The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-07-17
WASHINGTON NEWS.
THE JUNE CROP REPORT.

49, ~H~~N~---~~-'
which will advance the general average be
tween two and three points, or from 81 to
nearly IS. A very slight decline is repor-
ted in Connecticut, New Y ork, Pennsyl-
.ania, and in some of the southern states.
In Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri
there has been an Improvement as well as
in California and Oregon. The winter
wheat region, which does not include the
territories, now promises about 250, 600, 900
bushels.
The condition of spring wheat continues
higher, though the average has been reduced
slightly, the average being nearly SO. The
indications now point TO a crop of about
l4S, 600, 900 bushels for Wisconsin, Mime
sofa, Nebraska, Dakota and all the other
territories and northern New England.
This makes an aggregate OF 1868, 600, 600
bushels
| THE CORN CROP.
! The immense corn area of last year has
apparently been increased about 6 per cent
or at least 4, 900, 900 acres, making an aggre-
SdUc VI It,OOO,OUO dCESS lie ldIScSb Ill
crease is in the Missouri valley. The con-
dition of corn is higher than in any year
since 1880 except the last. 1t averages "a
against SO in 1884. 1t is higher in the
south and higher ON the Atlantic coast
than in the west The Kansas average is
SO, that of Michigan and Missouri 81, Wis
consin. IS. Illinois 80, Indiana 92, Minnesota
SO, Ohio and Nebraska 81.
THE OREGON CENTRAL GRANT.
i WASHINGTON, July lO.-The commiss-
ioner of the general land Office with the ap-
proval of the secretary of the interior, has
expressed an opinio:, that congress intended
to reserve from forfeiture lands within the
granted limits along the whole constructed
portions of the Oregon Central railway and
telegraph line from Portland to Astoria, in
Oregon, irrespective of whether they were
portions of the road" or not.
/ THE PosToFFIcE DEFICIT
WASHINGTON, July l4-The deficit in
the post office department for the quarter
ended March 2l is 81, ,G66,O0O During the
corresponding time last year The deficit was
1886, 900: Thus the deficit for the March
quarter of the present year is $3.50, 900 in
excess of the deficit during the correspond
ing quarter of 1884 Financial officers of
the department had estimated that the def
cheney at the end of the present fiscal year
would be between $4, 600, 600 and S., 600, 600
bnt they are now of the opinion that the
deficit will aggregate about 5000, ZOO. The
reduction in revenue and increase of sxpen-
ditures is attributed to the business depress-
ion, which is quickly felt in the postofice
department.
x THE PURCHASE OF SILVER.
WASHINGTON, July IA change has
been made in the manner of purchasing
silver by the treasury department for cein-
: age into standard dollars. Offers for sale of
silver for this purpose hereafter will be
made to the treasurer, instead of the direc-
tor of the mint, and purchases be made
Tuesday and Friday of each week, instead
of w ednesday. The change is stated to be
for the purpose of allowing the director to
) give his undivided attention to the business
of the mint.
| AGAINST LAND GRANT ROADS,
u WASHINGTON, July l3.-Land Commiss-
!, ioner Sparks has rendered decision affirm
ing the right Of entry under the public land
law, and decisions OF the supreme court of
the United States, of lands heretofore with
drawn by the voluntary action of the gen
eral land office for railroad indemnity pur-
poses where no requirement Of law existed
for making such Withdrawals. The effect
of this decision, if sustained by the secre-
tary of the interior, will be to restore entry
, under the homestead and other laws many
million acres of public land which have been
q kept out of the market for many years be-
cause claimed by railroad corporations. In
the course of the decision. which is quite
lengthy, the commissioner cites from lead
cludes as follows:
Following these decisions, by the author
. ity of which am governed, / must hold
that a withdrawal of land by the conmiss
ioner of the general land office, when with
drawals from settlement entry or other ap
:, preparation are not required by law, is effec
=. tive ouly as information in defining tn,
:, limits within which indemnity selection
;. may be made in proper time and manner
but it Is not operative as prohibit of set
Element and entries within such limits
under the public land act laws prior to til
g time when lawful selection by the railroa,
II company has actually been made.
y This decision was brought out by an in
1t quiry from the receiver at the land Office a
Sc Walla Walla, Washington territory, as t
'f whether ornot the Northern Pacific raj
= road company is entitled to the land regu
4 larly settled upon by one Miller, but whic
OF was, by change in the line of the abov
,. mentioned road, brought within its idem
e. nifty limits.