Full text of The Merchants' Magazine and Commercial Review : May 1859, Vol. XL, No. V

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H U N T ’S

MERCHANTS’ MAGAZINE.
E s ta b lis h e d J u ly * 1 8 3 0 , b y F reem a n H u n t.

VOLUM E XL.

M AY,

CONTENTS

1859.

NUM BER Y .

OF NO. V. , V O L . X L .
ARTICLES.

A rt.

page

I. FREE TR AD E AND PROTECTION: OR, A P A R TIA L R E V IE W OF MR. CAR E Y’S
LETTERS TO THE PRESIDENT. By R i c h a r d S u l l e y , Esq., o f Fort Wayne, Ind. 531
II. COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CITIES OF THE UNITED STATES. No. l x i v .
OSWEGO, N EW YORK. Origin of Oswego—Population—Effect o f 1S36—Incorpora­
tion of City—Oswego Canal—Its Connections—Trade of—Tonnage of—Railroads Con­
necting—Characteristics—Communications—Lake Trade and Tonnage—Foreign Tonnage
—Coastwise Tonnage—Number of Vessels—Leading Articles of Import—General Lake
Trade—Grain—Ontario Trade—Receipts at Oswego—Origin o f the Grain—Milling Fa­
cilities—Oswego River—Its Characteristics—Quantity o f Water—Available Fall—HorsePower—Number of Stores—Mills, Capacity ot—Flour Received by Lal»e—Manufactured
—Shippers—Elevators—Salt Trade—Coal, Supplies of—Water mme—Quantity Sold—
Plaster—Lumber—Climate—Health—Prospects..................................................................... 542
III.

T R AD E AND COMMERCE OF FRANCE. M. Vattemere—International Exchanges—
French Official Report—Events of the Last Decade—Effects upon Commerce—Official
Values—Increase in General Trade—Comparison, General and Special—Imports and
Exports—Merchandise and Specie—Increase o f the Trade in the Metals—Change in
Ratio of “ Actual” to “ Official” —Prices—Rise in Values—Silk Cocoons—Sugar and
Coffee —Commerce by Sea and by Land—Proportion of Native Flag—Reserved Com­
m erce-R elative Importance of the Trade o f Different Countries—Trade with England,
United States—Table of Imports and Exports by Countries—Raw Materials Imported—
Rise of Values—Leading Exports for Three Ijecades—Ratio of Actual to Official Value
—Increase in Exports of Goods—Trade in Grain—Table for Thirty Years—Excess of
Imports — Refined Sugar — Drawbacks—Warehousing—Transit Trade—Customs—Salt
D u ty-Su gar T ax—Consumption of Sugar—Beet-Root Duty—Specie Movement—Ton­
nage-N um ber of French Vessels.............................................................................................. 552

IV . TH E ACQUISITION OF C U B A : ARE THE UNITED STATES JU STIFIED IN DEM ANDING THE IM MEDIATE SURRENDER OF CUBA?
By E l ia s H asket
D e r b y , Esq., o f Massachusetts................................................................................................... 562
V. CONSIDERATIONS ON VALU E A N D TH E PRECIOUS METALS. B y H e k k y C.
B a i r d , Esq., of Philadelphia..................................................................................................... 570
VI. U SU R Y: ITS MEANING AND DEFIN ITIO N . By W i l l i a m B r o w x , Esq., o f Cote des
Neiges, Canada................................................................................................................................ 573

J O U R N A L OF M E R C A N T I L E

L AW.

Damaged Wheat—Coal Oil.....................................................................................................................
In Admiralty.—Undervaluation of Sugar................................................................ .............................
Collision—Practice.—Exceptions to Interrogatories.........................................................................
Collision at Wharf—Boisterous Weather.—Decision in Admiralty—Slave Trade—Seizure.........

577
578
579
580

C O M M E R C I A L C H R O N I C L E A ND R E V I E W .
Improvement in Trade—Natural Productions—N o Enterprises—Abundance o f Food—Ton­
nage Built—Value of—Diminished Construction—Low Freights—No Building—Food Buy­
ers—Floating Capital Increasing—Conversion into Fixed—Accumulation of Means—Specie
in France and Great Britain—Rate o f Interest—Crops—Goods Shipped to United States—
Diminished Exports of Breadstuffs—Government Revenues— North Carolina Loan—No
Employment for M oney—Bank Dividends—Rate of Interest—Price o f Bills—Specie Ex­
ports—Destination of—Assay-Office—Philadelphia Mint—Foreign News—Imports—Goods in
Bond—Goods Consumed—Exports—Southern Crops—Cotton—Sugar—Value Exported—Ef­
fects upon Exchanges—Crops and Prices—War Influences..................................................... 581-588
V OL. XL.---- NO. V .
34




530

CON TEN TS

OF

N O . V ., V O L . X L .
PAGE

J O U R N A L OF B A N K I N G ,

CURRENCY,

A ND F I N A N C E .

New York <ity Debt.—Michigan Taxable P rop erty......................................................... ...............
Banks of the United States, according to Returns dated nearest to January 1,1859....................
City Weekly Bank Returns— Banks of New York, Boston, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Pitts­
burg, St. Louis, Providence................................................................................................................
Valuation of Hartford, Connecticut.......................................................................................................
Valuation of Baltimore.—Valuation of Louisiana.—Boston BankaDividends...............................
Joint-Stock Companies o f Massachusetts.—Turkish Paper M o n e " ................................................
Public Funded Debt o f France.—Condition of the State Bank o f Iowa........................................
British Property Tax and Income Tax.................................................................................................
Import and Export o f the Precious Metals at London......................................................................

STATISTICS

OF T R A D E

A ND

589
590
591
592
593
595
596
597
598

COMMERCE.

Grain received at Buffalo in two years.—Iron exported from Stockholm...................................... 599
The Lake Trade........................................................................................................................................ 600
Exports and Imports of Baltimore.—Lumber Trade o f St. John’s, New Brunswick.................... 601
Sugar exported from Cuba.—Cod Fisheries.—Trade of Denmark for 1857.................................... 602
Import of Iron and Steel into the United States.—Commerce of the Sandwich Islands.............603
Trade of Holland.—Receipts of Coal at Baltimore.—Exports of Bahia.—Lumber on the Alleghany 604
Trade of Sweden.—Exports from Porto Rico.—Shipments of Oil and Bone from Sandwich Islands 605

COMMERCIAL

REGULATIONS.

Mineral Oil.—Lithographs Printed in Colors........................................................................................
Castor Seed.—Mustard Seed.—Protest and Appeal, under fifth section of the Tariff A ct o f 1S57
Percussion Caps.—Commissions.—Paintings on Glass........................................................................
Unfinished Pearl Knife Handles.—Bills of Exchange........................................................................

NAUTICAL

60C
607
608
609

INTELLIGENCE.

Pilot A ct of New Orleans....................................................................................................................... 610
Self-Reefing Sails.—Teredo or Ship W orm.......................................................................................... 611
The Navigation of the Black Sea.......................................................................................................... 612

JOURNAL

OF I N S U R A N C E .

Philadelphia Fire and Marine Insurance Companies........................................................................ 613
Taxes paid by Insurance Comj>anies of Cincinnati........................................................................... 613
Board of Lake U nderwriters.......
........................................................... ................................... 614

POSTAL

DEPARTMENT.

Foreign Postages...................................................................................................................................... 615
Canadian Post-office.—United States Post-office.—Postage to Denm ark....................................... 616

RAILROAD,

CANAL, AND S T E A M B O A T S T A T I S T I C S .

Canals of New Y o r k ...............................................................................................................................
Massachusetts Railroad D ividen ds.......................................................................................................
Railroads in South Carolina.—Ohio Canals.—Operation of the Massachusetts Railways.............
Virginia and Tennessee Railroad...........................................................................................................
Erie and Champlain Canal Deliveries at New York for 1858...........................................................
Flour on the New York Canals............................................................................................................
Western Railroads.—Steamboat Accidents..........................................................................................

JOURNAL

OF M I N I N G ,

MANUFACTURES,

AND

ART.

Coal in the United States.......................................................................................................................
Manufacture of Carpets.—Texas State Cotton Factory......................................................................
Enameled Cloth.—An Invention for Spinning Cotton without Ginning........................................
Shaddy Cloth.—Ohio Distilleries and Drinking Houses ..................................................................
Manufactures of Switzerland.—Cotton Factories in the United Kingdom.....................................
Minerals and Metals Produced in the United Kingdom....................................................................
Bay State Mills.— Manufactures in Dublin..........................................................................................
Cotton Consumption of Europe.—The Bleaching of W ax................................................................
Manufacture of Combs.—Mines of M exico..........................................................................................

STATISTICS

OF

AGRICULTURE,

OF

POPULATION,

MISCELLANIES.

Commercial Morality..........................................................................................................
India Rubber.............................................................................................................................................
Silver in Sea-water.—Discharge of Small Debts.................................................................................
A New Hydro-carbon.—The Chronometer Compass................................
Improvement in Starch Gum and Grape Sugar Manufacture.—The Fuggers o f A usbury.........
Wealth of a Boston Merchant.—Character better than Credit.—Tax on Merchandise.................
Acceptance of Bills of Exchange.—Wisconsin Exchanging with China.—Sugar..........................
W ine Treasures of Bremen.—Punch as a Digger .............................................................................
Habits of Business.................................................................................................................................
Quicksilver.—The Spring....................................................................

THE

633
634
636
637
638

&c.

Growth of New York City.....................................................................................................................
Mortality of New York City and County, 1855...................................................................................
Growth of London.............
Buildings in Sacramento.—Population of M exico...............................................................................
Population of Chili by Provinces, 1854.—Population o f Detroit.....................................................

MERCANTILE

625
<26
627
628
629
629
630
631
632

&c.

B utter?..............................................•.......................................................................................................
Ohio Agriculture ....................................................................................................................................
The North China Sugar Cane, and the South African Im phee.........................................................
African Cotton. -Z a n te Currants.— Crops of Dutch Java................................................................
Belgian Flax Culture and Manufacture.—The coming Wheat C r o p ..............................................

STATISTICS

617
618
619
621
622
623
624

639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653

BOOK T R A D E .

Notices o f new Books or new Editions.......... .............................. ...................... ................. .........654-656




HUNT’S

MERCHANTS’ MAGAZINE
AND

COMMERCIAL REVIEW,
MAY,

1 8 5 9.

Art. I.— FREE TRADE AND PROTECTION:
OB, A PARTIAL REVIEW OF MR. CAREY’ S LETTERS TO THE PRESIDENT.

It was said some time since, by a certain writer in the Merchants'
Magazine, that the progress of ’p olitical economy, as a science, had been
slow; an assertion, whether true or not, we have no present disposition
to dispute; but, on the contrary, are rather inclined to admit the proposi­
tion, at least to a certain extent. W e know the views of mankind, in
general, are narrow and contracted, and especially with respect to the
adoption or application of philosophical principles. They look well to
their own peculiar interests generally, and are lothe to merge them in
that of the community; and, in a more extended sense, nations also seem
equally lothe to communicate liberally with their neighbors, for fear they
should lose something they might otherwise retain. And yet experience
teaches, that whenever nations or individuals have been most prosperous
it has been by the diligent and wra-divided application o f their own pecu­
liar tastes, skill, and facilities o f production, and by a free and legitimate
interchange of those productions with other individuals or nations. But
short-sighted and selfish predilections warp the judgments of communi­
ties, and render the adoption of principles of action, which look to the
promotion of the public good, rather a matter of slow progress; and if
we should trace commercial history, even up to the present time, we
should find little else but restrictions, barriers, and inconveniences to in­
tercourse, as though mankind had agreed, by common consent, pertinatiously to resist and to do all they could to prevent the laws o f God and
nature from having their due course and operation. Light is, however,
gradually breaking upon the world, and we may hope the time is not dis­
tant when we may “ see eye to eye” upon this subject. Almost all nations,
as well as all unprejudiced individuals, are becoming more and more
satisfied o f the utter futility of protective regulations. W e can find periods




532

Free Trade and Protection:

iu history when it was thought necessary to regulate by law every com­
mercial and industrial transaction, from the prices of food and the wages
o f labor, to the size and number of farms, to the number of sheep that
might be kept, beside many other absurd regulations, too numerous to
mention; and could only tend to prevent industry, produce poverty and
fluctuations in trade, and consequent decay and misery in those com­
munities adopting them. And yet we find persons, eminent men, o f more
than ordinary ability, who, while they would no doubt deride these ancient
follies, would still maintain the same principles of action under another
guise. That great economical evils exists in this and many other coun­
tries no one will deny, but that these evils can be obliterated, by revamp­
ing the old exploded system of protective commercial policy, seems truly
absurd.
It has heretofore been stated by some of our economical writers, that
labor is better paid in the United States than elsewhere ; and no doubt
this has been the case, and may be still, for some time to come. But
the question arises, what has been the cause of this superior rate of wages,
and also of the present decline o f prosperity ? Let us inquire. In the
first place, the science of political economy teaches that there is only one
source from which the wages o f labor can be permanently paid ; and
that is, the profit of capital. Therefore, when the profit of capital in­
creases, other things remaining the same, the rate of wages will be in­
creased, and also, there will be an increased demand for labor, and vice
versa. W e have only to keep these principles in view, and perhaps we
may be able to unravel the present mystery. W e shall see that this
excess in the price of labor has arisen from the fact of our possession of
a superabundant supply of capital. Up to the present time we have pos­
sessed an almost unlimited amount of virgin soil, and therefore a great
portion o f that profit arising from land has been absorbed by wmges, which
goes to rent in other countries. But now, by many years of wasteful
cropping, the land has been considerably exhausted; hence it is found at
present to take a larger amount of labor to obtain a given amount of
produce, and to place it at any given point o f consumption. Therefore
we need not to be surprised if both the profits of capital and the wages
of labor should be reduced, and when this operation can no longer be
performed, with respect to wages, the capital must bear the whole o f the
burthen. The depletion of the land has been going on rapidly o f late,
as well in the W est as in the East, but how would the adoption o f a pro­
tective tariff upon manufactured goods remedy the evil? It is quite pos­
sible, under the belief at present prevalent, that increased profits would
be derived from an increased tariff', that, for a short time at least, mills
and factories might spring up, like mushrooms in the night, and some
perhaps in the South and W est; but what would be their fate? Like
their predecessors they would only maintain a fitful and sickly existence.
The increased price o f manufactured goods, which must take place upon
the adoption of a higher tariff, must of course retard consumption, and
ease the tax upon foreign g o o d s; and overproduction, overtrading, and
internal competition would be the necessary consequence. The tariffs of
England and other European countries would no longer prevent our
breadstuffs, pork, and other similar products from entering their ports,
and, therefore, no doubt for a short period, the commercial exchanges
would be in our favor. Our condition would then be as nearly assimilated




A Review o f Mr. Carey's Letters to the President.

