues, the quantities transferred are much
greater now than one year ago. Returns
from various cities shows the following per-
centage OF gains and losses over the cores
ponding week OF last year; New York o3.7;
Boston 500; Philadelphia 34.6; Chicago
3l.4, st. Louis 3S.6; Cincinnati 75.4; Balti-
more AS; New Orleans 1876; Pittsburg
42.2; Providence 11.S' Kansas City sos;
Cleveland 6o.9; Indianapolis 74.4; New Ha.
ven 43.2;. Syracuse, 1873. The following
shows losses San Francisco IA; Louisville
S.5; Lowell 6. The surprising Irregularities
at Milwaukee ana Baltimore are probably
due in part TO the great difference in the
grain traffic which was remarkably small at
this season last year at Milwaukee and re-
markably large at Baltimore. ..
yN A Disastrous Fire.
, MrLroN, Pa, May 15,--A fire broke out at
- O'Clock to-day in the car works here, and
@ heavy northwest wind prevailing, ii was
impossible 10 check the progress OF the
flames until the business portion of the
town was destroyed. It is estimated that
four hundred buildings were burned, includ-
ing oil the churches. The fire burned over
o space seven squares in length and two in
width. Assistance came from Sunbury,
Danyille, Willisrnsport, Lewisburg and Wat
sontown. The banks, telegraph Office, news
paper offices and Pennsylvania railroad
depot, gas works. and all the hotels as de-
stroyed. Several bodies have been recovered,
but have been burned beyond recognition.
Two hundred and fifty families are rendered
homeless and are camping out in fields.
Supplies of provisions and clothing are
needed at once. 1t is impossible to estimate
the loss at present.
Latest estimate places the loss by fire at
$l,S00, 900. Insurance, $SO0,000.
= Immigrants Arrived.
New YORK, May 17.-l,432 immigrants
arrived this morning. The total number
thus far in May is 31,346-more than the
number arrived in any entire month In May
excepting in 1862, when 52,l95 immigrants
landed. td3i
Grain Exports.
New Yoax, MAY lS.--The Bulletin prints
table of grain exports from all the ATTAIN
ric and western ports, from which VIC com.
all A1a f~1I fnr ka month NJ Amr .
Total export Of wheat from those ports (in-
cluding fIopr reduced to wheat) was II , 1l4,.
S85 bushels against 8.983,483 bushels for
same menth in 1879, 90 that notwithstsnd-
ing the speculative check to the shipment,
exports for the last month exceed those of
April, 1879, by 2,13l, ,485 bushels. Includ-
ing Pacific exports, the total export of wheat
and -four from July ist to May 1st, reaches
51,050,36i bushels, against 124, ,ls9 ,5S8
bushels for the same period Of 1878 and
1879, an increase Of twenty one and six
tenths per cent during these ten months.
Western wheat has averaged 81 25 per
bushel, against 81 OF for the same period of
1878 and 1879, showing an increase in price
of IS cents per bushel, while California
Applying the same statistics to -four we find
barrel against $5 "a tho preceding year, an
e advance Of 67 cents, while the rise on Cali
fornia has only been 20 cents3 The total
value Of exports Of wheat and four from the
United States for ten months amounts to
the extraordinary figures Of $780, 596
} against $l32. $50, ,8S7 for the corresponding
months of l87S.79. Compared with last
year, which was one Of unprecedented grain
shipments, the value OF wheat and -four ex-
p ported during the last ten months exhibits
an increase $53, 100000. II We compare,
however, with the average Of previous years,
the gain is still more important Taking
the five years proceeding the last, which IN.
cluded two years Of liberal exports, we find
that shipments for the ten months average
$S2, 800, $50, or Sl2, 400, 900 less than for ten
months ending with the 30th ult. These
facts are highly suggestive. They indicate
the importance Of the shrinkaQe in the
volume Of national exports that may be ex.
pected TO occur in the event OF an average
harvest in Europe, and of the very low
prices for wheat that would arise under such
circumstances, along with q surplus OF over
loo, ,0OO, 900 bushels OF wheat beyond the ex.
port requirements.
serious Charges.
WAsn1SoToS, May ls.-At a meeting Of
the House Pacific Railroad Committee a
letter making charges Of corruption and
bribery against a Pacific railroad company.
written by ]. A. George, contractor, wai
submitted. The letter charged that S9O,-
900 in money and $4,000 in land grant
bonds were paid to U. s. Senator, and
that 81 0OO. 600 worth of lands wePa dis,r;