The National tribune., 1883-04-05
OUR GROWING COUNTRY.
lis Industrial, Commercial, Railroad
and Agricultural Development.
FINANCE AND TRAD E.
Latest Reports from Leading
Business Centres.


A letter in the New York Tribune gives an in
teresting description of the enormous increase
in farms and population in Northern Texas.
Towns have been built and are becoming popu-
lous thriving places where twelve months ago
there was not a house in sight from Fort Worth
TO Wichita Falls. The latter named place,
which has only been in existence three months,
already has a population of $500 inhabitants,
two wholesale grocery stores, two banks, -four
ishing newspaper, &c, whilst Fort Worth has
two daily and three weekly papers, all well
supported. The stock men in this section OF
Texas are acquiring great wealth. Five years
ago "Cld Dan NaggOner made sale OF has
ranch and brand of cattle for 200 10 man
who afterward backed ont of his bargain.
"Old Dan " was about 20 sue 10 compel HIM TO
keep ii, but was dissuaded theretrom, and to
day he has good reason TO congratulate himself
that the sale was not effected as he is now OF
fered for the same ranch and brand S1,590000.
Fruit growing is also being successfully and
ronuneratiyeiy prosecuted. One fruit grower
near Denison cleared $4,000 last year on eighty
acres Of land, planted principally IN apples and
peaches. 1t has been demonstrated that the
climate and soil are finely adapted 10 fruit aud
grape culture. The TIibunes correspondent
has the fairness TO acknowledge that while the
prevailing political sentiment in Texas is con-
servatiFe democratic, strangers are welcomed
from all sections of the country without regard
10 politics or religion"
Special dispatches from the principal points
OF the entire winter wheat growing section are
not encouraging for an abundant harvest. 1t
is claimed that the severe and continuous cold
has been fatal TO this crop. Wheat has not been
favored with considerable snow. Large areas
where the snow was light have been winter
killed. A few localities which might have
escaped the winter have been injured by the
=. q IL L = !
ing. Good Judges estimate the crop at 20 per
cent Of last years, while Others think it viii
not exceed 80 per cent IN Illinois the pros
pect varies. The localities inspected had been
generally damaged by frost. In some sections
the injury was slight The loss is variously
estimated at from 10 TO so per cent. In Wis
consin a considerable portion of the crop has
been winter killed. Favorable weather is nee
essary 10 insure the remainder The returns
from Iowa, Kansas. and Missouri are more
favorable. especially those from Missouri. Re
ports from the Pacific coast are now very
encouraging. The fairest estimate gives the
total for the wheat belt al 20 per cent. of an
average crop.
Governor Bate signed the bin passed by the
Tennessee Legislature to regulate the action
of railroad companies and persons operating
railroads in the State, TO prevent discrimina-
ton by railroads, TO provide for the punish
mission" The bin exacts that the main track
OF "a railway shall be considered public high
way, that compensation eXacted for transpor-
tation shall be reasonable and not dIscrimina-
tive, that damages equal to ten times the
amount " extorted by railroads may be
awarded by juries in cognizance of the facts,
that rates shall be published and 70 rebates
shall be made; finally, that there shall be
three commissioners appointed by the governor
70 see the intent Of the Legislature as expressed
IN the bail carried into effect revising tariffs.
hearing complaints, examining railroad ac-
counts. making reports and the ike. Tennessee
Is the twenty-third State that has appointed
railroad commissions.
Messrs. Samuel Thomas. of PHILADELPHIA, E.
b. LeisenJing, of Mauch Chunk, and Daniel
Barge of Upper Lehigh all prominent iron
masters Of Pennsylvania, were among those
present at the Pratt coal mines. near Birming-
ham, Ala few days ago. when the slope and
shaft Joined issue, by which additional out
put OF 300 tons day was secured. They an
nOanced their intention to build three coke
furnaces on Village Greek, two miles from Bir-
ninghaln, and 10 supply these furnaces would
open a new coal mine on Five Mile Greek. near
the Miner Railroad. The sites for these fur
naees have been selected, and they win be
erected al an early day.
At meeting Of stockholders Of the Phila-
that city last week the committee appointed to
consider the question Of winding up the affairs
OF the c3lnpany reported in favor of an imme-
diate dissolution. The committee saw in their
report that it seemed altogether improbable
that Congress would ever make the appropria-
ton Of Sl-500 600 asked for IS a contribution of
the Government towards the expense of the
centennial e-Salsli0a, and that tie permanent
company wouid therefore realize nothing from
the shares Of the Centennial Company which
hal been transferred TO il. The report OF the
committee was adopted
The Illinois Supreme Court has sustained
the Chicago Board Of Trade III compelling the
shorts in the july wheat corner" to settle
at l.35. The losing operators claimed that the
price had been forced up by Clique. and re-
fused q pay. The arbitration committee of the
board decided against them, and then the mat
Ter VAS csr.lca into court and an Injunction
was appiied lor TO prevent the Board OF Trade
from attempting 70 discipline The defaulfing
members. The decision OF the Supreme Court
atlilIns the power Of the Board Of Trade to en-
force its rules.
IT is runored that the Philadelphia and
Heading Railroad Company are contemplating
the construction OF new depot at Ninth and
Arch streets, Philadelphia with an elevated
r2iifosd connection up Ninth street to the out
skirts OF the city Ii is said THAT this IS a
the Reading aad TIE New Jersey Central
roaas. This plan. if carried ort will bring
the Reading and the Bound Brook trains into
the heart Of the city.
The telephone companies managed In Low
ell. Mass, have declared quarterly dividends.
payable On April =, 10 stockholders Of record
on April J. as follows: National Bell Telephone
Company. OF Maine, on new stock. Il per cent;
Boston and Northern, per cent; Bay State.
= peT cent, increase Z per cent; Suburban, .
Per cent, increase per cent; Union IL per
cent The Granite State Company of Man
chester, y. H., VIII declare a dividend Of II per
cant
The bill passed by the Tennessee Legislature
fOr tc settlement Of the debt Of the old city OF
ldeiaphis, according to the terms recently sub.
united 10 and accepted by the creditors, has
been approved by the governor. The present
city government VIII Immediately proceed {.
fund the debt. Under tie provisions Of ths
biz the lTst interest fails due Jaly !. 1883 Al
ample tax las been levied and the interest vii
he promptly paid.
biz has passed The Eouse IN the Obi,
Legislature which seeks partition Of tie road
owned jointly By the Baltimore and Ohio aat
Pan Handle, of inc Pennsylvania system. be
tween Columbus aud Newark. Ii has vet 1.
conc up in the senate. On the 2sth ult J. |
Brooks, general counsel for the Pennsr IVania
argued before the committee for the biz. az,
Let. % faals "a ~