583

to that of Spain, when she obtained her colonies and the mines o f Mexico
and Peru, as anything we can imagine, except that the manufacturing
power of Spain was at least equal, if not superior, to that of any of her
rivals. What, then, should hinder us from comparatively realizing her
condition 2 She was at least equally wealthy with any of her contem­
poraries, and she is now merely a poor agricultural State. Ever since
the time of Adam Smith, it has always been admitted that the production
o f gold in her colonies was the cause of her decline ; but possibly it may
be objected that religious persecution also contributed to her fall. That
would, however, make little difference in our favor, as manufacturing
facilities already exist in other countries far superior to our own, and
therefore all the elements exist at present in our own case that destroyed
the power and prosperity o f Spain. One thing we consider certain, that
if we continue our present monetary arrangements, with our gold getting,
it will gradually undermine our manufactures, and we shall shortly pro­
duce nothing that will go abroad in commerce, unless the profit of its
production be equal to that of gold digging. Mr. Carey, a gentleman
who has written extensively upon these evils of late, can see no remedy
for them but a highly protective tariff.
The time was when writers upon political economy were content to
reason mainly upon general principles, about which there could be no
dispute ; but Mr. Carey, as he had certainly a right to do, has chosen to
leave the beaten track, disregarding or contracting all former axioms,
apparently depending alone upon real or hypothetical statistics for the
support of his theories. It may therefore be perceived that the difference
between Mr. Carey and other economical writers is radical— Mr. Carey
assuming that man is governed by his aspirations, and they, that he is
governed by his necessities; consequently, the exigencies o f his system
required this desultory and indecisive mode o f support, as no other could
possibly have been effective in upholding the policy of protection. Let
us now turn to some o f his letters to the President, and examine carefully
a few of his propositions and conclusions. W e quote first from his sixth
letter the following passage :— “ Turning now, Mr. President, to the
England of a century since, we have a precisely similar state of facts,
and resulting, too, from causes precisely similar— a growing dependence
on distant markets. * * * The price of wheat fell there regularly,
until at length it reached 21s. 3d. per quarter, or a little more than half
a dollar a bushel, manufactures remaining high in price. So soon, how­
ever, as a market had been made at home, the price rose, nearly doubling
in the first decade, and further advancing to an average of 51s. 3d, at
or near which point it remained for twenty-five years.” Now the point
which Mr. Carey gives us for the foundation of these assertions is the
year 1755. But in turning to a statistical table of the prices of English
wheat, (Merchants' ■agazine, volume xxxv., page 758,) prepared and
quoted from the London Economist, we find the price varying from Mr.
Carey’s statement about 9s. per quarter, or nearly 50 per cent more than
21s., and there is no year in the table when the price approximated to
that stated by Mr. Carey, within ten years prior to the period designated.
The average price of the ten years following 1755, was only 38s. 5d. per
quarter, and there was only one year in the ten that it rose as high as
51s., but it again gradually fell within the period to 24s. 8d. This is cer­
tainly not the gradual rise in price which we expected from Mr. Carey’s




534

Free Trade and Protection:

statement, and even the average price o f the next ten years, ending in
1774, about the time that Arkright built his first cotton mill, was only
47s. 9d. But if we take the average of twenty years from that period
we shall find it still lower, being only 45s. 3d. up to 1794, and the average
price of the thirty years named was less than 44s. So that the State of
things in England depicted by Mr. Carey appears to have been purely
fanciful. He had therefore no ground for assuming that the fall in the
price of British wheat in any particular year was caused by her “ growing
dependence on distant markets” for the sale of her breadstuff's. Nor
could there be any ground for assuming that the increase of price, what­
ever it might be, was owing to the sudden increase of production in
British manufactures; the fact is, that Great Britain did not at that time,
in any given cycle of years, produce more than enough for her own con­
sumption. It is true she had a prohibitory corn law since the time o f
Charles II., but it had often to be suspended, by orders in Council, by
reason of scarcity ; and as it was the fashion in those days to protect
particular interests, William III. added a bounty on exportation. But
instead of becoming more “ dependent upon distant markets,” for the sale
of their breadstuff's, they repealed the existing prohibitory act in 1773,
but left the bounty on exportation intact. The trade was then practically
free, notwithstanding some alterations of the law up to 1815. But under
the compound operation of the law o f 1773, as might have been ex­
pected, up to the close of the last century, England was at the same time
an exporting and an importing nation, or, at least, up to the period of the
French war, when exportation ceased altogether; hut while the law re­
mained untouched, she imported an annual excess of seventy thousand
quarters upon the average of eighteen years up to 1791, inclusive. In
truth, all countries were at that time acting upon the protective system,
and outward commerce was comparatively small, which was also a con­
sequence of their internal condition. To show what dependence may be
placed upon such statistics as data, relatively to present circumstances,
we quote a paragraph accompanying the statistics from the Economist,
notwithstanding we have to some extent contradicted his conclusions;
but it will show the internal condition of England at the period in ques­
tion, and also, that the trade in food or grain amongst European nations
at that time depended more upon the seasons than upon any other cir­
cumstance. The writer says:— “ Up to the close o f the last century, not
only was England, as a whole, an exporter of wheat, but the interior com­
munication was so difficult as to make the prices far from uniform. In­
deed, in some counties crops would rot on the ground, while in others
famine prevailed, yet transportation was almost impossible.” From this
state of things we may easily conclude that wheat might be exported
from some points of England, while it possibly might be imported at
others. W e have now the true state of the case, and Mr. Carey was
evidently mistaken in his conclusions, as these statistics, and the condition
of England at that period, can furnish no data by which a parallel may
be drawn between England and the condition of the United States at
present.
W e now turn to Mr. Carey’s twelfth letter. In this letter,
Mr. Carey groups the statistics of the exports and imports o f the United
States for certain short periods, for the purpose of showing the regular
and constant increase of our commerce, under the operation o f the various
protective tariffs that have existed from time to time within the last forty




A Review o f M rt Carey’s Letters to the President.

585

years. W e object in this case also, that no candid nor rational conclusion
can be drawn merely from these statistics, nor would the argument,
founded upon them, have appeared even plausible if those of the protec­
tive periods had not been drawn out or forced into the free trade periods.
It will be quite obvious to persons who will take the trouble to think
upon all the arbitrary economical changes that have taken place within
that period of time, that these statistics, as data for argument, are even
more worthless than those we have just examined. First we have had
so many changes in the American tariff that we fail to remember the
exact number, probably eight or ten ; we have had bank laws and bank
charters without end, bank expansions and bank suspensions, as well as
the like operations in most of the important commercial countries of
Europe. W e have had also the English and the Irish famines, the aboli­
tion of the British corn law, and general supervision of her tariff, besides
many other unnatural economic changes. W e hope therefore to be ex­
cused for passing over this letter without further remark. These may
also be taken for our reasons for passing over many other portions of
Mr. Carey’s letters. W e hold that notwithstanding statistics may some­
times be very properly used to support an argnment, founded upon general
principles, yet they never can be effectively used against them; but when
measured by currency, and clogged with such like conditions as we have
pointed out, they are entirely useless and unavailable.
W e shall next
notice a portion of the twenty-third letter. W e have here a reference to
France and to French statistics, and some conclusions, apparently without
any foundation, to support them. W e take the following as a specimen :—
“ In France, the quantity of food has increased twice more rapidly than
population, and yet her manufacturing industry has attained the large
dimensions of 4,000,000,000 of francs, being probably twice the total
amount of land and labor a century since.”
Now the first part of this
statement is so contrary to our preconceived notions, and, as we believe,
to the facts of the case, that we hope to be excused if we should con­
trovert it at some length. W e know that the importations of food into
Great Britain increase every year, and notwithstanding these vast im­
portations, and those o f other raw material, and the industrial application
of science and machinery to cultivation, the production of agricultural
produce does not increase at the same rate as her population ; and if it
cannot be done under these favorable circumstances, we conclude it can­
not be done in France, nor, in fact, in any other country. So vague a
statement cannot, however, be directly confuted, therefore we refer the
reader to the 34th volume, page 505, o f the Merchants' Magazine, where
he will find a statement of the results of English and French agricul­
ture, which does not appear to give credit to such a state of facts at any
period.
It is there stated that the average production of wheat per acre in
France is one-quarter-and-three-fifths, or about twelve-and-a-half bushels,
while that of an acre in England is thirty-two bushels, or tour-quarters;
something more than two-and-a-half times as m uch; and yet the price
of the product of an English acre is stated to be only £3 4s., while the price of
the product in France is said to be £1 12s., or just half that o f the English
acre; showing that while the English farmer or landowner have more
produce to divide between them, the laborer is also benefited by a superior
cheapness in price. Looking therefore at the difference in the ratio of




536

Free Trade and Protection:

production in the two countries, and to our former knowledge of French
agricultural statistics, it appears impossible to adopt Mr. Carey’s statement.
It would be much easier to adopt the supposition that France, like the
United States, has been rather declining in fertility than otherwise.
W ith respect to the doubling of the amount of land and labor, as
measured in francs, other arguments will apply hereafter; but for a
moment we turn to another statement.
Mr. Carey informs us that “ France has now thirty-two millions of sheep,
against twenty-seven millions in 1813,” an increase of five millions in
forty-six years. There seems to be nothing very extraordinary in this
increase of sheep, but Mr. Carey does not say whether the number of
other cattle has decreased to make way for this increased number of
sheep, which is most likely the case, as we shall see. W e take the fol­
lowing from an English newspaper:— “ From an article in the Union it
appears the consumption of animal food in Paris has decreased progres­
sively with the advance of population. The number of oxen slaughtered
in 1722, when the population was but 500,000, was 70,000 per year. In
1846, with a population of 1,000,000, it was only 71,718.” *
This state­
ment would argue a large comparative decrease o f cattle in France within
the last century-and-a-half, which we will suppose is the time intended
for the doubling o f food by Mr. Carey. It shows, however, a comparative
decrease in the consumption of meat in Paris of 75 per cent, which will
hardly agree with the idea of increased fertility, or of increased produc­
tion. France may have been apparently prosperous of late, if prosperity
is to be estimated by the increase of exports and imports, measured by
currency ; but it would be more satisfactory to show that her people had
increased, and their condition had improved, than to rest their prosperity
upon so flimsy a pretext. It is so well known that it need hardly be
stated, that the Bank of France has been, up to a very late period, ex­
panding her currency under the influence and pressure of the government.
Two years ago her capital was doubled, and the denomination o f her
notes was lowered to fifty francs, so that she might increase her issues
beyond the increase o f capital, and of course she has availed herself of
this opportunity. But, for this increase of privileges, the government
required a share o f the spoil; the bank had to loan 100,000,000 of francs
when her condition was anything but safe, and notwithstanding the im­
mense imports into France of bullion and specie, amounting, in the three
years ending in 1857, to nearly seventy millions sterling, she was only
able to retain less than one-tenth, by the sacrifice of large premiums
(12,072,500 francs) to keep her from suspension. Therefore, if her ex­
ports and imports have doubled, and even her real estate, we understand
the mode of operation by which the juggle has been performed. The
currency of the world in general has also been unnaturally expanding for
many years by the force of the banking system, and also of late by7 the
increase of gold ; our own currency was doubled within ten years, and of
course France was in a similar condition, and, as we have seen, her bank
was very near suspension by the efflux of gold, notwithstanding Mr.
Carey’s opinion that the protective system is the only mode of preventing
the export of precious metals. But it seems Mr. Carey differs in opinion
* Query.—H ow long is it since the French savants were experimenting on horse flesh, and re­
commending it as food for the people ?




A Review o f M r. Carey's Letters to the President.

537

with all other writers, with respect to the condition o f France.
He
says:— “ As a general rule, France feeds herself.” But if we turn to page
531, volume xxxiii., of the Merchants' Magazine, we shall find an article
entitled, “ Finance, Food, and Future of France,” from which we beg
leave to quote as follows:— “ So inadequate, even in years o f plenty, is
her means of supplying food for her people, that four hundred thousand
chestnut trees are depended on as one means of furnishing subsistence to
her citizens; and, as our tables will show, she has no longer the means o f
furnishing an adequate supply of food for her inhabitants. A frost destroys
her chestnut crop, and annihilates, in a single night, eight millions o f
bushels of food, while a week’s storm, as in 1788 and in 1847 , destroys
a whole harvest, and incites her people to revolution.” This is a truly
horrible state of things, and entirely contrary to Mr. Carey’s statement
of the condition of France; but we have seen many other accounts o f
the sad condition of the French populace— such as there being 20,000,000
o f people who neither eat meat, nor consume sugar, nor wear shoes, etc.,
and yet Mr. Carey makes the confident statement that “ the quantity of
food in France has increased twice more rapidly than population.” But
the conditions we have portrayed are the necessary consequence of what
Mr. Carey is pleased to term “ the policy of Colbert.” But suppose we
were to admit that France has progressed within the last seven or eight
years, to what are we to attribute her prosperity ? certainly not to the
rigidity of her protective system.
W e turn now to volume xxxi., page 737, of the Merchants' Magazine,
to show that shortly after Napoleon became Emperor o f France he began
to modify the tariff towards free trade. The edict, alluded to in the article
we have named, modifies or removes the various duties on dyestuffs, and
most other commodities necessary for manufacturing ; also, at the same
time, or very soon after, in the same year, (1853,) he rescinded the duties
on grain, flour, rice, potatoes, and dried vegetables, and those regulations
are still in full force, and have, from time to time, been prorogued up to
the 30th of September, 1859, when they will no doubt be permanently
laid aside, and free importations continued.
Napoleon III. has also re­
moved many local taxes and impediments to internal commerce, and we
are happy to say, notwithstanding Mr. Carey has praised almost every
European government for acting upon the protective system, that these
governments, in general, are not entitled to his sympathy, for they have
all been gradually veering towards free trade for some time past. This
circumstance appears to be well understood bv others, but how it has es­
caped the notice of Mr. Carey it is impossible to say. W e refer to an
article entitled, “ Progress of Free Trade,” (Merchants' Magazine, volume
xxxv., page 256,) from which w7e quote the. following paragraph:— “ In
all European countries are to be recorded a series o f reforms and lowering
o f tariffs. In Russia, the war, which closed communications by sea, pro­
duced the ukase of the 23d of June, 1854, which favored importations
by land and by way o f Memel. In Sweden, the tariff of 1855, improving
that of 1852, has destroyed several prohibitions upon iron and woolen
articles. The same spirit presided over the Norwegian tariff of 1854.
The Belgian government has done away with the differential duties on
shipping, while scarcity compelled it to lower the duties on provisions
and combustibles. Even in Italy improvements may be traced in Roman
and Neapolitan legislation. Spain and Portugal both own the influence




538

Free Trade and P rotection:

of new ideas. Spain is re-improving her tariff of 1849, whilst in Portugal
the tariff of f 852 is in the hands of a commission charged with subjecting
it to a complete revision.” From this we perceive that Mr. Carey has
been mistaken entirely with respect to the policy of European governments.
W e now turn to his remarks upon the Zollverein and other countries in
his twenty-fifth letter. Mr. Carey says:— “ The great development of
British external commerce followed that of the internal one, which owed
its existence to a protective system of the most stringent character. So,
too, has it been with all protected countries of Europe— the power to
maintain exterior commerce having everywhere followed the adoption of
measures looking to the development o f an internal one.” Then follows
a kind of conglomerate statement o f the statistics of all countries; but
we shall notice more especially those relating to Great Britain and the
Zollverein. But first, let us say that error is never so dangerous as when
mixed with a modicum of truth. Now, with respect to Great Britain,
what has been the case?
W e find, from what we have already stated,
that her prohibitory corn law was repealed in 1783, and notwithstanding
the import price was raised at two different periods, as it would he easy
to show, the law remained a dead letter upon the statute book until 1815,
when another law was enacted.
And when the inventions of Arkright
and Hargrave began to be developed, the depreciation of the currency
rendered the tariff almost nugatory. The European wars, no doubt, pre­
vented invention and rivalry in other countries; but it was the vast ex­
penditure of Great Britain in those wars w'hich rapidly developed her
energies, and increased her manufacturing power and skill, and gave full
play to those natural advantages which she possessed, of climate, minerals,
compactness, and commercial position, and which are probably beyond
the reach of any other nation, and not the protective system which pre­
pared her to rival the world in commerce. But if a protective tariff only
is the one thing needful to place any country in a position to “ maintain
external commerce,” how is it that the United States is not in that posi­
tion ? Have we not had banks and tariffs without end ? And did not
Slater, who was apprentice to one of the first cotton spinners in England,
(Mr. Strutt,) come over here to begin cotton spinning only twenty years
after the first cotton mill was built by Arkright in England ? And yet
Mr. Carey thinks if we were to adopt the tariff of 1846 all would be
right. Now suppose we admit the assertion of Mr. Carey to be correct,
we must confess that there is only one point to which we could look for
its accomplishment, and that is, to the cheapening of labor. There is no
denying that European labor is lower in price than labor in the United
States, at least 30 per cent, and we may probably reckon 20 per cent
more for other favorable circumstances. In this state of things it seems
almost impossible that we can rival Great Britain in the production of
manufactures. But Mr. Carey professes to be the friend of labor, and
therefore would not willingly lower its price ; but fortunately, if he should
happen to be mistaken in his views upon this subject, it could not be done
in this country, even by the help of the protective system, while we have
an unlimited supply of uncultivated land. Now let us look to the Zoll­
verein, or German customs union, another example o f protective pros­
perity, as Mr. C. assures us; but we shall find her case somewhat different
to that of Great Britain’s, and, as we think, will not justify Mr. Carey’s
conclusions, simply because the union was not prosperous at the period




A Review o f Mr. Carey's Letters to the President.

