New-York tribune., 1883-12-17
NOTES on LYDUSTRY AND TRADE.

! DEMAND FOR WHEAT-Olcial estimates Of the
harvest in Russia put the crop of 1888 at ~ SSS
42l quiGtals-about 1.550,OOO quntas below an
average crop, or little more than 100000
bushels This would not imply greatly increased
! demand for American grain, but the rye crop of
Russia is also 100000 quintals below an average,
the barley crop 100000 and the crops of oats and
beans also short though tho yield of potatoes is
full average. Somewhat more than the average
demand from Russia may therefore be expected
during the crop year if our spectators do not keep
prices high to leave the foreign markets to
| producers of Russia and other countries.
CorroN CONsUMPTIoN.-Ellison's report for Oc-
tober and November, received by cable, shows that
British spinners have taken in those months 2S4
million pounds, against 24S million last year, and
Continental spinners 204 million pounds against
1sS million last year. making total increase of 53
million pounds. But the weekly consumption In
manufacture has been only million pounds greater
or IS million for the nine weeks, that stocks have
accumulated 1t is interesting to note that in
England and In Europe, as well as IA this
country, depression in business is attributed
to excess in production, and yet the production
increases, and both goods and raw mate
rial accumulate In degree, evidently
the of depression in business extend the
whole Western world. Much the same phenomena
has been pushed beyond the demand on both sides
of the ocean,. Yet the excess in this country is by
some people thought to be due to our tariff
HEAVY TRAFFIC.-Durng its last fiscal year, end
ing September 80, the New-York Central trans
ported the equivalent of 109,795 passengers and
1862 tons of freight from here to Europe reckon
ing the distance 5000 miles. Ocean steamers start
ing every day in the year. and averaging about 900
tons of freight and 800 passengers for every trip
would hardly have done as much work in transpor-
taton rs this railroad. Yet its passenger traffic
little less than in the previous year, in the
aggregate, for loss of 3S,0l2 in the number of
through passengers was nearly made mp in mileage
travelled by the great increase in way passengers
The freight traffic 10i,0OOOOO tons one mile
less than that of the prcviuus year, about per
cent. Trains were run l6,8l0,000 miles-about 700
times around the world, or nearly two trains around
the world every day in the year.
BRITISH LABOR IMPROVING IN CoNDrIoy-Mr.
Gillen the wel-known statistcian, in a recent adj
dress marshallcd great array of facts to show that
the prosperity of the working classes IN England
has enormously increased within fifty years-that
wages have doubled while, speaking broadly, tho
purchasing power of money, except rs to
hOuse-rent, has not diminished and that
q scale of living now prevails which
is far above anything that the workmen of fifty
years ago could have hoped to attain to. The
mean duration of life Mr.. Giffen holds, has been
prolonged, the worlmen have greater facilities for
education, crime and paupersm have diminished,
and deposits in saving banks have increased. If
this is all true, is moved to ask what must have
been the condition of the British workmen fifty
years agO-in view of Mr.. POrtor's recent disclos-
to their present mode of lfe Hence it is not
surprising to find The London Ec0Romist suggest
ing doubts as to tho accuracy" ofMr Citizens state
mont "on certain essential points" 1t holds that
there has been Improvement, but challenges the
statistics as to increase of wages, partly because
children were included fifty years ago and are now
excluded and partly because the increase by Mr..
Giifen on account of dlmnution In hours of daily
work makes no account of the increased intensity
or severity of the work now demanded. AS to the
relative gains of labor and capital, The Economist
expresses surprise that Mr.. Ginen's figures have
been allowed to pass uuchallenged, and thinks his
whole address mot only inoonclusive, but In some
respects misleading" The fact is evident that the