The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-07-10

| inaururatng certain reforms with the be
ginning of the next session. The report
will recommend the consolidation of the
document rooms under the doorkeeper and
clerk, and will point out some minor posi-
lions which are unnecessary.
The California delegation In congress
called on President Cleveland on Thursday
and extended 10 him an invitation to attend
the National Encampment OF the Grand
Army of the Republic at San Francisco In
August. The invitation was engraved on
plate of gold, and the presentation speech
was made by Senator Stanford. The Presi.
dent accepted the "invitation," but stated
that he would be unable to attend the ca,
campment.
Reports have been received on the con,
dition of the crops from every important
wheat growing county In Minnesota and Da-
kota, and about one hundred counties In
Iowa, Wisconsin and Nebraska. These re-
ports show the crop to be In much worse
condition than on June /. The dry weather
in May, which became quite severe
drouth in June, had more serious effect on
small grain than was at first supposed, and
the injury caused then Is just now becom-
ing painfully apparent There has been
very little rain since the first week In June,
and no general rain since seeding time.
The sections not affected by the drought are
the Red River Valley from Waupeton to
Grand Forks and the Northern Pacific
country from Brainerd to Bismarck, In
Minnesota, and Dakota. South OF the
forty.sixth parallel the weather has been
very dry, the drought being the severestin
the extreme southern counties OF Min
nesota and DokOta, extending well down,
into northern Iowa During stooling pc
Rod in May the weather was very dry, and
the result is that the crop Is thin on the
ground and short in straw. The intensely
hot weather of the past ten days had added
materially 10 the injury, as the ground was
in no condition TO withstand any serious
drought. The probable yield will be puch
short of that of 1885 only six counties in
Minnesota report no damage from any
cause while every other county reports from
10 to 50 per cent ircm various causes, but
mostly from drought. In Dakota, where
at this time last year the crop was In ex
cellent condition every way, reports at this
time show that drought has effected Sc.
rious injury in extreme southern and
northern PORTIONS VI tut tcIlllOIy' IicNch
counties in Dakota report no damage from
any other cause, while all others report 40
per cent from drought, hail and wet
weather. In the upper portion of the Red
River Valley, early in the season, corn
promised very large yield In all portions
of the Northwest. In Southern Minnesota
and Dakota the outlook Is the most pros
porous for years. In Minnesota the oat
yield will be about half that of last year.
The seems TO be but little doubt OF Glad
stones defeat in the English elections now
In progress. Already the anti-home rule
people have made great gains and In the
returns thus far reported they have maj
ority of seventy. The PRIMER however is
confident that the Scottish district will aid
him. AS yet nothing has occurred 10 show
any weakness of scots loyalties to him.
From the Midlothian district he was re-
turned by an unprecedented majority apd
he was also returned as member from
Leith He will decline the latter election
a. will ha colIad I