539

designated. The “ customs union” is composed o f eleven small States,
not materially differing from each other in soil, climate, and productions;
and several of them, having no outlet on the seaboard, it must have been
extremely inconvenient to carry on mercantile pursuits while each acted
singly on the protective system. In that condition they could necessarily
have but little improved machinery ; what machinery they possessed must
have been merely o f the domestic kind. They could consequently neither
import nor export a large amount o f merchandise, and the exports must
consist chiefly of raw material. W hile they acted upon this isolated
principle of protection, the fluctuations of which must have brought labor
to the minimum, they exported that large quantity of wool o f which
Mr. Carey informs us— twenty-eight millions of pounds, and this all to one
country; how much to others the deponent saith not. This state o f
things became so oppressive, however, that at length it could no longer
be borne, and shortly after the time o f the exportation o f the wool (1825)
the movement began which ended in the “ customs union”— the States
joining and abolishing all internal customs, and dividing those derived
from the exports and imports to foreign countries. The effect of this
movement towards free trade was shown in the wonderful development of
manufactures within the first ten years after the union wTas formed. But
shortly after this point of prosperity was reached some of the States be­
came extremely conservative, and advocated a short-sighted, selfish policy,
while others would have still moved onwards in the course o f free trade.
The consequence has been that the union reached the culminating point
of prosperity in 1845. Since then, its revenue has fluctuated and fallen
off considerably.
In the Merchants' Magazine, volume xxviii., page 739, we find a return
of the revenue from exports and imports o f the Zollverein, from 1840 to
1852, a period of twelve years inclusive, and as there was no panic nor
fluctuation in the currencies of the world within the period, we may con­
clude that it is as fair a criterion to judge of what the protective system
can do under the most favorable circumstances. Since 1S45, the revenue
decreased and fluctuated considerably, between twenty-two and twentyseven millions of rix dollars, the last year of the period being twenty-four
millions. The population has been also nearly stationary, and from 1850
to 1852 it slightly declined in numbers. There may have been a little
increase in the imports of cotton and cotton twist in this period, as stated
by Mr. Carey, but such a circumstance would surprise no one who is ac­
quainted with, or will take the trouble to think, to what extent the domes­
tic linen manufacture was carried on previous to the union ; and we know,
by reference to the earlier statistics, that at one period the increase of the
people working in factories was four times as large as the increase o f
population. W e deduce from these circumstances that, so far as the
prosperity of the Zollverein is concerned, it was produced by the move­
ment towards free trade, and not by the protective system as Mr. Carey
would have us believe, but it was the necessary consequence o f bringing
into the market o f the world such an immense amount of labor, (twentysix millions of people,) at the lowest possible rate ; which, from its isolated
condition, must to a great extent have been previously idle. This point
appears to be beyond dispute, from the large exportations of raw material
just previous to the union, as shown by Mr. Carey. W e find also, at a
certain period, that its revenue decreased, and its population became sud­




540

Free Trade and Protection:

denly stationary, as will always happen when the system is sufficiently
protective to prevent importations; but that cannot be done without taxing
the exports, which would prevent smuggling by limiting the outward
trade. The idea of a one-sided system, like that o f the United States,
wdiich taxes the imports only, being effective, under the present circum­
stances of the world, appears quite absurd. If the tariff were doubled it
might possibly prevent importations to some extent, and the people w-ould
be taxed a little heavier upon what they consumed, unless a regular or­
ganized system of smuggling commenced, which would most likely be
the case, so long as we had such large quantities o f raw material and
agricultural produce to export. Itwmuld also produce fluctuations which
would probably interrupt the prosperity of those branches of production
for which we have peculiar facilities. The time may be approaching,
notwithstanding, when labor may be sufficiently cheap in the United States
to allow of the profitable production o f manufactures, and even to spread
them to some extent over the States, but they must be o f that character
peculiarly fitted for consumption in this country, and such as would
naturally have grown up without the assistance of a tariff. W ith respect
to the effect of an increased tariff on the amount of revenue, we have the
experience of other countries to guide us, especially that of Great
Britain— the more she has reduced the rate of her taxes the more her
revenue has increased. Within the last ten years about nineteen millions
o f taxes have been taken off, while seven have been replaced upon other
sources; and the revenue has increased in the meantime at least 40
per cent. On the other hand, it may be observed that countries like
France and the Zollverein, who have acted upon the opposite course, that
their revenue has declined and their population become stationary. But
Mr. Carey promises other advantages from an increase of duties.
lie holds out, that by this means the anvil, the loom, and farm will
be located together, and that the labor o f all would become more profit­
able\ merely by saving the present cost of carriage of material to and fro.
But it really seems superfluous to go into the subject, as the daily ex­
perience o f the world proves it to be a mere trifle when compared to the
importance of the facilities of skill and the cheapness of labor, and other
advantages peculiar to certain localities. Upon this subject we refer the
reader to volume xxvii., page 132, Merchants' Magazine, for the “ Com­
parative Cost of Mining in Cornwall (England) and Lake Superior.” The
difference appears to be in favor of Cornwall, somewhere about 90 per
cent, but the reader can calculate for himself. From this it would appear
that the cost of labor, next to the possession o f the necessary amount of
capital, is the most important item in production, and the cost of trans­
portation nothing in comparison with it. Free and untrammeled intercourse
is, therefore, the only road to national wealth and national happiness.
But to return, Mr. Carey also holds that by this equality of location, and
the increase of agricultural science, the land would, become more produc­
tive. Now let us inquire how far this may be true. No doubt it would
be an advantage that land should have all the refuse, or manure, thrown
back upon it which has been produced from its crops, and as much more
as can be obtained, and agricultural science also is a very good thing in
its w ay; but both these advantages may have been overrated; that is,
separately and distinctly from other circumstances.
Both science and
manure require labor to apply them, and to make them profitable; but




A Review o f Mr. Carey's Letters to the President.

541

science, poverty, and wealth have hitherto been found in the same con­
nection. Hut if the above assumption be true, what is the reason that
the manufacturing States of this country have not profited by it, and at
least kept up their fertility ? Instead of this, the New England States,
except Vermont, have declined in agricultural production, and yet have
increased in population. They appear to have declined absolutely, while
the other States of the Union have only declined relatively. W e need
only turn to the census to be satisfied of these facts. In the ten years,
between 1840 and 1850, the number of sheep in these States declined in
number about 45 per cent, swine about the same, horses and mules
25, and other cattle in a less ratio, while the wheat crop decreased a
million of bushels. W e may now ask, what has the manufacturing popu­
lation done for New England 1 Simply nothing, but drain the soil o f its
fertility. If labor in New England had been at the European rate we
should have expected like results.
Science would then have been ap­
plicable, because labor was cheap; manure could have been saved and
applied, because labor was cheap; good roads could have been made,
because labor was cheap; and all other agricultural improvements could
have been made for the same reason. But, as we oppose so strenuously
a protective tariff, perhaps some may be ready to ask what course we
would recommend under the present circumstance of the country ?
W e say, then, let us adopt those measures that will prevent fluctuations
in commerce, instead of those that will produce them, and abide our time.
Let us destroy the present banking system, and prevent if possible the
undue increase of money. Let us encourage industry by discouraging
stock-jobbing, discounting, speculation, and gambling of all descriptions.
Let all men know that they need not look for any more protection to
any peculiar interest, but that they must depend upon their own abilities
and energies for success in future.
Let the farmer cultivate no more
land than what he can cultivate w ell; let him keep more cattle and save
all the manure, and augment its quantity in every possible way, and make
good roads. In fact, let the whole nation be industrious, economical,
and prudent, and when labor becomes cheap enough we shall produce
manufactures wherever facilities exist, without the evils o f the protective
system.
In conclusion, we say it is o f no use for the nation to run in debt, and
of no use to increase the tariff; the revenue will spring back to its
normal condition in good time, and increased duties will not augment it
in the end. W e can only obtain the fruits of our own labor and facilities
of production, and no protective conjuring can increase them. There is
no royal road to wealth— the people must work.
r . s.




5T2

Commercial and Industrial Cities o f the United States:

Art. II.— COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CITIES OF THE UNITED STATES.
NUMBER L X I V .

OSW EGO,
ORIG IN OF OSWEGO— POPU LATION — EFFECT
ITS CONNECTIONS— TR A D E

OF— TONN AGE

OF

NEW

YORK.

1 8 3 6 — IN CORPORATION OF CITY— OSWEGO CANAL—

O F — RAILROADS CONNECTING— CHARACTERISTICS— COM­

MUNICATIONS— L A K E TR A D E A N D TONNAGE— FOREIGN TONNAGE— COASTW ISE T O N N A G E -N U M B E R
OF VESSELS— LE A D IN G ARTICLES OF IMPORT— G EN ERAL L A K E TRADE— G R A IN — ONTARIO TRADE—
RECEIPTS A T OSWEGO— ORIGIN OF THE G R A IN — M ILLIN G FACILITIES— OSWEGO R IV E R — ITS CHAR­
ACTERISTICS— QUAN TITY
M ILLS, C A P A C IT Y

OF

W A T E R — A V A IL A B L E

OF— FLOUR RECEIVED

BY

FA L L — H O RSE-POW ER— NUMBER

OF STORES—

LA K E — M ANUFACTURED — SHIPPERS— ELEVATORS—

SALT TRAD E— COAL, SUPPLIES OF— W A T E R LIME— Q U AN TITY SOLD— PLASTER— LUMBER— CLIMATE
— HEALTH — PROSPECTS.

I n our number for July, 1857, (page 38, vol. xxxvii.,) we published an
article upon tbe Commerce and Prospects of Oswego, which contains
some interesting features of the trade of that growing city. W e now
avail ourselves o f the annual review of the trade and commerce of that
port as giving in the Oswego Times, to show the results of the trade of
the port for two years, which has embraced the panic period.
In 1828 Oswego was incorporated a village, and was a hamlet of little
over 1,000 inhabitants. The population for a series of years is given as
follows:—
1820..........................................
1825..........................................
1830..........................................
1835..........................................
1840..........................................

523
1,078
2,117
3,980
4,528

1845 ............................................

5,528

1850........................................
1865........................................
1858........................................

12,205
15,816
18,000

It will be observed that the increase for five years to 1840 was very
small, which may be attributed to causes brought about by the real
estate “ speculation” in 1836, which prevailed so extensively throughout
the country. The erection o f manufactories, etc., after the year 1845,
and bringing the vast water power into more general requisition, gave a
new impulse to business, and population increased more rapidly. In 1848
Oswego was incorporated a city, and its growth for a number of years
past lias been rapid, the census of 1855 showing that the increase of
inhabitants was larger in ratio than that of any other city in the State.
The Oswego Canal is a powerful element in the trade o f that city. It
was completed in the year in which the village was incorporated, 1828.
It intersects the Erie Canal at Syracuse, and is 38 miles lon g; about half
its length, however, being in the Oswego River, converted into canal or
slack water, by means of eight dams and a tow path on the river bank.
The total lockage is 123 feet, distributed among 18 lift locks, all descend­
ing from Syracuse to this city. There is also a towing path made by the
State along the bank of the Seneca River, from its junction with this
canal to Baldwinsville, by which the navigable waters o f that stream are
made available; and a similar work has been constructed on the Oneida
River, to connect the navigable waters of that stream and the Oneida
Lake with the Oswego Canal.
With regard to the enlargements, the State Engineer is of opinion that
the work on the Erie, the Oswego, and the Cayuga and Seneca canals,




543

Oswego, New York.

has reached that point o f progress which justifies the belief that, with the
necessary means, the whole may be finished by the spring of 1860.
The Oswego Canal during the past season has been in good condition,
no detention of moment to navigation having occurred. The canal
opened on the 28th of April, the time fixed by the Canal Commissioners,
and closed the fore part of December. In the following tables will be
seen the extent of its business for a series o f years.
The following is a comparative statement o f most o f the articles shipped
by canal, at Oswego, for three seasons:—

1856.
Flour................................
Pork.................................
Beef..................................
Ashes...............................
Wheat...............................
Corn..................................

.........................

Barley...............................
Oats..................................
Peas and beans...............
Domestic spirits..............
Bacon...............................
Butter.............................
Lard, <tc .......................
W o o l...............................
Hides................. »............
Bran and ship9tuffs........
Clover and grass seed...
Oil cake, &c.....................
Leather.............................
Furniture.........................
Stone, lime, and cla y ... .
Iron and steel.................
Mineral c o a l...................
Staves .............................
Tim ber.............................
Shingles............................
Lumber............................
H o p s ................................
Copper o r e .....................

1857.

895,523
30,155
2,102
940
5,994,209
3,224,249
308,651
95,381
158,272
70,734
4,725
4,085,642
42,956
1,147,128
137,227
199,754
17,533,986

301,530
5,031
1,277
480
2,728,429
1,850,394
65,805
239,781
12,257
1.481
34,000
508,501
7,900
59,753
20,273
27,920
13,286,209
31,095

7,573,664
135,432
17,340
342,537
S00'637
126,798
1,472,500
11,395,525
328,168
155,500
75,767,297
20,913

4,931,630
345,329
44,945
25,516
6,274^579
45,840
169,000
33,524,439
325,062
1,252,500
92,459,461
41,656
1,134,698

1858.
467,886
4,002
1,589
338
4,071,391
2,397,805
97,459
540,574
614,414
61,095
123,485
349,198
25,510
845,470
29,291
53,583
20,673,364
109,521
4,319
305^651
85,052
75,949
1,776,029
85,911
626,000
7,060,125
831,417
1,451,000
103,488,088
87,730

Statement showing the principal receipts by canal at Oswego for three
seasons:—
1856.
1857.
1858.
Hides................................................. lbs.
Leather....................................................
Furniture................................................
Pig-iron.......................... ........................
Castings, A c ..........................................
Bloom and bar iron...............................
Domestic salt..........................................
Foreign s a lt ..........................................
Sugar......................................................
Molasses................................................
Coffee.......................................................
Nails, spikes, <fcc....................................
Iron and steel........................................




