Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-22
The Business Outlook.

Much anxiety is being exhibited in all
quarters of the Union regarding the bust
ness outlook. and many of our exchanges
are showing considerable zeal in obtain
ing whatever information on the subject
can be arrived at. Probably the most
reliable data which has yet been fur
nished, however, is that from the De-
partment of Agriculture. In the last
report of that department it was stated
that the condition of winter grain was
more than favorable in almost every
locality from which returns were sent
In the twenty-four wheat growing States
east of the Rocky Mountains the average
in all except Eve was over one hundred
per cent. The same is the case
with winter rye. According to the
official report, ''the average of condition
for the entire field is 1O4, or four per
cent. higher than a full standard OF
healthy growth. indicating exuberant
vitality more than counterbalancing
eLldll lOCdl uCuClto VI NI8OA anu AO0AsA
fulness. In April, 1881, after winter
of much severity, the average was 80.
and from frosts in April and May still
further reduced to rs. This illustrates
the marked contrast between, 1882 and
1881" This forecast, we should have
remarked, was made before the late grain
storm, which will lower the average
somewhat, but by no means down to the
level of 1881. In Arkansas, for exam
pie, the storm was particularly destruc
tive, but that State has wide margin to
be taken away before it is reduced to last
years average. Thepercentage Of wheat
area soWn is 10 against 100 for 1881,
and of rye 1873 against 100. The state of
the crop was. on April 18th, 112 and
113 respectively. From these figures it
will be seen that in spite of untoward
circumstances the grain prospects are
better than usual, although by no means
so good as the best.
The cotton yield will probably fall be
low the standard, owing to the inunda-
ton in the Mississippi valley, which
overlooked large part of the plantation
area in three States; but even there the
loss will not be total one, and at least
375, 900 bales out of the usual 600,0 900
may be raised. Before the first of July
between three and four hundred thou
sand bales will also have been shipped
abroad, together with the last patches of
last years breadstuffs. Added to this is
the steady export of petroleum, beef
aud manufactures, which will help some
what to restore the balance between
our outflow and income. Lately,
the former has been in excess of
the latter, for our exports have
fallen off one hundred million dollars,
but what the precise effect this has had
upon the wealth of the country can only
be roughly computed. When specie is
sent abroad we know the exact extent to
which the country is being drained, but
we cannot with equal certainty state
how far this is compensated by the influx
of foreign money with immigrants.
From a cursory view of the situation,
and from all the information gathered
from this report and other sources the
Philadelphia Erening Bulletin thinks it
improbable that the present slight de-
preston in business will be of long dura-
ton; on the contrary, it thinks if the
harvests are as good as their prospects
now indicate they will be, the prosperity
of the country for this year will be
greater than it was for 1881.