The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-06-14
OUR GROWING COUNTRY.
Its Industrial. Commercial. Railroad,
and Agricultural Development.
FINANCE AND TRA AIDE.
Latest Reports from Leading
Business Centres.
FINANCE AND RADE.

A meeting Of the Florida Sbip-Canal and
Transit Company was held in New York, on
the 81 inst. and presided over by Hon. John
c. Brown, Of Tennessee. Highly encouraging
reports were made by the various committees
nnd the feeling of confidence in the success OF
the enterprise was very marked. General
Charles p. Stone, chief engineer, was present.
He stated that he had examined fully into the
reports of previous engineers, and entertained
no c0abt of the feasibility of constructing a
t5dcwater ship-canal across the Peninsula OF
Florida. lie also stated that his assistant en-
gineer, A. i. Hill, is already on the ground in
Florida, and that the actual work of survey
will begin Immediately. The survey viii be
completed in about six weeks, and soon as
the exact route of the canal is determined
upon, contracts VIII be LET and the work VIII
be pushed with all possible vigor. 1t is thought
the work VIII begin by September next. GEN
erai Stone has had large experience in Egypt
in connection with the Suez Canal. Leading
capitalists in this country and England are
eager TO furnish the funds required for the
construction ef the canal. 1t is well under
stood here that the canal viii have the backing
aud friendly cooperation Of the great Texas
and Arkansas system of roads, with connections
ramifying throughout the Southwest and eX-
tending to the Pacific. General Stone expects
to be in Florida in two weeks.
The report of the Department of agriculture
shows an increase IN the cotton area this year
slightly exceeeing three per cent The total
breadth is l6,7S90 900 acres, or 50i 600 more than
ia iS52. All retarns make the season late, but
more favorable weather begins 10 brighten the
outlook. There is a fair stand, medium vitality
anG unusually clean culture. The average con-
dition is represented by eighty-six against
eighty mine in June, 1852, which was lower for
several previous years Though improving con-
stantiy afterwards The condition of winter
wheat is reported lower than in May, with few
exceptions. The average condition is seventy
five against eighty three IN May, 1852. The
spring wheat area has been increased about
5e9se0o acres, nearly five per cent. The total
acreage is nearly 100000. The condition of
spring wheat is everywhere high, average
nlnety-eight, the same as last year. The area
OF barley is five per cent, greater and condition
nincty-seven. Dat area four per cent greater
and condition ninety-six.
The annual meeting OF stockholders of the
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Com
pany WAS held on the 9th inst. at Chicago. A
q. Dulman. Benjamin Brewster, T. p Flower
and George q. Wright were reelected direct
0ls. Hugh Riddle declined reelection as presi-
dent, and r. r. Cable was chosen to succeed
him David Dows and A. Kimball were elected
v1ce-presidents. The annual report shows the
net revenue for the fiscal year TO be S., $50 600,
Contracts for huge apartment houses continue
10 be given out in New York. The latest is
for one at st. Nicholas and Eighth avenues to
contain eight suites of rooms, the style that
Of the German Renaissance. and the cost about
<e00,000. Another important contract, in
volving probable outlay of S250,000 or there
ab0uts is elegant mansion on Fifth avenue
between Sixty-sixth and Sixty-seveath streets,
FOR Mr.. Sidney Dillon, president of the Union
Pacific Railroad
A dispatch from Dallas Texas, says the cattle
drive Sc far this season exceeds all expectations
Over 10000 head of cattle have already passed
eyer the trail that leads through Albany and
this docs not iHclude more than half the num-
Der that viii be driven from the State
The Uxbridge Wooden Company, at Uxhridge
Mass, is about 10 shut down its mills indefi-
nitely. Hinsdale Brothers, who employ be-
tween 400 and 500 hands in two mills, viii run
only three days week.
A cal viii be issued requesting every county
tn North Dakota TO send delegates to the Huron
convention, SO as 10 unite with South Dakota
IN an effort TO secure a State constitutional
There is great excitement in real estate cir
eles al Bismarck, OAK, owing TO the location
of the capital there. Chicago and Eastern CAPT.
f2lists are heavy buyers.
Reports received from townships near Read
1ng. Pa, indicate that the wheat crop will fall
ons-third short because of the raYages Of the
Hessian fly.
The Texas Wool Growers Convention re-
Gently passed resolutions condemning the doc
frlne OF tariff for revenue only.