72,897
324,837
1,131,320
15,918,125
10,812,578
287,225
195,103,300
5,305
21,577,177
6,068,503
3,820,377
3,159,826
12,729,228

64,618
101,194
153,249
2,668,685
5,520,878
3,430
142,050,372
17,385
7,557,687
2,241,381
1,028,693
660,162
4,014,019

216,623
70,468
480,151
3,284,761
3,715,320
413,966
243,545,896
163,920
10,513,766
1,953,770
1,759,337
817,447
3,771,501

544

Commercial and Industrial Cities o f the United States:

Railroad ir o n .......................
Crockery,<fcc.........................
Stone, lime, and clay..........
Gypsum.................................
Mineral c o a l....................... .
Cotton................................... .
H e m p ....................................
H o p s .....................................
Domestic cottons..................
Bar and pig le a d ................
Merchandise, miscellaneous

1856.

1857.

1858.

59,319,310
3,144,127
17,664,152
7,300,529
97,942,394

57,940,794
1,916,086
18,201,328
12,896,606
131,138,025

19,629

1,351

40,145,624

17,917,877

26,971,215
1,517,580
16,883,084
7,118,669
70,534,894
128,092
23,915
19,090
56,512
10,601
22,199,557

The following shows the progress of the canal trade for several years :—
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF THE TONNAGE OF PRO PERTY CLEARED FROM, AND RECEIVED
AT, OSWEGO BY CANAL FOR FOUR SEASONS.

1856.

1857.

1858.

Cleared........................................tons
Arrived................................................

352,560
209,075

1855.

491,761
253,178

317,636
206,503

479,826
245,636

Total........................................

661,635

744,939

524,139

725,462

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF THE TONNAGE OF PROPERTY SHIPPED AND TOLLS RECEIVED AT
OSWEGO BY CANAL FOR A SERIES OF YEARS.

Tolls.
1847..........
1848.........
1849..........
1850.........
1851_____
1852..........

21
176,078 96
58
66
241,687 67
236,671 73

Tons.
293,026
335,060
433,342
461,879
576,162
580,110

1853..........
1854.........
1855..........
1856.........
1867.........
1858.........

Tolls.
$392,730 72
03
94
406,812 96
270,695 51
88

Tons.
717,013
536,986
561,635
744,939
524,139
725,462

Last spring there was a reduction on flour and wheat, which had the
effect to diminish the receipts of tolls at this point, without increasing
the shipments by canal of the articles on which the reduction was made.
In addition to the canal trade, the railroads take a fair show of the
business which concentrates from the lakes and the surrounding country
in Oswego.
During the past year, the Welland Kailroad, projected by the Hon.
W . H. Merritt, and commenced in May, 1857, has been completed, and
will be ready for operation the coming spring. This road runs along the
banks of the Welland Canal, connecting Lake Erie with Ontario, and
will aid materially in the dispatch and certainty of immediate transporta­
tion, at all times, of freight between the lakes. The storehouses of the
railroad are so arranged that ears from Lake Erie will run into the upper
story, and discharge grain into the vessel with shutes or slides, or drop it
into the bins below, without the expense of elevators or any other
machinery; while upward freight will be discharged by hydraulic cranes
direct from the vessel into the cars without the assistance of manual
labor. One engine is estimated to perform four trips per day— hauling
three hundred tons down, and from sixty to one hundred tons up— keep­
ing three trains employed— two loading and discharging at either end of
the road, and one moving— at a speed which will convey a cargo from
port Dalhousie to port Colborne in from one-and-a-half to two hours.
The canal and railroad will assist each other in the transportation of the
vast amount of freight passing from lake to lake, and both are entitled
on public grounds to every possible aid and encouragement.




545

Oswego, New York.

The Oswego and Syracuse Railroad was completed in 1848. It forms
a junction at Syracuse with the New York Central, and Syracuse, Bingham­
ton, and New York Railroad. The track extends along the west side of
the Oswego River, crossing Seneca River near Baldwinsville. Its length
is 36 miles.
From the annual report of the company for the fiscal year ending
September 30th, 1858, we copy the following, showing the—
OPERATIONS OF THE YE AR IN TRANSPORTATION AND MILES RUN.

Miles run by passenger trains...........................................................
Miles run by freight trains................................................................
No. of passengers (all classes) carried in the cars.......................
Miles traveled by passengers,or passengers carried one m ile...
No. of tons, o f 2,000 pounds, of freight carried in the ca rs.. . .
Total movement of freight, or number of tons carried one mile

44,870
23,975
92,496
2,131,962
42,810
1,375,557

AMOUNT OF FREIGHT, SPECIFYING QUANTITY AND TONS.

Of the products o f the forest.
Of animals.................................
Of vegetable fo o d ...................
Other agricultural products . .

1,214 Manufactures
1,162 Merchandise .
26,453 Other articles

8,938
3,642
1,190

211

This road maintains a semi-annual dividend o f four per cent, and this
fact shows that it is doing a successful business.
The navigation of the lakes employed a large tonnage, and this has
been as follows :—
The following statement shows the number and kind o f vessels engaged
in the commerce of the lakes, with the tonnage o f the same for 1845,
1848, and 1858 :—
,-------------------------- AMERICAN.---------------------------,

,—184S.—v—1848__ _

,---------------------- CANADIAN.-----------------------,

.—1858.—, ,—1845.—, ,-1848. - n,—1858

No. Tons. No.
Tons.
No. Tons. No. Tons. No. Tons. No. Tons.
Steamers .
62 20,560 103 36,506 72
48,031 67
67
67 24,784
Propellers.
8 2,500 35 11,453 113 56,99413 ........... 14
14 4,197
69
6,366 ....................................
5
415
Tugs.....................................................
B’ks & B’gs
50 11,000 86 19,673 129 42,592 2
2
37 10,793
Schooners.. 270 42,000 495 62,802830 177,170 94 ............ 110
212 32,959
T otal.... 380 76,000 719 130,434 1,213 331,153 166 56,380 193 63,346 335 73,148

In 1832 the whole vessel tonnage on the lakes was less than 1,000 tons.
The following is a comparative statement of the number o f vessels,
tonnage, and crews, arrived at the port o f Oswego, for a series of years:—
ARRIVALS OF AMERICAN VESSELS IN THE COASTING TRADE.

No. vessels.

1 8 5 3 ..
1 8 5 4 ..
1 8 5 5 ..

. 1,842
. 1,541
. 1,478

Men.

Tonnage.

20,559
18,378
18,040

529,448
476,478
488,220

No. vessels.

1856..
1857..
1858..

. 1,678
. 1,254
. 1,336

Men.

Tonnage

21,532
15,720
14,189

675,345
442,256
385,155

The decrease o f tonnage and men in 1858 may be attributed to the
“ breaking u p ” of the American line o f steamers, running between
Ogdensburg and Lewiston. During the past season only one boat has
run to this p o rt; but it is understood that on the opening of navigation
a full line will be established on the old south shore route.
The trade with Canada has been divided as follow s:—
V O L . X L .— n o . v .
35




546

Commercial and Industrial Cities o j the United States :

Years.

1853___
1854___
1855___
1856___
1857___
1858___

.------- I oreign ye ssels.------- v /—American v essels. —\ ,---------- — Total.
Tonnage. Yessels. Men. Tonnage. Yessels. Men.
Yessels.
Men.

1,469
1,004
1,469
1,499
1,083
1,228

8,332
6,001
18,471
14,621
8,832
9,859

132,946
93,414
260,094
236,246
122,460
180,430

763
515
477
373
365
332

4,674
3,223
2,802
2,258
2,363
2,525

86,212
62,869
54,471
45,174
50,264
66,663

4,074
3,060
3,420
3,550
2,702
2,891

33,665
27,602
39,313
38,414
26,915
26,673

Tonnage.

748,606
632,761
803,785
856,765
614,980
622,248

The following table shows the comparative receipts at Oswego by lake,
of a few leading articles for the last three years:—
F lo u r................. ..............
W heat.............................
Corn..................................
Oats..................................
Barley...............................
R y e ..................................
Peas..................................
Beans...............................
Potatoes...........................
Pork.................................. ............. bbls.
Pork..................................
Beef.................................. .............. bbls.
Beef................................
Fish................................................bbls.
Lum ber...........................
Shingles............................
Hoops...............................
C ed a r..............................
L ath.................................
B rick ................................ ...............No.
Coal................................. .

1856.
202,930
8,382,398
3,589,211
169,758
110,099
339,603
41,416
1,693
138
82,656

1857.
107,S63
5,363,026
2,003,992
14,603
281,210
74,436
8,790
962
7,227
6,303

3,106

2,011

....

. .. .
4,900
103,720,730
1,719,000
8,874,800
832
1,675,440
498,800
3,204

....

4,088
111,140,673
3,672,400
5,535,760
447
3,262,546
85,000
1,678

1858.
96,663
6,595,433
2,918,618
637,933
649,967
98,008
44,166
7,227
22,828
782
893
210
851
1,688
110,408,490
4,005,250
6,493,300
1,091
2,434,700
106,750
1,220

It will be seen by the above that there has been an increase, as compared
with last year, of 1,219,407 bushels wheat, 909,626 bushels corn, 616,820
bushels oats, 268,757 bushels barley, 23,572 bushels rye, 35,376 bushels
peas, 6,265 bushels beans, 15,601 bushels potatoes, 332,850 shingles,
957,550 hoops, 614 cords cedar, 21,750 brick; and a decrease of 4,700
barrels flour, 2,400 barrels fish, 732,183 feet lumber, 817,846 feet lath,
and 358 tons coal.
The chief articles of trade, as well by lake as by railroad and canal, are
grain and flour. The whole quantities of these articles shipped eastward
from the lake regions have been as follows for three years:—
TOTAL MOVEMENT OF FLOUE AND GRAIN EASTWARD IN

Flour,

Wheat,
bush.

Corn,
bush.

1,848,679
304,524
1,561,189
664,797

11,490,354

4,650,155

8,465,671

9,632,477

3,879,189

19,956,025

14,282,632

bbls.

Via Lake Ontario . . . .
Via Suspension Bridge.
Via Lake Erie...............
From Ohio River east..
Total.

816,478
900,000
2,025,519
892,972

23,700,382
2,422,620
27,929,612
4,216,957

4,684,969

58,269,671

TOTAL MOVEMENT OF FLOCK AND G RAIN EASTWARD IN

Via Lake Ontario . . . .
Via Suspension Bridge.
Via Lake Erie..............
Fiom Ohio River east.
Total.




1,175,411
180,194
1,279,487
777,812
3,412,904

8,736,765
2,944,767
148,138
8,477,258
6,835,065
..........
17,362,161

8,779,832

1856.

Other grain,
Total
bush.
in bushels.

1857.

1,321,406
462,976

18,044,354
1,049,108
22,031,164
4,352,036

2,270,149

45,476,662

485,767

Oswego, New York.

547

TOTAL MOVEMENT OF FLOUR AND G RAIN EASTW ARD IN

1858.

Via Lake O ntario___
Via Suspension Bridge.
Via Lake Erie..............
From Ohio River east.

Flour,
bbls.
1,237,869
350,000
1,882,597
1,132,314

bush.
9,960,731
150,000
10,683,784

bush.
3,847,394
6,711,133

2,624,219
580,871

21,872,995
1,900,000
29,432,121
6,242,441

Total......................

4,602,780

20,794,515

10,558,527

5,080,615

59,447,557

‘Wheat,

Corn,

Other srrain,

bush.
1,876,525

Total
in bushels.

Thus the quantities sent by Lake Ontario were in 1856, 23,'700,382
bushels; in 1857,18,044,354 bushels ; in 1858, 21,812,995 bushels. The
proportion of this Lake Ontario trade which passed into Oswego is seen
as follows:—
MOVEMENT OF BREADSTUFFS OVER LAKE ONTARIO FOR

Flour,
bbls.

Oswego.
Ogdensb
C.Vinc’ t.
Genesee
Montr’al

Wheat,
bush.

Corn,
bush.

Barley, &o., Oats,
bush.
bush.

Eye,
bush.

1856.
Peas,
bush,

Total,
in bushels.

202,9308,382,398 3,589,211 660,696 ............................................ 13,646,955
354,964
610,937 377,975 37,432
2,801,164
65,000 500,000
45,000 50,000
920,000
13,747
450,667
...........
984 ..........................................
620,386
712,038 1,546,352 637,969 67,366
5,814,877

Total . . 1,348,679 11,490,354 4,650,155 816,478 ......................................... 23,700,382
MOVEMENT OF BREADSTUFFS OVER LAKE ONTARIO FOR

Oswego.
Ogdensb
C.Vinc’t.
Genesee
Montr’al

Total . . 1,175,411

8,242,972
2,938,229
869,680
677,921
5,315,552

8,736,765 3,944,767 485,767 ......................................... 18,044,354

MOVEMENT OF BREADSTUFFS OVER LAKE ONTARIO FOR

Oswego.
Ogdensb
C.Vinc’ t.
Genesee
Montr’al

1857.

101,3635,353,026 2,003,992 379,139 ..........................................
361,578 598,523 517,076 14,740
60,472 477,375
40,537 49,408
...........
4,315 .........................................
14,946
598,876
637,052 1,708,965 883,162 38,165 ...........................................

1858.

96,6636,595,433 2,913,618 549,967 637,933 98,008
44,166 11,322,440
382,013
780,707 720,236 2,732 44,126 ...........
1,200 3,459,066
72,633
460,391
40,700 66,987 20,621 69,023
11,302 1,032,189
7,110
276,515
5,876
12 ...........
3,977
321,930
679,450 1,847,685 172,840 24,113 115,880 ........... 179,598 5,737,366

Total . . 1,237,869

9,960,731 3,847,394 649,675 818,572 167,031 240,243 21,872,991

These figures show that the total receipts during the past year were
1,827,391 bushels less than in 1856, and 3,828,637 bushels more than in
1857.
The receipts at Montreal in 1856 were by the Lachine Canal, but since
the construction of the Grand Trunk Road, some two years since, the
receipts by that route are included. The most remarkable feature in the
business of Montreal is the large decrease in the receipts o f corn.
The aggregate receipts at Ogdensburg show a small but steady in­
crease. The largest increase has been in corn.
Cape Vincent shows a small increase in her business. O f the receipts
in 1858, 72,412 barrels of flour, 299,770 bushels wheat, 69,023 bushels
rye, 66,987 bushels barley, 18,621 bushels oats, and 11,302 bushels peas
came from Canada, and 221 barrels flour, 160,621 bushels wheat, 40,700
bushels corn, and 2,000 bushels oats from the States. It will be seen
that the bulk of her inward bound freight is from Canada.




548

Commercial and Industrial Cities o f the United States :

The total receipts of flour and grain from the different States and
Canada West, for the season, at Oswego, foot up as follows:—
Flour,
bbls.
___
___
Illinois................... .
Wisconsin.................. . . .
New York................
Canada W est........ .___

27,623
6,888

34,627

Wheat,
bush.
1,063,679
453,589
280,920
3,105,778
1,080,228
...............
611,039

T o t a l...............___

96,663

6,595,433

Indiana.....................

