New-York tribune., 1883-12-10
INDUSTRI4L AND 9TH Err NOTES.

GOOD CROPS IN KANsAs.-Reports are published
in regard to the condition of crops in Kansas and
parts of the adjoining States which are incompara-
| bly, more favorable than those recently prepared
| for consumption in the wheat and corn pits at
Chicago. 1t is said that the present condition and
prospects of winter wheat have never before been
equaled, and that the yield of corn appears to
equal that of last year in quantity though in many
cases below the average in quality. Either the
good farmers of that region are more virtuous than
the Chicago Dealers they have less corn on hand
for sale.
MORE Iron WORKS PaoPosED.-It seems a little
surprising to hear The Iron Age recommend that
this is good time to build more furnaces, rolling
mills and steel works because these works can now
be built cheaply. The Bulletin replies: "As
have now too many furnaces, rolling mills and
steel works, our opinion is that this is not good
time to build any more" But both authorities
are partly right. If a man has location at which,
with works built at low COST he can command
sure and profitable business though selling his
product at the lowest rate, it would seem to be
good time for him to build, though perhaps not
good time for others to have him build. The works
that turn out the cheapest products can live in
the worst of times, and when the inevitable revival
of this industry they reap their full share
of the harvest.
WET WEATHER AND MAHOGANY.-At irst blush,
it wond hardly seem possible that dry season in
South America should ruin lumber dealer in Bos-
ton. But the dealer in mahogany and other hard
woods, who had bought a great number of logs in
South America waited long time in vain for a wet
spell to float them out, and finally obliged to
make an assignment for the benefit Of creditors.
Not many would stop to think, when seeing hand
piece of furniture, that its beauty could have
aonIv hvf aid of n.dr fol in
Honduras.
HIGH LICENsEs.-The experiment made by the
people of Plain6ed n. j., works SO well that there
is now no opposition to the continuance Of tho
charge of $500 each for saloons and shops, and
$500 for hotels, and yet it is stated that the ordi
nance has been strictly enforced. Some people are
now in favor of still higher charges. similar
tax if paid by all the retail lquor-seers in that
State would yield enough to pay more than the en-
tire expenses of the State Government. In New
York, if all the people now in the business should
pay the same license fee that is paid without
murmur in Plainfed, the revenue would about
equal the entire revenue of State and county gov
emments throughout the State, or would pay the
entire charges of all the public schools and about
81 OOO OOOOve The point is that the number of
tail dealers would be diminished by such charges
that those who remain in business would make
more money. But the public would get a hand
some revenue.
How AMERICANS WRITE-Tfere are about
5l0O0,000 of us, and the number Of stamps,
stamped envelopes aud postal cards sold to the pub
lie last year was 1851 $3.50 $780, only 34l2 to each
person. That seems a small allowance, but the
babies must be counted out, and even then we have
only about letter or postal card in five days fOr
the people of the writing age. When 1t is consid-
cred what vast number of letters, circulars and
postal cards sent by comparatively small num-
Der of business men, it will appear that large pro-
portion of the population still makes use of the
postal facilities.
RIVER MPRovEMENT.-It is pleasant to get dis
interested testimony that one important work OF
this description has been of great practical value.
Statements are published by captains and pilots
on the Mississippi River which go TO show
that the commission having that work in
charge has made 1t very successful and useful.
During the low water season this year, when tho
river was unusually low, boats drawing twelve
feet passed without difficulty up and down points
of the river where 1t would formerly have been inn
possible TO pass drawing five feet. The value Of
this work to the farmers and manufacturers of the
Mississippi Valley can hardly be estimated. IL
even half of the money voted for river and harbOr
improvements had been as usefully expended as tho
appropriation for this work appears to have been,
there would be a very different feeling about river
and harbor bills. But Uncle Sam, though gener-
GUS man, does not like to be defrauded of two dol
lars in order to got one dollar wisely spent.