The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-06-19
WASHINGTON PICK.UPS.

Inc SOtNou SEoP-UchCEhA SNdAui-A -
Inter-OceaR Canal-Dynamlte Outrages-
Post-Office Appropriations.
WASHINGTON, June 12.-Return of cot
ton planting made to the Department of
Agriculture indicates that the tendency to
an increase of area was checked somewhat
in the Southwest by rain and in Tennessee
by low temperature in the planting season.
Replanting was still in progress to some
extent on the Is: of June, even in the lower
ATTITUDES. The apparent increase is about
per cent. 1t would have been larger with
better planting season. A comparison of
area with previous crop is as follows: Vir-
ginia, So; North Carolina, 101; South Caro-
lima, 1906; Georgia, 10S; Florida, 1914; Ala
bama, los; Mississippi. los; Louisiana, 80;
Texas, los; Arkansas, 106; Tennessee, 101;
Missouri, so. The temperature in April
was lower than the average throughout the
cotton States. The rainfall was deficient
on the Atlantic Coast and slightly less than
normal in the Gulf States, but rains were
excessive in May throughout the Southwest,
causing overfiows of the rivers, injuring
stands everywhere, and causing a large
amount of replanting. The latter part of
May was warm and clear on . considerable
growth and affording an opportunity for
thorough wedding and clean cultivation. In
the West, the fields are grassy and 'chopping
OUT is not yet finished. The season is one
to two weeks late, and plants are generally
thrifty and vigorous. The main cause of
re relatively low condition is want of size,
which q few weeks of fine weather may
remedy, yet continuance of bad weather
would now be disastrous. Beyond the Mis-
SisSippi the general average condition is 81,
against IS in June last year, and 50 in 1882
The figures by States are: Virginia, 80;
North Carolina, 95; South Carolina, 81;
Georgia, Sc; Florida, 90; Alabama, 90, Mis-
sissippi, 81; Louisiana, -; Texas, II; Ar
kansas, IS; Tennessee, 81; Mississippi 80.
The increase in area of spring wheat ap-
pears to be nearly 100000 acres, or 9 per
cent. No part of the Pacific coast area is
Included as spring wheat. The largest in
crease is in Dakota, amounting to about 400,
600 acres. The condition of spring wheat
averages 101 per cent, being up to the
standard in nearly every district. TIE con-
dtion of winter wheat continues high; aver
age SO against "a month ago. 1t was IS in
June last year and 90 in 1882. Since the last
report the Illinois average has declined IL
points, Ohio 3 and Kentucky 8. Indiana,
Michigan and some other States show a
higher condition. The averages of cOndi-
ton in the principal States are: New
York, IS; PENNSYLVANIA. 100; Maryland, SO;
Georgia IS; Texas, 9S; Kentucky, 90; Ohio,
50; Michigan, 81; Indiana, 81; Illinois, &c; ;
Missouri, 90. The increase in area of oats
is four per cent; average condition, 90. 1t
was 90 last year, and 101 i'll June, 1882.
The averages are the highest, as is usually
the case in States north of the 3Oth parallel,
coming up to the standard in all the West
en States. The general average of rye adj
vanced from 90 to 81. In barley the aver
age has fallen from 101 in May to 9S. 1t
was 81 last June and 81 in June, 1882. 1t
is 81 in New York, 90 in Pennsylvania. 1O1
in Wisconsin, 100 in Minnesota, 81 in Iowa,
100 in Nebraska and 9S in California These
States usually produce fOur-tifths of the crop.
GENERAL SWAIN.
The record in the Court of Inquiry in the
case of General Swain, Judge Advocate
General of the Army, reports the facts as
developed by the evidence, and concludes as
follows: The court is of the opinion that
while it is not prepared to say that any
specific act developed by the evidence is
actually fraudulent, yet the evidence does
show a series of transactions diScredita-
BILE to any officer of the army, and which
especially demands the severest cOndemna-
ton, when engaged i'll by officers holding
high position, and peculiar relations to adj
miniStratiOn of justice in the army, held by
Brigadier-General Swain. Tie Secretary
of War laid the report before the President,
and it was decided to order a court martial
for General Swain. The details for the
court will he made in few days.
THE DYNAMITE OUTRAGES.
A cable dispatch received from London
states that in the British Commons the I'M
der Foreign Secretary stated that repreSen-
tatiOns touching the duty of friendly powers
in regard to dynamiterS had been addressed
to this Government, but 10 reply had been
received. This dispatch was shown Secre-
tary Frelinghuysen, and he said it seemed to
refer to representations made by the Gov
eminent touching recent OutrageS, but that
the State Department had not received any
thing CD the subject from the British Gov
eminent since the commission of the recent
dynamite outrage.
TIE INTER-OCEAN CANAL.
The sum required by Secretary Fr9lins
huysen to buy for the Government certain
rights which it is understood the Nicara-
guam Government has conceded, for the
construction of an inter-Ocean canal is
$3.50 coo not $780, 900 as heretofore reported.
1t is embodied in a paragraph in the Consul
lar and Diplomatic bill attached TO it by the
Committee on Appropriations 1t was this
paragraph which was under discussion in
the secret session of the Senate. No action
was taken.
THE PoST-OFFICE APPROPRIATION.
The conference on the PoSt-Of1ice Appro-
priatiOn bill resulted in a disagreement upon
the proposition regulating the compensation
to railroads and those relating to letters and
postal clerks. Remaining differences were
adjusted. The House cOnfereeS acceded to
The Senate amendments in all the more i'm
pOrtant features.