19,684

Corn,
bush.
621,476
55,849
24,950
2,206,276
...............
5,067
...............

Oats,
bush.
37,962
86,325
7,629
178.457
118,283
18,560
190,717

Barley,
bush.
573

Eye,
bush.
3,487
300

163,656
359,642

5,156
5,084
83,981

2,913,618

637,933

549,967

98,008

26,196

This large grain trade is partly attracted by tlie milling advantages o f
Oswego. The Oswego River drains a territory o f about 7,000 square
miles, and is the outlet of eleven lakes, clustering in central New York,
the largest of which are the Oneida, Seneca, Cayuga, Canandaigua,
Skaneateles, and Onondaga. These lakes form immense natural reservoirs
which prevent floods or undue exhaustion. The extreme elevation and
depression of the river, at any season of the year, does not exceed three
feet— so that no disasters, so common to great water-power rivers, ever
occur by reason o f freshets.
The State engineers have guaged the water flowing in the Oswego
River at various times. They estimate the quantity in ordinary high
water at about 12,000 cubic feet per second. A t the extreme low water
of 1848 they calculated 2,160 cubic feet per second. It is very rare that
it falls below 2,500 feet, and still more rare that for ninety days it would
average less than 3,000 feet. I f then, 6,000 is added for possible in­
crease by means o f reservoirs, we have a minimum supply of 9,000 feet
per second.
There is one hundred feet of available fall on the Oswego River from
a point ten miles south of the city. The whole mechanical effect for this
fall would be between 11 and 12 horse power per foot o f water.
The lower fall is about 6,000 horse power, and the two falls within the
city 12,000. The mills use at least 20 horse power per run o f stone,
which would make the supply of water sufficient at the two dams for 600
run of stone, or 300 on each dam.
In the year 1826 the first mill for the manufacture of flour was erected
in Oswego, on the east side of the river, by Messrs. Alvin Bronson and
T. S. Morgan.
From that period the flouring business at Oswego has been gradually
increasing in magnitude— slowly at first, but quite rapidly during the last
twelve years ; and at the present day there is perhaps no point in the
United States, or in the world, where more flour can be manufactured
than in that city. The mills and some o f the elevators below the bridge
were destroyed by fire in July, 1853, but were immediately rebuilt upon
a large and more extensive scale, and with all the modern improvements.
The number of mills in the city at the present time is 16, with 88 run of
stone, which are capable of grinding and packing about 9,000 barrels of
flour per day. Five of these mills are located on the harbor, and elevate
their grain from lake vessels, and discharge their flour into canal boats.
The others elevate their grain from canal boats, and discharge into the
same.




Oswego, New York.

549

Add to these the five mills on the river, within ten miles of the city,
and we have an aggregate o f 112 run of stone, which require, when
running to their full extent, over fifty thousand bushels o f wheat per day.
The mills which are capable o f making a million barrels o f flour during
the season of navigation, only made in 1858 604,837 barrels, as fol­
lows :—
Seneca M ills...............
Magnolia M ills..........
Atlas M ills.................
Reciprocity Mills*___
Washington M ills.. . .
Shenandoah M ills.. . .
Ontario Mills..............
Exchange Mills..........
Empire Mills..............

...b b ls .
.............

.............
.............
.............

65,000 Premium M ills ...........
22,600 Crescent Mills.............
Columbia Mills...........
Huron Mills................. .............
Lake Ontario M ills.. . .............
30,000 Pearl M ills .................
Palmetto Mills............
19,500
48,642
T o t a l...................

38,000
62,300

In August and September there was a scarcity of sound western wheat,
and as what little did arrive was held higher in proportion than the mar­
ket prices of flour, several o f the mills stopped grinding.
The flour received at Oswego, and manufactured in the city, during the
year, was disposed of as follow s:—
Flour manufactured in the city, as above............................................bbls.
Received by lake.............................................................................................

604,837
96,663

Total supply.........................................................................................
Shipped by ca n a l.................................................................
467,886
Shipped by the St, L aw ren ce............................................
55,281
----------

701,500

Leaving for railroad shipments and home u s e ..............................

178,333

523,167

Most of the flour manufactured in Oswego is shipped to Hew York,
Boston, and Montreal, although some of the mills grind for the domestic,
interior, and eastern trade.
The following table will show the number o f barrels o f flour shipped
by canal for a series o f years :—
1851
1852
1853
1854

........................... bbls.
...................................
...................................
...................................

881,131 ! 1855 ............................ bbls.
881,645 |1856......................................
853,950:1857......................................
306,276 ' 1858......................................

398,937
395,523
301,530
467,886

It will be seen that there has been a decrease in shipments since 1853,
which may be accounted for in part by the diminished lake imports as
compared with previous years, and the increase of shipments down the
St. Lawrence. The receipts of flour in 1851, were 389,929 barrels; in
1852, 272,343 barrels; in 1853, 391,245 barrels; in 1854, 167,267 bar­
rels; in 1855, 224,G43 barrels; in 1856, 202,930 barrels; in 1857,
101,363 barrels; and in 1858, 96,663 barrels. The receipts for the last
two years have been affected somewhat by the construction of the Grand
Trunk Boad in Canada. The Cape Vincent and Ogdensburg roads are
also making every effort to obtain the Canadian flour seeking eastern
markets.
On the 8th o f April last, the ‘‘ Oswego Warehouse Association” was
* Tho Reciprocity Mills consumed during the season about 60.000 bushels o f corn in the manu­
facture of meal, over 11,000 bags of which were exported to Canada, and the remainder shipped
by canal and used for domestic consumption.




550

Commercial and Industrial Cities o f the United States:

formed, by the consolidation of all the elevators on the river— with the
exception of the “ Reciprocity ”— “ for the purpose o f receiving and
storing grain, flour, and other property.” Luther W right, Esq., was
appointed the General Superintendent, and all property received by the
association was under his supervision and control, and only deliverable
upon orders from his office. The advantages o f this arrangement are, the
prompt discharge o f vessels at all times; a uniform rate o f charges ; and
a reliable security to shippers and bankers advancing on property shipped
to this port. The capacity o f the elevators is l,745,JOO bushels, or
300,000 bushels per hour. Oswego is the largest distributing point for
salt in the United States.
According to the annual report of the Superintendent of the Onondaga
salt springs, the whole amount of salt inspected on the Onondaga salt
springs reservation, duriug 1858, is 7,032,219 bushels, or 1,406,344 bar­
rels, of 280 pounds each ; and during canal navigation 4,349,033 bushels
were received at Oswego, and 1,370,262 bushels at Buffalo— making an
aggregate o f 5,719,302 bushels, or nearly six-sevenths o f the amount in­
spected. In regard to the state o f the manufacture o f salt, the report
exhibits an increase upon the amount of any former year of about one
million of bushels, and of nearly three millions over the inspection of the
preceding year.
The receipts of salt, in pounds, by canal, foreign and domestic, for a
series of years, have been as follow s:—
Years.
1862.........................
1853 .........................
1854.........................
1855 .........................
1856 .........................
1857 .........................
1858.........................

Foreign.

Domestic.
143,522,628
153,118,818
179,494,899
160,214,220
195,103,800
142,050,372
243,545,896

Total.
143,580,047
153,383,199
179,861,799
160,435,220
195,108,605
142,067,775
243,709,816

The total receipts of Onondaga and foreign salt by canal, and foreign
salt by the St. Lawrence River, in 1858, foot up as follow s:—
Received by canal..............................................................................lbs.
Received by the St. Lawrence River...................................................

243,709,816
393,560

Total s u p p ly....................................................................................
Receipts at Buffalo in 1858............................................................

244,103,376
76,991,105

Excess in receipts over Buffalo....................................................

167,112,271

W hile the increase at this port has been 102,035,621 pounds in 1858
over the previous year, the increase at Buffalo has been only 24,762,116
pounds.
The receipts of coal at Oswego, by canal, for a series o f years, have
been as follow s:—
1853
.......................tons
1854 ........................................
1855 ........................................

12,775
23,898
30,626

1856 ............................tons
1857.......................................
1858.......................................

48,871
65,569
35,267

Before the opening o f the railroads south into the anthracite coal
fields of Pennsylvania, which have transferred the transportation of coal
from the eastern section o f the Erie Canal to Ithaca, where it undergoes
a transhipment, Oswego had no coal trade worthy o f note. In 1851
the receipts at this port were only 8,455 tons, while in 1858 the imports




551

Oswego, New York.

by canal were 35,267 tons, or 7,004 tons more than at Buffalo. It should
be understood that the distance by canal is 91 miles more from Ithaca to
Buffalo, than from the same point to Oswego.
The supplies by canal are from the Pennsylvania mines. The Scranton
coal, mined at the Scranton mines, is taken by the Delaware, Lackawanna,
and Western Railroad to Ithaca, and brought from Ithaca to Oswego by
canal. The Lehigh coal is shipped by railroad and canal to Easton,
Pennsylvania, Trenton, Elizabethport, and Jersey City, thence to Oswego
by water. The Blossburg coal is carried by railroad to Corning, where it
is reshipped by canal to this port. The Lackawanna, Pittston, and Bar­
clay coals are also brought to this market. The shipments by lake ex­
tend to all the Western and Canadian ports.
Oswego is also the chief point in United States for grinding water
lime, or hydraulic cement. It is procured in Onondaga County, and
ground for shipment in Oswego. The quantity shipped in 1858 was as
follows:—
To Canadian p o r ts .......................................................... bbls.
To American ports...................................................................

83,100
25,773

Total shipments............................................................

68,873

The average annual sales are about 50,000 barrels. Prices during the
season were uniform at $1 00 per barrel, and also the same quantity of
plaster is sold annually. The lumber trade of Oswego is also of increasing
importance; the imports by lake from the States and Canada, for a series
of years, have been as follow s:—
1852.................
1853.................
1856.................
1857.................
1858.................

From the States.
23,644,855
11,898,488
6,398,840
10,518,010
6,036,622

From Canada.
75,600,000
123,535,747
97,321,890
100,622,663
104,371,868

Total.
99,144,855
135,434,235
103,720,730
111,140,673
110,408,490

These figures show that, while the receipts o f lumber coastwise have
decreased, there has been an aggregate increase from foreign ports. Of
the imports o f lumber from Canada, more comes from the bay of Quinte
than any other part in the province. Large quantities, however, are re­
ceived from Toronto, Hamilton, Port Hope, Cobourg, and other ports.
The receipts from the States are principally from New Baltimore, or De­
troit, and Saginaw Bay. During the past season, however, two or three
cargoes were received from St. Joseph, on Lake Michigan.
The average annual receipts at Buffalo for the last three years have
been about 63,000,000 feet.
The lumber trade of Oswego consists principally in receiving and ship­
ping through on eastern account. The planing mills, however, send con­
siderable quantities of dressed lumber to Chicago and other western ports.
A remarkable feature in this branch of business is the fact that Canadian
lumber has been “ dressed ” in Oswego, and sent back to the province,
where it has been used for various purposes. The sales here are chiefly
for city use.
The Oswego Times, in closing its statistics of the trade of that port,
remarks as follows:—-The climate of Oswego, from the influence o f the
deep water of Lake Ontario, which never freezes to any considerable ex­
tent, is considered more salubrious and of a more even temperature than




552

Trade and Commerce o f France.

that of any other town this side o f the Highlands. This can be accounted
for on simple philosophical principles During the summer months the
water of the lake becomes thoroughly warmed, and as it cools more slowly
than the land, the severity of the atmosphere is very much tempered by
the warm surface of the water, especially during the early part of the
winter. The reverse is true in summer. As the water retains heat longer
than the land, when once heated, so it takes longer to warm it than the
surface of the land, when thoroughly cooled. Hence in summer, the sur­
face of the water being cooler than the land, we feel that freshness in the
atmosphere, and experience those refreshing breezes, which render our
summers so delightful. W e seldom experience those extremes o f heat and
cold, which are felt in more interior tow ns; and in a sanitary point of
view, Oswego is unquestionably the healthiest city on the continent.
Beautifully situated on both sides of the Oswego River, at its entrance
into Lake Ontario, with its broad streets, lined with shade trees and shrub­
bery ; its grounds rising gradually from either side; its beautiful parks ;
its pleasant drives; its fortification— combined with its salubrity of climate,
educational advantages, etc., no city has more attractions as a place of
residence, independent o f the wide and prolific field that invites enterprise
and capital.

Art. III.— TRADE AND COMMERCE OF FRANCE.
M . V A T T E M E R E — I N T E R N A T I O N A L E X C H A N G E S — F R E N C H O F F I C I A L R E P O R T — E V E N T S OF T H E L A S T D E ­
C A D E — E F F E C T S U PON C O M M E R C E — O F F IC IA L V A L U E S — IN C R E A S E IN G E N E R A L T R A D E — C O M P A R IS O N ,
G E N E R A L A N D S P E C I A L — I M P O R T S A N D E X P O R T S — M E R C H A N D IS E

AND

S P E C I E — IN C R E A S E

OF T H E

T R A D E IN T H E M E T A L S — C H A N G E IN R A T IO O F “ A C T U A L ” T O “ O F F IC IA L ” — P R I C E S — R IS E IN V A L U E S
— S IL K

C O C O O N S — S U G A R A N D C O F F E E — C O M M E R C E B Y S K A A N D B Y L A N D — P R O P O R T IO N OF N A T IV E

F L A G — R E S E R V E D C O M M E R C E — R E L A T I V E IM P O R T A N C E OF T H E

T R A D E O F D I F F E R E N T C O U N T R IE S —

TRADE

AND E X P O R T S

W I T H E N G L A N D , U N IT E D S T A T E S — T A B L E

M A T E R IA L S

OF IM P O R T S

I M P O R T E D — R IS K O F V A L U E S — L E A D I N G

EXPO RTS

B Y C O U N T R IE S — R A W

F O R T H R E E D E C A D E S — R A T I O OF A C ­

T U A L T O O F F I C I A L V A L U E — IN C R E A S E IN E X P O R T S O F G O O D S — T R A D E IN G R A IN — T A B L E
Y E A R S — E X C E S S O F I M P O R T S — R E F IN E D
C U STO M S— S A L T D U T Y — SU G A R

FO R T H IR T Y

S U G A R — D R A W B A C K S — W A R E H O U S I N G — T R A N S I T T R A D E ----

T A X — C O N S U M P T IO N

OF S U G A R — B E E T R O O T D U T Y — S P E C IE

M OVE­

M E N T — T O N N A G E — N U M B E R OF F R E N C H V E S S E L S .

T h r o u g h the attention of Alexander Vattemere, Esq., of the Central
Agency of International Exchanges, we have received the official decen­
nial report on the commercial relations of France with her colonies, and
with foreign nations. This important work is the third decennial resume,
bringing the trade down to the close of 1856 ; a period which embraces
the “ famine,” the “ revolution,” the republic, five years of Empire, the
gold discovery, and the Russian war. The effect o f all these events
upon the trade and industry o f that great nation, is fraught with a lively
interest for the commercial interests of all nations having intercourse
with her, and particularly at this time when she holds in hand the des­
tinies of Europe. In this view we proceed to translate the “ Comparative
and Analytical Resume” of the two large quarto volumes.
The “ official values” by which, since 1827, have been calculated the
comparative importance o f the general commercial operations of France,
with her colonies and with foreign nations, have risen, imports and ex­
ports united, from 1,168,000,000 o f francs in 1827, to 4,587,000,000 of




553

Trade and Commerce o f France.

francs in 1856. They have thus nearly quadrupled in thirty years; in
the last decade, however, the largest increase has taken place. Indeed,
the year 1836 presented, in comparison with the year 1827, only an in ­
crease of 60 per cent, and the year 1846 only indicated an increase of
56 per cent upon the year 1837, whilst the year 1856 gives an increase
of 75 per cent over that of 1847. The tables give the following results,
distinguishing the “ special” from the “ general” commerce:—
1827 to 1836.francs
1837 to 1846...........
1847 to 1856...........

