National Republican., 1883-04-11
THE MAN on rnr AVENUE.
small Talk About men and Measures.

The long-expeoted report of the bureau of
agriculture about the condition of the winter
wheat crop april y was issued yesterday.
Statistician Dodge bases his conclusions on
the reports of observers from fifteen hundred
counties He says
In Michigan and other northern territory
wheat was still covered with snow. In the
Ohio valley winter protection had been par
tial for term locally varying from three to
ten weeks, after which loss from freezing was
quite general. The average depreciation is
greater In the upper part of the Ohio valley
and in Kansas than elsewhere East Of the
Alleghanies the condition is good in tho
northern belt, declining slightly in lower
latitudes. 1t is not up to the average in any
part of the south.
The average for the crop is 80. Last April
1t was 104; in 1881, s5. The most observing
reporters have examined the roots, and in
many cases found them healthy while the
| plants are brown. There is good reason for
| believing that the real condition of wheat is
therefore less unpromising than 1t seems.
The averages of condition in the states of
large production are: New York. 4O1 Penn
sylvania, 95 Ohio, 20; Kentucky, 30; Indi-
SO; Kansas, 20; California, 81. The average
of winter wheat varies little from last years
breadth. The returns indicate an increase of
one per cent. Illinois returns two per cent
increase Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Mis-
souri, one per cent decrease California, ten
per cent. increase, and slight decrease appears
in tho Gulf states.
" The returns of the quantity Of seed used
per acre indicate a tendency to thin seeding
Ten years ago about six pecks per acre were
used now less than five and half are used
in the winter wheat region. Tho increasing
use Of the drill admits of this economy. The
acreage of winter rye is 80 per cent. of last
years breadth. Average condition, o."
a@@
The statistican makes the following non
committal observations about the condition of
spring wheat:
I" Returns from the spring wheat regions
show that seeding was in progress on the first
of April, but nowhere finished In Dakota It
was scarcely commencing, the ground being
covered with snow on large areas. The de-
partment will not therefore attempt to antic-
ipate the probable result of the spring wheat
crop"
From outside sources IL is learned how
ever, that tho acreage of spring wheat will
be less than last season. The department Is
getting up statement of estimated losses of
wild cattle on the far western ranges, and il
is limited that the estimate will be between
5 and 8 per cent Two years ago the actual
loss was not less than 121 per cent, but in the
official and accepted estimates it was placed
| oh i.
beef made up the loss and more and observers
say tho same result will follow this year.
Observers sometimes hit 1t, but not often.
e"&
Let mo caution you to remember one
thing" said Hoosier statesman last evening
addressing himself to tho world in general
and no person in particular "and that u.s.
that Indiana is chills and fever state.
When you hear about republican rows in
Indiana, you may console yourself by
the assurance that tomorrow it will be diff
ferent. The politics of that state, like the
people, are subject to chills and fever. One
day everything goes wrong, and there is
general kick all along the line. The next
day the political pulse is regular, and there is
no complaint. The sick days in Indiana re
publican politics are becoming fewer and
further between. There is no sickness now."
s~@
Postmaster General Gresham arrived in
Washington last evening. He was met at the
depot by Gen. Foster, minister to Spain, and
committee from the Indiana republican as
sociation of this city. Gen. Gresham was
taken at once to Minister Fosters residence,
which he will mako his homo for few days.
He will enter upon the duties of his office at
once. His Indiana friends are preparing to
give him reception at an early date.
~
Resuming his talk, the Colorado ex.Indian
trader, who was interrupted for day in his
"experience recitals, went on to say:
"When you come to know them the Indians
are really afiectionate. They are as trusty as
an old aud tried friend. Many and many
time have left them in charge of my store,
and they never stole a nickel's worth from me.
Long before the day arrived for the pay
ment of annuities every Indian in the
agency knew the prices of every article
in my establishment better than
did myself They would come in, stand
around, point to one thing after another, and
ask how muchT OF course, they would find
out Now what do you suppose the untutored
savage would find when they got their money
from tho government? You couldn't guess
in twenty years. They wanted axes. had
big stock of axes, and it kept all my clerks
busy opening boxes, distributing them, and
making change.
"What did you get for an AK" asked.
ooh, didn't make anything on them. l
sold them at about cost; only got S. for an
AK and handle.
"Then they cleaned me out of -four, going
clear to the bottom of the stock before they
tackled another line of goods, and stripping
me Of every pound. They went through my
whole outfit the same way. They never had
to ask question, and scarcely word was
said, 1t was the stillest trading ever saw.
at was sight worth witnessing to see the
distribution of annuities. Old bucks with
their squaws and children would assemble in
front Of the agents tent and spread blanket
on the ground. The cashier would count out
the money due each and throw the new silver
dollars and half dollars on the blanket One
old chief, lgnatius, believe, was his name,
monster of a man, held his blanket in his
hands. Handful after handful of silver was
thrown into IL. The blanket sagged lower
| and loNvar oud Rua1Ixy ha cnu1d hoId a. 80