Morning journal and courier., 1881-03-22
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ces of the signal service bureau. All local agents in the West have been specially in
 structed to report upon the condition of the
 ings. &c. in fact, some of the more promi- nent grain dealers of the West and North west are here now in consultation with New
 York houses. Among the number is William T. Baker of Chicago, who was met by an agent of the National Associated Press this afternoon, and who in conversation gave a general review of the situation which con-
 firms the tenor of the dispatches received in the past few weeks from agents of the Ma tional Associated Press
 MT. Baker said in substance: It should be borne in mind that the season is now very far advanced and the whole northwestern country taken from the latitude of Chicago west and north is still frost bound. Not only this, but the ground is covered with snow and ice where year ago at this time the
 fields were green with new growth. Not only this, but what is an important fact al- though you people in the East may not ap- fall blowing done last season because of the early frost which came on several weeks ahead of the usual time. Now the result of this is that farmers must do great deal of extra tilling this spring, and yet they are al ready several weeks behind and cannot even now begin to prepare the ground for the crops which should have had fair start ten or fifteen days ago. This will make seed time late and it is generally considered by western farmers that spring blowing is not favorable to large growth of spring wheat. The usual custom is to blow in the fall and merely har- row in the spring. This permits the mellow ing of the ground by the frosts of winter, and there is so little tillage in the spring that seed can be sown early and further seed can be planted in this mellow ground before the frost is fairly out of the ground. The thaw- ing and softening up early in the season and the frost that is left in the substratum seems to give aFmoisture that starts growth. Now anyone can readily see the difference in the situation from previous years. Of course am only speaking of the spring wheat crop, which Is the principal crop of the Northwest, win ter wheat being grown in more southern attitudes. Continuing to remarks of the gen. tlemen present Mir. Baker said: It is not probable that the people in the East, even in- terested parties realize the extreme severity of the winter in the West, and for the West why the people there in whole sections have been completely snowbound for weeks at 8 time and have burned hundreds of thousands of bushels of corn for fuel, and this extreme weather has very largely increased the con- sumption of breadstuffs other than corn. Then too it must be noted that literally thousands of acres of corn fields are buried under snow. The early coming of the winter prevented the harvesting of corn and the ex- treme snows have kept the crop covered for months Of course it will rot. The frost not hy1rf 6ntf "a 1OnD soaking Of snow in it's various stages of transformation to water will be very injurious. Take either horn of the dilemma (this to gentleman who interpolated query) and what IS the result? Why, if the snow is removed by a sudden thaw and rain there will be floods and washouts disastrous in their effects, and if the snow is slowly melted by the progress of the season the result is the same, so far as it's injurious effect on the crops Is con- cerned
 Strong reports forecasting short crops of spring and winter wheat because of the length and severity of the winter continued to come all day from nearly every important point in the great Northwest, including Chi cago, Detroit, Milwaukee and St. Paul Nearly every despatch was of the same tone An agent of the National Associated Press made tour among the great prod1c0 dealers to get their views upon the subject. He Sis- tied the warehouse of Messrs. Jesse Hoyt < Co.,, and found the head Of the house, the partners and several prominent dealers pres ent. Mir. Hoyt said: tI have no fears what ever of short crop in either spring win ter wheat. In fact believe both crops will be above the average and the annual in crease in both will be improved upon this year. Raising wheat pays in the West and the profit in the business has each year in duced an increase in acreage. This year greater preparations have been made for a large sowing in the spring than ever before. The wheat country is now supplied with more ready labor than ever before. I be- ieve the advantages of better preparation to begin work will more than compensate for any disadvantages caused by the late winter. It is mistake to suppose it is too late to get in full crop of spring wheat. If nothing prevents work beginning on the spring crop by the early part of April it is time enough to realize all expectations"
 The agent afterwards called at the office of Messrs. D. Dows & Go. and there found a number of large produce dealers present, all of whom referred him to MT. Dows, with whom they had already discussed the subject. They all inclined to the opinion that there was no good foundation for the western grain scare"
 Rough Experience for Sound Passengers.
 NEW YORK, March 21.-The steamer New port, of the Fall River line, which arrived
 l.