,----------General Commerce.----------- ,
Total.
Average.

.----------Special Commerce.-----------*
Total.
Average.

13,657,000,000
21,125,000,000
31,311,000,000

10,014,000,000
14,892,000,000
22,054,000,000

1,366,000,000
2,112,000,000
3,136,000,000

1,001,000,000
1,489,000,000
2,205,000,000

If we take for comparison the average of each of the three decades,
we observe that the second surpasses the first by 746,000,000, (50 per
cent,) and the third is 1,024,000,000 (48 per cent) more than the second,
and 1,770,000,000 (130 per cent) more than the first. The special com­
merce gives similar results, but less prominently. Thus, the figures for
1856 exceeded those of 1827 by 2,227,000,000, or 242 percent. The
imports and exports have progressed in different proportions; it is in­
teresting to distinguish between them. The following gives the imports
and exports for the same period, and also the specie movement, which is
not included in the figures for imports and exports:—
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS IN MILLIONS OF FRANCS.

,-------- General.-------- ,
Imports.
Exports.

.--------- Special.----------,
Imports.
Exports.

,--------Specie.----Imports. Exports.

1827-36..........................
1837-46.........................
1847-56.........................

6,674
10,884
14,677

6,983
10,241
16,684

4,799
7,764
10,009

5,215
7,128
12,045

1,809
1.711
8,633

697
754
2,224

Total......................

32,235

33,908

22,572

24,388

7,153

3,695

Thus, the imports of general commerce in official values have reached
a sum of 32,235,000,000 francs in thirty years, and the exports have
been 33,908,000,000 francs in the same period, an excess of 1,673,000,000
in the exports.
The special commerce gives an aggregate of 22,572,000,000 o f im­
ports and 24,388,000,000 o f exports, being an excess over imports o f
1,816,000,000. This excess of exports, however, took place only in the
first and third periods; in the second there was in both branches an ex­
cess of imports, and this was for the years 1840 to 1847 only. The average
excess of exports over imports, which was only 31,000,000 in the first
decade, rose to 200,000,000 during the third decade, and the special
commerce showed an increase from 41,000,000 to 203,000,000. The
specie movement has shown a far greater importance than the mer­
chandise operation, and in a reversed sense, for the whole thirty years
the imports have exceeded the exports by 3,458,000,000, while the mer­
chandise exported has exceeded that imported by 1,316,000,000 of the
special commerce. In comparing the official with the actual values of
merchandise, for the last decade, an important change is observable, since
for the first six years the official exceeded the actual, while for the years
1853, ’54, ’55, ’56, the “ actual” exceeded the “ official,” indicating a gene­
ral rise in values. This rise in value is indicated in an extended table of
prices. Thus, of articles o f importation the following are leading changes
in prices :—




554

Trade and Commerce o f France.
Silk
cocoons,
kilog.
Francs.

Official value...............................
1847, actual value.....................
1848.............................................
1849.............................................
1850.............................................
1851.............................................
1852.............................................
1853.............................................
1854.............................................
1855.............................................
1856.............................................
Average.......................................

.........
........
.........
.........
........

3.00
1.80
3 00
4.00
8.00

.........
........
........
.........
.........

14.00
14.00
17 00
21.00
9.78

Sugar,
colonial,
kilog.
Centimes.

Coffee,
colonial,
kilog.
Per cent.

.60
.66
.48
.64
.66
.65
.70
.67
.67*
.73
.79
.66

1.60
1.85
1.85
1.95
1.95
1.95
1.95
1.96
2.00
2.00
2.15
1-. 96

Tobacco,
leaf,
kilog.
Per cent.

2.30
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
.83
.96
.92
.77
1.08
.93
.95

Thus silk cocoons, in 1848, fell 1.20 francs below the official value, and
rose to it again in 1849, after which it continued to rise under the in­
fluence of the worm disease to 21 francs in 1856. Sugar fell to a low
point in the year of revolution, 1848, but has risen rapidly since under
the general circumstances which have affected the supply. Coffee shows
similar results, but tobacco, oppressed under the monopoly system, has
continued under the official value. In the aggregate, the official values
and the actual values compare as follows :—
1847-56

/-------------General Commerce.--------------,
Official.
Actual.

#-------------- Special Commerce.-------------- »
Official.
Actual.

81,361,000,000

22,054,000,000

31,750,000,000

23,008,000,000

The proportion which the “ commerce by sea” has borne to the “ com­
merce by land” has been, of the importations o f general commerce, 65
per cent by sea and 35 by land ; o f the exportations, 77 by sea and 23
by land. The merchandise transported by sea is represented by an average
official value for the last ten years o f 2,251,600,000 francs, o f which
1.026.900.000 francs have been in French vessels, embracing 288,500,000
francs of the “ reserved” commerce and 738,400,000 francs of the general
trade.
The foreign vessels have in this branch borne 1,224,700,000
francs.
In the year 1827, the movement of navigation reached only 811,000,000
francs, of which 465,200,000 francs was under the French flag. In 1856,
the total had risen to 3,296,000,000 francs, of which 1,428,400,000 francs
was in French vessels, and 1,867,700,000 francs in favor of foreign ves­
sels. Of the amount, 288,500,000 francs, which represents the reserved
commerce, the trade with Algiers figures for 129,600,000 francs;
Martinique and Guadaloupe, 66,500,000 ; Reunion, 39,100,000 ; Senegal,
19,900,000; French Indies, 11,900,000; and the great fisheries,
16.100.000 francs. All these, except the last, show a very satisfactory
increase.
Those countries with which France has dealt in the last ten years have
changed in some degree their relative rank. Thus, in the ten years ending
with 1846, the United States stood the highest, having 13.9 per cent of
the whole trade. In the last ten years she stands second, with 14.7 per
cent of the whole trade; but England has enjoyed 15.9 per cent o f the
whole commerce of France, whence it w'ould appear that the United
States and England are absorbing French general commerce, official
value.
According to the actual values England stands first, having
17.6 per cent of the whole, and the United States second, having 14.6




555

Trade and Commerce o f France.

per cent of the whole trade. The whole trade with England for the
decade was as follows, official value:—
Official v a lu e ......................................................................................francs
Actual v a lu e ................................................................................................

498,000,000
557,500,000

Excess of actual value.................................................................................

58,700,000

The articles which have most contributed to this difference have been
raw silk, coal, and wool imported, and silk goods, brandy, leather goods,
and leather exported.
The special commerce of France for the three decades, distinguishing
the imports from the exports, and the leading countries, has been as
follows, in millions of francs:—
,—

1827--36.----- v

Imports.

England..................
United States . . . .
Belgium...................
Switzerland.............
Sardinia...................
Spain........................
Zollverein................
Algiers.....................
T u rk e y ...................
Russia.......................
Brazils.....................
Two S icilies...........
East Indies.............
Other........................
T ota l...............

Exports.

,—

,—

1837--46.----- ,

Imports.

1847--56.----- ,

Imports.

239.6
171.8
10S.4
56.7
59.1
74.0
50.7
103.7
27 5
13.8
28.7
16.2
4.1
250.2
1,204.5

121.1

65.4
93.6
50.2
29.6
27.7
39.2
42.5
6.3
9 .6
7.8
12.2
6.2
4.6
126.5

80.4
120.8
88.9
22.8
77.5
30.3
48.2
2.1
27.2
34.9
7.5
16.7
22.7
196.4

97.2
91.4
45.3
41.8
39 5
65.2
50.8
42.0
11.1
12.9
16.2
7.7
3.9
187.9

110.2
154.7
116.6
29.7
85.9
42.0
47.0
18.2
48.0
44.4
12.7
21.6
39.1
230.8

479.9

521.4

776.4

712.9

1,000.9

65.0
12.9
64.0
23.0
40.0
1.2
12.6
9.9
7 .7
11.4

Exports.

Exports.

This table indicates the large increase of French commerce in thirty
years, and the countries which have had the greatest share in the develop­
ment. The imports and exports to and from the United States for three
periods are given as follows:—
IMPOSTS INTO FRANCE FROM UNITED STATES.

Cotton wool . . . francs
Leaf tobacco...............
Grain. .*.......................
Goldsmiths’ refuse . . .
Staves...........................
Salt m e a ts.................
Rice..............................
Tallow and lard.........
Whalebone..................
Potash.........................
Quercitron..................
Hides and skins..........
Rubber goods.............
Dye woods.................
Coffee...........................
Gutta percha.............
Spermaceti.................
Other............................
Total official.. . .
Total actual........
Duties.................




Average.

Average.

Average.

1827-46.

1817-46.

1847-66.

1856.

49,206,027
5,589,375
785,986
230,694
1,005,153
3,156
1,591,134
8,692
551,913
1,225,883
298,322
407,497

109,838,934
21,562,515
9,254,988
3.814,101
1,688,355
593,268
1,169,372
855,915
813,981
603,185
339,406
298,969
192,486
52,299
59,094
272,382
37,215
3,299,602

141,658,837
8,455,495
36,675,525

235,191
518,643
7,472
1,746
2,313,645

88,943,112
19,932,851
393,190
386,577
999,584
5,856
1,401,440
1,397,480
861,411
1,370,998
321,283
910,114
29
260,447
262,749
25,066
32,539
3,297,755

63,980,729

120,802,531

8,120,080

12,672,306

154,746,067
135,624,888
14,820,897

202,424,127
222,829,988
20,757,980

417,314
3,781,725
999,735
643,332
780,511
485,862
243,066
254,256
47,690
118,708
145,761
1,508,434
9,906
6,894,638

556

Trade and Commerce o f France.
EXPORTS FROM FRANCE TO UNITED STATES.

Silks................... francs
W o o l...........................
Cotton..........................
A p p a re l.....................
Wine............................
Leather.......................
Hair and hatters’ skins
China............................
Millinery.....................
Brandy, etc..................
L in en ..........................
Madder.........................
W atches......................
Paper, & c ...................
Fashions and flowers.
Jewelry........................
Perfum ery.................
Straw b ra id ...............
T o y s ............................
C o rk ............................
Other...........................
Total official....,
Total actual. . . .

Average.
1887-31
45,896,604
5,476,784
6,358,631
386,222
5,797,640
5,117,879
15,900
2,430,166
1,623,494
3,300,358
6,071,101
420,853
711,174
1,287,961
701,069
183,821
1,246,914
13,845
177,869
92,372
6,260,714

Average.
1837-46.
36,559,381
14,609,107
6,817,548
956,058
4,613,747
3,875,036
143,604
2,661,531
2,209,460
2,293,478
3,773,144
1,387,460
176,225
1,019,084
1,027,153
174,612
1,022,302
51,491
349,355
90,385
7,594,356

Average.
1847-56.
68,632,403
19,953,667
10,373,890
2,083,620
9,764,267
7,679,492
4,544,008
7,969,266
4,499,833
4,391,679
3,068,393
3,125,055
204,978
2,474,117
1,695,905
148,924
1,117,544
103,158
752,816
104,841
18,420,854

1856.
106,703,798
31,484,277
10,244,088
3,851,812
10,212,178
9,200,264
10,709,560
10,411,747
6,902,340
3,299,153
2,789,026
4,633,815
175,948
2,835,322
3,337,023
78,923
1,485,538
28,396
1,033,896
127,737
24,590,993

93,567,374

91,404,717

171,818,719
194,138,656

244,135,833
323,585,769

In the last decennial period the value of all raw materials imported
into France has risen to 820,600,000 official value, or 55.9 per cent of
the whole; raw produce for consumption 317,000,000, or 21.6 per cent
o f the whole, and manufactures 330,000,000, or 22.5 per cent. In the
general commerce, the articles which have shown the greatest increase
have been as follows :—
1827-36.
Official.
Silk.........................................
Cotton..................................
G rain....................................
W o o l .................................... .............
Colonial sugar.....................
Coal.......................................
Lum ber................................
Seeds..................................... .............
Hides.......... ....................... .............
Tobacco............................... .............
In d ig o .................................. .............
Coffee.................................... .............
Olive oil................................ .............
Sugar, foreign...................... .............

16.2

9.6
14.0
5.9
18.0
10.1
29.6
0.7

1817-46.
Official.
60.0
96.6
30.6
37.6
48.8
22.1
39.2
36.3
25.3
25 .7
20.5
13.1
26.3
3.9

,------ 1847-56.-------.
Official.
Actual.
113.3
122.3
99.8
115.7
71.2
94.6
47.4
52.5
44.7
48.7
40.7
57.7
38.8
57.2
33.8
17.8
34.6
26.7
29.2
12.1
20.9
15.8
23.9
17.3
18.4
26.0
13.2
16.6

The official values indicate the increased quantities taken in each de­
cade, and the actual values show for the last decade what articles have
advanced in prices.
The value of exports in the last decade obtained the figure of
1,668,400,000 francs, of which 477,000,000 were natural products, and
manufactured articles 1,191,400,000; a figure 75 percent higher than
that for the second decade, and 168 per cent more than for the first de­
cade. The actual value o f the exports have passed, in annual average
for the last decade, the official value by 4,000,0000 in the general com-




557

Trade and Commerce o f France.

merce, and by a little more than 19,000,000 in the special commerce.
It has, however, been in natural products that the increased value has
taken place, while in manufactures there has been a decline in actual
values as compared with the official values. The principle articles of
export have been as follows, special commerce, in millions of francs:—

1827-56.
Official.

1857-46.

Silks.....................................
Cottons................................
Woolen9..............................
W ines.................................
Leather...............................
Grain....................................
Glassware...........................
Linen..................................
Apparel..............................
Paper..................................
Sugar, refined....................
Brandy................................
Metals, w a res...................
Silk......................................
Skins..................................

Official.

134.7
97.7
76.5
49.1
21.0
10.7
17.6
26.9
13.0
18.7
8.5
13.5
7 .8
5 .3
8 .2

,------- 1847-56.--------,
Official.
Actual.
231.6
274.7
159.0
62.6
139.3
122.1
66.2
109.2
37.6
48.7
36 9
37.5
31.5
18.4
30.4
18.9
28.1
32.1
27.4
25.3
21.9
14.9
21.2
46.9
17.5
34.7
15.2
16.1
15.0
27.2

From these tables it appears that the articles of which the export has
increased in the greatest ratio from one period to the other, have been
the textile fabrics, grain, refined sugar, etc., and it is to be observed that
while silks and linens have increased in value, as seen by the excess of
the actual over the official value, cotton and woolen goods have not main­
tained their actual value as compared with the official figures. The
movement of grain, as well o f import as export, assumed increasing im­
portance, and it will be observed that in the imports the value, as indicated
in the excess o f actual over official value, was greater than in the exports.
The movement o f grain and flour is of sufficient importance to make the
following table of interest, expressing, as it does, in hectolitres, the quan­
tities imported and exported (special commerce) for thirty years :—
FLOUR AND GRAIN EXPORTED AND IMPORTED FROM AND INTO FRANCE, IN HECTOLITRES OF
2 § BUSHELS.

