New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-15

progress of the crops has been unusually IA
vorable. The extensive storms OF last week
have done some injury to winter wheat, ana
in other quarters have made the ground unit
for sowing, but there is no evidence as yet
that the effect will prove serious. Indeed, oil
attempts at this early date to estimate the
yield of spring wheat, corn or cotton are OBJ
viOusy barren and foolish, while even as to
winter wheat the most that can be said is that
nothing has yet occurred to prevent large
yield. The acreage appears to be a little larger
than it was last year ; the present condition in
some quarters is especially good, and, on the
whole, is reported by the Agricultural Bureau
as slightly above the average. But even that
portion of the crop will not be wholly out of
danger for six weeks or more, and when it is
remembered that last year a continuous drouth
after the middle of June diminished the yield
of wheat by at least 50,000,000 bushels it
will be realized that predictions at this time
cannot be worth much. But with thousands
the wish is father to the thought and it is al
ready supposed to be certain that we are to
have large crops. Commercial and manufac-
turing operations may perhaps have been
based too much upon this belief, which, as
yet, cannot have very solid foundations.
Business has not been satisfactory for some
weeks past. The declining exchanges at many
of the chief centres of wholesale trade reflect
an inactivity which is attributed by some to
the unreasonable weather, 10y some to the in
creased cost of living and the troubles between
labor and capital and by others to the indis-
position Of farmers to buy until they have fair
promise Of better crops than those OF last year.
Some of the largest wholesale houses are doing
less business than in any preceding May since
1878. 1t is the general feeling that this pause
in dealings is only due to hesitation and will
be succeeded by great activity when full crops
are assured. But the temporary effect is a COM
parative stagnation in important branches OF
trade. Moreover, in some branches there are
difficulties that cannot be attributed to the short
crops, and may not pass away with afull yield.
The open winter has diminished the cOnsump-
ton of coal so much that even the curtailed
production of last winter was in excess of the
demand, and the companies seem in doubt
what course to pursue. Thus far this year,
the production of anthracite is 1884 tons
less than that of last year to date, and the
movement of Cumberland coal 206,771 tons
less. The long strike in the Cumberland region
SUI COHlIuutS. disputes DtlNctH ulilOHS
and employers have closed two iron establish
mcnts in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and the con-
tests in cotton and woOllen mills have not been
settled. Indirectly, the drouth of last year is
the cause of many troubles it has increased
the cost of living and of production, and the
advance in prices invites an increase of i'm
ports and checks the export trade. The latest
returns show decrease of $1,000, 900 in COM
parison with the corresponding week last year
in amount of exports from this port, and an
increase of s., 473,00O in imports. In four
months and a half the exports from this port
have been nearly $25,000,0O0 less than last
year to date, while the imports have been over
$2S, 100000 greater in value. 1t is, therefore,
an encouraging fact that the cliques of specu-
lators in grain seem to be breaking up at
Chicago, and that prices Of products are gener-
ally tending downward.