Years.

Importations.

1827.....................
1828 ...................
1829 ...................
1830 ...................
1 8 3 1 ...................
1832 ...................
1833 ...................
1834 ...................
1835 ...................
1836 ...................

107,326
1,249,763
2,315,878
2,285,864
1,194,187
4,769,091
33,213
1,900
12,838
221,925

858,758
269,565
259,634
123,175
448,787
246,686
263,113
259,727
312,614
384,228

Total...........

12,191,985
1,219,199
f. 28,000,000

3,426,287
342,629
5,400,000

303,340
226,787
1,350,419
2,619,305
227,047
849,190

471,201
638,568
1,102,169
345,475
1,026,385
1,213,703

A verage.. . .

“

value

1837.....................
1838 ...................
1839 ...................
1840 ...................
1 8 4 1 ...................
1842 ...................




Exportations.

Excess o f
importations.

Excess o f
exportations.

751,432
980,198
2,056,244
2,162,689
745,400
4,522,405

........
229,900
257,827
299,776
162,303

8,765,698
876,570
17,600,000
167,861
311,781
248,250
2,273,830
799,338
364,513

Trade and Commerce o f F rance.

558
Years.
1843 ...................
1844 ...................
1845 ...................
1846 ...................
Total............
A verage.......
“
value

Importations.
2,307,445
2,682,939
829,550
5,151,465

Exportations.
381,835
443,400
973,683
511,955

Excess of
importations
1,925,610
2,239,539

144,133
4,639,510

16,647,487
1,664,749
f. 30,600,000

7,108,374
710,837
10,800,000

9,539,113
953,912
10,800,000

11,191,568
1,735,992
6,549
1,001
121,402
316.716
4,482,559
5,998.256
3,967,682
9,484,605

330,852
2,427,722
3,446,767
1,218,148
6,302,452
4,262,928
2,359,496
260,523
161.332
313,463

10,860,716

Total............
Average......
“
value

37,306,330
3,730,683
f. 71,200,000

21,083,683
2,108,368
36,900,000

16,222,647
1,622,265
34,300,000

First period.........
Second period___
Third period........

12,191,985
16,647,487
37,306,£30

3,426,287
7,108,374
21,083,683

8,765,698
9,539,113
16,222,647

Grand total..
Av. of the SO years
“ value, 30 years

66,145,802
2,204,860
f. 41,600,000

31,618,344
1,058,945
17,000,000

34,527,458
1,150,915
25,900,000

1847.....................
1848 ...................
1849 ...................
1850 ...................
1 8 5 1 ...................
1852 ...................
1853 ...................
1854 ...................
1855 ...................
1856 ...................

Excess of
exportations.

691,780
3,440,218
1,217,147
6,181,050
3,946,212
2,123,063
5,737,733
3,806,350
9,171,142

RECAPITULATION.

This table presents the great increase which has taken place in the
movement of grain. In the first decade the excess of imports was 8,765,698
hectolitres, in the second 9,539,113, and in the last 16,222,647. In
the last two years however, since the decade closed, the crops have been
better, and the grain exports have come to exceed the imports:—

1857.

1858.

Imports.............................................................. qtls.
Exports.....................................................................

4,237,953
355,750

2,380,688
6,156,272

Excess of imports...........................................
“
exports...........................................

3,982,203
...............

...............
2,775,584

This gives a large excess of exports for the year 1858, arising from the
improved crops. It is to be observed that the average value of the grain
France sells is much less than that of what she buys; or, in years of
good harvests she gives a much larger quantity than she can obtain in
years of bad harvests for the same amount of money.
Among the articles exported from France, and entitled to a drawback,
refined sugar, made from colonial or foreign raw sugar, has increased con­
siderably, as also cotton and woolen manufactures. Cotton has doubled
in the last decade as compared with the second, and is three times that
of the third. The amount of drawbacks paid in the last decade has
been 27,600,000 francs, against 13,100,000 francs in the second decade.
In this amount of the last decade sugar has received 16,200,000 francs,
woolens 7,000,000 francs, and cottons 1,700,000 francs.




559

Trade and Commerce o f France.

The customs receipts o f the government for the first decade were
159.000. 000 ; increased to 195,000,000 in the second decade, but fell to
179.000. 000, annual average, for the last decade. The principal cause of
this diminution was the reduction of the salt duty, to take effect January
1st, 1849. The reduction was from 63,437,028 francs in 1848 to 25,623,043
in 1850. In 1852, salt used in certain manufactures, and which had been
before free, was taxed. Among the articles which have most contributed
to the increase of customs has been sugar, foreign and domestic. The
following table has great interest, as showing the total progressive con­
sumption of all kinds of sugar in France :—
CONSUMPTION OF SUGAR IN FRANCE.

^-Sugar imported.—, Beet root
Foreign. Colonial, duty paid.

Years.

Total,

Refined sugar Total conexported,
sumption
equal to raw. in France.

1827..metrical quintals
1828 ...........................
1829 ...........................
1830 ...........................
1831 ............................
1832 ............................
1833 ............................
1834 ...........................
1835 ............................
1836 ............................

9,444
6,799
5,291
7,769
4,458
3,465
15,882
43,668
32,925
10,128

693,733
709,230
740,101
688,849
812,896
822,477
699,187
664,754
693,395
661,890

...........
26,000
44,000
55,000
70,000
90,000
120,000
200,000
300,000
400,000

603,177
742,029
7S9.392
751,618
887,354
915,942
836,069
908,422
1,026,320
1,072,018

Decennial average.

13,983

708,651

130,500

853,134

105,941

747,193

...........................
............................
............................
............................
............................
...........................
............................
............................
............................
...........................

33,430
33,095
6,553
66,664
120,416
82,096
96,053
102,688
115,420
151,849

664,897
681,467
716,131
784,451
745,145
774,430
794,552
873,819
909,581
786,316

489,688
492,361
350,159
281,023
271,625
350,704
291,546
320,742
351,328
468,457

1,18S,015
1,206,923
1,072,843
1,132,138
1,137,186
1,207,230
1,182,161
1,297,249
1,376,329
1,406,622

59,016
79,824
98,722
52,417
115,806
80,714
96,310
96,221
203,374
125,982

1,128,999
1,127,099
974,121
1,079,721
1,021,380
1,126,516
1,085,841
1,201,028
1,172,955
1,280,640

Decennial average.

80,826

773,079

366,763

1,220,668

100,838 1,119,830

96,261
95,400
188,779
238,584
233,891
297,685
308,780
380,676
596,549
328,994

878,261
483,708
654,661
511,715
484,504
640,181
656,821
822,114
907,473
935,310

623,703
481,027
500,734
597,589
640,807
641,285
738,145
674,437
665,293
885,220

1,498,225
1,060,135
1,344,174
1,347,888
1,359,202
1,579,151
1,703,746
1,877,227
2,069,315
2,149,524

184,006
82,581
129,854
205,632
203,898
218,708
258,220
355,773
460,789
497,725

276,560 697,475 624,824
510,000 850,000 700,000
380,000 1,150,000 1,250,000

1,598,859
2,140,000
2,780,000

259,719 1,839,140
350,000 1,790,000
560,000 2,230,000

1837
1838
1839
1840
1841
1842
1843
1844
1845
1846

1847
1848
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1854
1855
1856

............................
............................
............................
...........................
............................
............................
............................
...........................
............................
............................

Decennial average.
1857 ...........................
1858 ............................

60,860
68,159
95,365
120,283
138,272
221,116
150,072
39,231
59,998
106,051

542,317
673,870
694,027
631,335
749,082
694,826
684,997
869,191
966,322
965,967

1,314,219
977,664
1,214,320
1,142,256
1,155,304
1,360,443
1,445,626
1,521,454
1,608,526
1,661,799

The refined sugar exported is calculated at 10 per cent o f the raw
sugar. The weights given are metrical quintals, of which ten about equal
one ton. The result shows an immense increase in the use o f sugar.
The duty on beet-root sugar, in 1858, amounted to $12,174,240, an in­
crease o f $4,500,000 over 1857.




560

Trade and Commerce o f France.

The warehouse business has also been largely developed in the last de­
cade as follow s:—
Value, official.
Francs.
681,000,000
678,000,000

Quintals.
11,736,712
11,544,912

Entries................................................................
Deliveries...........................................................

The transit trade across France has also shown a very large develop­
ment, the chief goods being, silks, 92,200,000 francs in the last decade,
against 40,300,000 in the second; cottons, 51,600,000 francs against
32,700,000 in the preceding decade; woolens, 32,500,000 francs against
16,30t),000; watches, 9,700,000 francs against 3,800,000. Switzerland
and the Zollverein are the chief places of origin, and the United States
and England the principal places of destination.
The import and export o f the precious metals is very marked, and for
three years the operation has been as follows :—
1856
1857
1858

...................
....................
....................

Total..............
Excess of imports.
“ exports.

,---------------Gold.----------------,
Import
Export.
£18,501,840
£242,556
22,734,360
409,696
22,142,256
192,732

,------------- - Silver.---------------,
Export
Import
£23,401,400
£4,361,097
9.243,100
3,896,337
7,029,409
6,424,775

£63,378,456
62,533,572
.................

£39,673,909
£14,282,209
................................................
25,391,700
...................

£844,884
...............
...............

Thus in three years $125,000,000 worth of silver has gone out of
France, and $300,000,000 worth o f gold has been absorbed into French
currency, giving a net increase o f $175,000,000 of the precious metals
in three years. Of that large amount 8101,000,000 was acquired in the
last year, the year of paralysis of business, 1858, and owing mostly to
the fact that her crops are good o f food, o f silk, and of vines, while her
exports have been well sustained. The sources where France derived
the gold, in 1856, were as follows :—
Bullion.
A lg ie rs...........hectogrammes
Belgium....................................
England....................................
English East Indies...............
Switzerland............................
T u rk ey....................................
Egypt.......................................
A frica ......................................
United States.........................
China........................................
Brazil........................................
P e r u ........................................
Senegal.....................................
Other countries...................
Isle Reunion............................
Zollverein.................................
Spain........................................
Sardinia...................................
Tuscany....................................
Total.................................
“ va lu e...........francs
“ gold.........................
“ silver......................




Gold.----------- ,
Coin.

34,689
824,615

103,923
299,086

88
185

48,117

596
46,880

49,203

72
166
65
2,627

909,983
272,995,014

,------Silver exported.------.
Coin.
Bullion.
259,901
1,801,119
1,452,383
2,582,978
4,386,858
472,125
391,660
1,494,748
51,200
183,280
42,500
250,530
8,224

44,930

7,804

57,360

67,177
12,317
50,528
1,846

809

153,970
308,540
353,358
2,431,506
1,200,720
1,128,560

20

131,146
138,610

12,716,329
6,959,600
640,021
192,006,315 139,192,000 254,326,588
........................................
465,001,829
.................................... 390,518,580

561

Trade and Commerce o f France.

This course of the French trade in the metals for 1856 indicates the
usual operations for other years. In that year, however, the*bank was a
buyer of gold, which was not the case in 1858, when the operations and
wants of trade alone governed the currents of the precious metals.
The shipments of silver to the English East Indies were mostly from
Marseilles, in furtherance of transactions originating in London, and for
which gold left England in considerable amounts, mostly in the shape of
bars derived from the United States, and coins from Australia. The
current o f silver was large in those years into Germany and Italy, in pay­
ment o f grain and silk, which both commanded high prices in that year.
The navigation o f France has increased to a very considerable extent
in the three periods, of which comparison is given in the table. The
leading results, distinguishing the foreign from the French flag, are as
follows :—
TONNAGE AVERAGE IN EACH DECADE.

/----------------- Entered.------------------ » ,-----------------Cleared.---------- -------- N
French.
Foreign.
French.
Foreign.
Years.
No.
Tons.
No.
Tons.
No.
Tons.
No.
Tons.
1827-36........... 5,336
457,978 6,843 703,918 3,157
484,525 7,334 801,413
1837-46........... 7,520
739,804 10,926 1,305,695 7,321
733,181 10,993 1,294,145
1847-56........... 9,534 1,082,921 12,788 1,719,612 9,770 1,143,625 12,840 1,697,045

The increase has been very large it appears, but the foreign has in­
creased faster than the French. In the trade with the United States it
appears that the progress was as follows:—
French............................................................
American.......................................................

1827-36.

1837-46.

1847-56.

20,197
152,179

27,327
220,215

31,006
374,120

This gives an increase of 53 per cent in the French tonnage, and 146
per cent in the American tonnage, showing an immense preponderance
in favor of the United States.
The above figures embrace steam as well as sailing-vessels. Separate
accounts have been kept o f these only since 1837. The quantity was
as follows in 1856 as compared with 1847 :—

1847 ......... ,.
1856 ...............

/----------------- Entered.----------------French.
Foreign.
No.
Tons.
No.
Tons.
985 179,320 2,164 320,623
1,732 428,678 3,195 651,739

,----------------- Cleared.-----------------French.
Foreign.
No.
Tons.
No.
Tons.
988 174,764 2,178 312,400
1,704 426,191 3,164 649,942

The French tonnage has increased 84 per cent and foreign 88 per cent.
In the trade with the United States the tonnage in 1856 was 58,234.
The existing French tonnage, December 31, steam and sail, was as follows
,---- 1817.1816.------- ,

Vessels of
700 tons.........
600 a 700 ___
500 a 600 ___
400 a 500 ___
300 a 400 ___
200 a 300 ___
100 a 200 ___
60 a 1 0 0 ___
30 a 60 ___
30 and under

No.

.............
.............

1,362
1,661

Tons.
1,496
1,271
6,590
IS,502
69,068
119,202
190,624
125,552
68,631
69,304

No.
54
46
106
216
820
730
1,520
1,701
1,516
8,515

Tons.
48,010
20,636
57,431
96,275
111,391
175,910
217,404
130,622
64,006
67,711

670,260
14,724
Total.......
760,173
The increase is not large, but has been mostly in the larger vessels.
V O L . X L . --- N O . V .
36




562

The Acquisition o f Cuba.

Art. IV.— THE ACQUISITION OF CUBA.
ABE THE UNITED STATES JUSTIFIED IN DEMANDING- THE IMMEDIATE SURRENDER
OF CUBA ?
W h i l e all will concede the fertility o f the island o f Cuba, men m a y
well differ as to the policy of our country, with respect to it, and as to
our right to demand its immediate cession by Spain. W hile a subject of
so much importance to our country engages the attention o f the executive,
and is closely watched by our people, it is alike important that both sides
of the question be discussed, and the facts be fairly presented to the
public.
The April number o f this Magazine contains an interesting article on
the acquisition of Cuba, by the Hon. F. 0 . J. Smith, o f Maine, a gentle­
man of much information, and well qualified to grapple with a subject in
which his State has a peculiar interest, for his county of Cumberland is
largely engaged in the lumber trade with Cuba. Mr. Smith has well
analyzed the law of nations as it bears on our relations with Cuba, but
before we acquiesce in his conclusions, it will be rvell to consider whether
his premises warrant all his deductions, and whether a very natural de­
sire to promote the commerce o f his own State may not have a little
biased his judgment.
The positions taken by Mr. Smith are in substance these—
First. That our veteran statesman, John Quincy Adams, with a pre­
science of the future, declared in 1823, that such were the geographical,
commercial, political, and moral relations of the United States with Cuba,
that is annexation would become indispensable to the continuance and
integrity of our Union.
Second. That the conquest of the island would now be justified by the
exclusive spirit o f the government, with respect to commerce, and “ the
dark and oppressive barbarity o f its internal polity,” in which it resembles
the former government of China, whose course, in the. opinion of
Mr. Adams, was in conflict with the rights of mankind, and warranted
the invasion by England.
Third. That one nation is justified in seizing the territory of another,
if it endangers the internal peace and safety o f the former.
Fourth. That the seizure of Amelia Island and Florida, on the ground
that they endangered the peace and safety o f our country, are good pre­
cedents for the seizure o f Cuba.
Fifth. That by the laws o f Spain, if our citizens sustain damages in
Cuba, they are compelled to resort for redress to a circuitous appeal to
Spain, and are thus delayed and baffled in the vindication o f their rights.
Sixth. That Spain has recognized claims for such damages to the ex­
tent of $128,000, but procrastinates payment, offering but one-third of
the amount.
Seventh. That Spain, after a solemn treaty with Great Britain to dis­
continue the slave trade, sustains it, by allowing Africans to be landed in
Cuba, and thus subjects us to the expense of a squadron on the coast of
Africa, and to frequent collisions with England on the subject o f the right
o f search.
Eighth. That the peace and continuance of our Union are thus




The Acquisition o f Cuba.

563

endangered ; “ that the time for submissiveness is now at an end ; iet Great
Britain, let France, and let all the other powers of the earth say, think,
and do as they shall please.” That the time has come for our people “ to
act as an unit towards the Spanish Government in respect to Cuba and
Cuban Government, and so they will act.” “ That they owe it to their
dignity, to their safety, and alike to their external and internal peace, and
to all their interest as a great and prosperous people, to blot out the foul
spot upon their hitherto overtaxed forbearance, and to abate the nuisance
that annoys them.”
Mr. Smith dwells particularly upon the slave trade, and the expenditure
in which it involves us, remarking, “ that Spain in this matter of the
African slave trade has become an outlaw among nations.” He concludes
as follows:— “ Her soil and her jurisdiction alone, in all the civilized
world, are the fulcrum, which is to uphold the continuance of this trade,
or to drop it into remediless destruction. W e have demonstrated that
with that soil, and that jurisdiction transferred to the United States, the
African slave trade will come to an and. As we treated Spain in the mat­
ter of West Florida, in view o f the same weakness, not to say bad faith,
of Spain upon the slave trade question— as we treated Spain in the mat­
ter of Amelia Island, in view o f her same weakness, not to say bad faith,
on the slave trade question— as we treated the Algerines for their bad
faith in respect to the enslaving of white men, against the rights of
humanity-—as the French have since treated these Barbary powers, for
like offences; so now, upon a just warning by our government, and upon
a refusal o f a fair recompense for the property involved, so let Spain be
now treated by the United States, regardful o f every sentiment o f both
divine and human justice, if it be permitted to be done peaceably, and
regardless of every cost o f treasure, and every hazard o f odds, if driven
to consummate it forcibly.”
The conclusion of Mr. Smith, after advising and predicting immediate
action, is a little ambiguous when he says we are to give a just warning,
and upon a refusal of a fair recompense for the property involved, we are
to treat Spain, with respect to Cuba, as we have done with respect to
Amelia Island and Florida. The only inference we draw from this is, that we
are to enter forcibly, regardless o f cost or consequences, and take posses­
sion of Cuba, if Spain will not accept our offer.
From these premises and conclusions the inquiry naturally springs, is
the presage of an eminent statesman so conclusive, the danger to our
country so irresistible, the oppression by Spain o f her subjects so heart­
rending, her restraint on commerce so burthensome, her course of pro­
cedure with respect to claims so unprecedented, the importance o f our
claims on her so great, and her withdrawal from the slave trade so slow,
that we, who have no treaty with her on the last subject, have no
alternative but to demand, and on her refusal, to invade one or more of
those two islands, the last o f her magnificent possessions in America, in
the retention of which her national pride and her commercial interests
are so deeply enlisted ?
Let us examine each position. The presage of Mr. Adams is doubtless
entitled to the greatest respect, for he was every inch a statesman, how­
ever ardent or impulsive may have been his temperament; but were he
living would he repeat that presage to-day ? When Mr. Adams wrote,
our population was actually less than that of Spain. Her past greatness




564

The Acquisition o j Cuba,.

was fresh in his memory. N ot a railway spanned our Alleghanies. The
St. Lawrence was innavigable, and the Erie Canal not yet constructed.
Our own coast was comparatively defenceless. New Orleans was then the
chief outlet of the West. Cuba was far more important to us then than she
is to-day, when we take into view the great expansion of our country in
size, population, resources, and internal improvements. It may be fairly
presumed that Mr. Adams, were he living to-day, might materially qualify
his opinion. As respects the restrictions of Spain on commerce, are they
not far less oppressive than the restraints on the commerce of the British
West Indies, during a long series of years, when those islands, as well as
the British Provinces, were almost closed to our commerce ? Have we
not to-day an extensive and prosperous commerce with Cuba, greater than
that of any other nation ? and is there not at this moment a Spanish
commission in Cuba to alleviate those duties which are onerous to our
commerce ? When we consider the past history of Spain, the portentous
darkness which had settled down upon her, and the losses and debts she
had incurred, is not a little allowance to be made for her ? and can she be
expected to move as rapidly in the path of free trade as more enlightened
England ? And if she struggles to send her own flour to her own colonies,
to revive her own navigation, and restore her own navy, and thus resume
her place among nations, should we not feel some respect for the national
pride and ambition which direct her policy ? A t all events, has not an
independent power a right to change her tariff, or impose a discriminat­
ing duty, under the law of nations ? And does Spain exclude the foreigners
from Havana as the Chinese did from Canton ? In these particulars
surely Spain is giving us no just grounds for invasion.
A gain; it is said that Spain oppresses her subjects in Cuba, and, in the
language of Mr. Singleton, cited by Mr. Smith, “ compels each Cuban to
pay $40 in taxes annually, while the citizen of the United States pays but
$2 40.” Is this statement true ? Our late consul, Mr. Thrasher, in his
edition of Humboldt’s Cuba, published in 1856, makes the population of
the island 1,446,000, and the whole revenue and taxes $16,000,000, or
but $11 per head for each individual, and less than $20, not $40, for each
free inhabitant. And in what part of the United States do the inhabi­
tants pay but $2 40 per head ? Grant that the duties imposed by govern­
ment do not average more than $2 40 per pead, have we not State, county,
and town or city taxes ? In Boston each individual pays on an average,
directly or indirectly, more than $12 taxes, actually more than each
inhabitant pays in Cuba ; but does this warrant a revolution ?
We may safely concede that it would be more liberal on the part of
Spain not to draw a revenue of three millions annually from Cuba, and
not to charge her with any part o f the cost o f the navy and troops, and
general expenses, which she incurs for the protection of the island, but
surely we have no right to interfere upon these local questions, and if we
did, it might well happen we should find some weight in the arguments
of Spain.
Again ; it is urged that if Cuba is dangerous to the peace and existence
of our Union, we may, under the law of nations, seize it as we have
seized Amelia Island and Florida.
But is Cuba thus dangerous ? Amelia Island was the resort of pirates
and freebooters, and Florida was the headquarters of Indians, where Spain
was powerless to prevent, and did not prevent, incursions into our territory,




The Acquisition o f Cuba.

565

while she owed us some $5,000,000, equal to twice that amount to-day.
But does Cuba commit piracies on our shipping, or send freebooters to
invade our territory, and is our own innocence indisputable ? Were
Spain to take the attitude that armed bodies of men have been organized
here in time of peace to invade her soil, that bonds have been issued,
charging the expense upon that soil, and parceling it out among the in­
vaders, that she had thus been compelled to raise armies, create navies,
construct steam frigates, and had been kept in great excitement, and sub­
jected to vast expense, would it not be easier for her than for us to find
a justification for hostilities ?
And are we, with a population of thirty-one millions, and all our re­
sources, alarmed at the idea of any aggression from Spain, or in danger
of falling to pieces at her touch ? or is there any real danger that Spain,
who will not cede to us Cuba for love or money, will quietly resign it to
France or England? The idea seems a little preposterous. .
It may be said, although this ground is not taken by Mr. Smith, that
Spain may Africanize Cuba by the liberation of her slaves, and it is doubt­
less true that she does intend, if Cuba is invaded, to liberate and arm her
slaves. Concede that she does intend to do so, that at the moment we
invade the island every slave is to be armed and liberated, is that any
reason that we should make the invasion ? Are our Southern brethren
ready to embark in an expedition to effect that object? and are our
Northern enthusiasts ready to invade Cuba, and to do evil upon the
Jesuit plea that good may follow ?
Let us take the broader and higher ground. Concede that Spain should
have the magnanimity to liberate her slaves, and, in the same generous
and beneficient spirit, which guided England, should recompense the
owners for the loss, is our whole nation so deeply committed to slavery,
that it should intervene and forbid the act? Are we prepared, is even
the South prepared, to embark in a crusade against freedom, abroad ?
And if the slaves are liberated, are we to reduce them again to bondage ?
and, even if the South consents, are New England, New York, Ohio, and
Pennsylvania to be reasonably expected to join the array against freedom ?
It may be asked, shall we suffer Cuba to be reduced to the condition of
Mauritius, Hayti, and the British West Indies? and if we do, will it net
endanger the existence of the Southern States?
But are Mauritius, Jamaica, Barbadoes, and Hayti, aggressive and
dangerous communities ? W hat expedition of fillibusters has been made
from either ? Is not the land in all of them, except Hayti, held principally
by whites ? and is it not far more valuable to-day than the cotton land of
Georgia and South Carolina ?
It has been customary to say that these islands have gone to ruin, but
a few years have changed all this. The Mauritius to-day, containing hut
700 square miles, less in size than some counties of Massachusetts, pro­
duces annually 240,000,000 pounds o f sugar, nearly twice as much as
did St. Domingo before its revolution. The latter island, which contains
29,000 square miles, and whose soil is a deep, vegetable mould of unsur­
passed fertility, produced in its most palmy days but 145,000,000 pounds
per annum.
In the little island of Barbadoes, land is now rarely sold, but when sold,
it commands from $200 to $300 per acre.
In Jamaica, a mountainous island, which rises to the height of 7,500




566

The Acquisition o f Cuba.

feet above the sea, much inferior land was devoted to sugar, after the
destructive wars in St. Domingo, and the cultivation was for a time
sustained by the differentia] duties of England. But its culture actually
, declined from 1803 to 1834, the year of emancipation ; after this sugar
was reduced in value forty shillings per hundred, by, a repeal of English
duties on foreign imports, and the planters, although they combined to
charge five shillings per week rent to their negroes for their wretched huts
and allotments, and to pay them but ten shillings per week for their labor,
could not compete in sugar with the fertile soil of Cuba. The inferior
estates of Jamaica, which required manure, were thus thrown out of
cultivation, or wrere converted into provision fields.* But to day even
Jamaica is reviving; ten million pounds o f pimento are raised annually in
place of sugar; more provisions are produced there than in former years ;
more than half the sugar estates are still in sugar cane. On the third of
March last,.it was stated in the British House of Commons, that the ex­
ports from the British W est Indies and Guiana for 1858, were £10,700,000,
and exceeded the exports of any previous year on record, and that all
their official reports concurred in presenting a picture of progress, improve­
ment, and happiness. Hayti, too, after a long and disastrous struggle,
unaided by white philanthopy and intelligence, seems to be wheeling into
line, and the emigrants, now returning from Jamaica to Hayti, will, we
may hope, under republican institutions, aid in its recovery. The problem
may yet be unsettled, whether the black man, without white aid, can
attain to full civilization, but in Barbadoes, Jamaica, Mauritius, Sierra
Leone, and Liberia, the problem is already solved, and attested by flourish­
ing churches, schools, improving estates, and professional success, that
with white countenance and protection the black may attain to a high
degree of improvement and happiness.
And if in Jamaica, where the whites number but one to six colored, and
in Hayti, where the whites were destroyed or banished, and the sun once
set upon education, refinement, and art, there has been no foreign aggres­
sion, is there reason to fear that in Cuba, where the slaves are less numerous
than the white men and free Mulattos, there will be any assault on our
Union ?
' And if in Cuba, as in Barbadoes, the rise of land shall attend emancipa­
tion, so that the whites, who own the land, shall thus increase in wealth,
will the lesson, thus taught to the world, impede social or national pro­
gress ? or will it do more than corroborate the evidence already existing
in our Middle States, that the absence o f slavery increases the value of
the realty, and possibly to an extent, in some instances, equal to the money
value of the bondsmen in contiguous States ?
But let us pass from the imaginary dangers from Cuba’ to the circuitous
course in which our citizens must proceed, by an appeal to Spain, in case
of. real or imaginary wrongs.
Is this grievance so serious as to warrant a hostile invasion for its re­
moval ?
If a question arises between the United States and Nova Scotia, Canada,
or New Columbia, as to a boundary line, it is referred to England. Is
* Tlie cost o f raising sugar by the same description o f labor has been, from difference o f soil,
in Jamaica 14 shillings per cw t.; in Barbadoes 12 shillings per cw t.; in Cuba 8 shillings
per cwt. It has required years to wean the free negroes o f Jamaica from the miserable hovels and
habits of slavery, and to make labor popular, and to accumulate capital to hire or purchase land.




The Acquisition o f Cuba.

567

the Ashburton treaty forgotten ? And, if we are to go to war for such a
principle, must we not, to maintain our consistency, fight with England
and France also ? for each has islands in the West Indies, with which we
carry on an active commerce.
Is mere delay, in the adjustment of a
moderate claim, when the principle on which it is founded is admitted,
a sufficient cause for seizing and confiscating land a thousand times more
valuable than the claim itself?
It is urged with truth by Mr. Smith that Spain, in violation of her
solemn treaty with England, sanctions the slave trade, and, by allowing
slaves to be landed in Cuba, furnishes a fulcrum for this traffic, thus sub­
jecting the United States to large expenses, and danger of collision with
England upon the question of the right of search. The charge is un­
doubtedly just and well founded, and it is without doubt the true policy
of our government' to unite with that of Great Britain, and seriously
remonstrate against a practice which subjects both to expense, and en­
dangers the relations between them.
It would be well also to assure
Spain that every slave she permits to land in Cuba weakens her hold upon the
island, and sharpens the avidity o f those who would add another slave
State to our Union. But has our government done so ? or has it any dis­
position so to do ?
Let us recollect that if Spain has violated her treaty, that treaty is
not with us but with Great Britain, who, in her beneficence, has paid
Spain therefor a consideration o f four hundred thousand pounds, and if
the principal does not treat the breach as a cause o f war, but prefers
negotiation, is it the duty of the United States to wage a war or make
an invasion for the violation of a treaty to which they are not parties?
Even should we go to war and gain Cuba, does it follow, as a neces­
sary consequence, that we thereby terminate the slave trade ? Cuba is
nine hundred miles in length, and possesses at least two thousand miles
of sea coast, and is it certain that we, who cannot prevent the landing o f
three hundred slaves in civilized Georgia, or their transportation through
populous cities, and in steamers on frequented rivers, and have not yet
restored one to the freedom to which he is justly entitled, shall be able,
after increasing the value of the slave, to watch successfully an additional
sea coast of two thousand miles ?
Were we to invade Cuba because her officials are sometimes tempted,
by $50 per head on each slave landed, to wink at infractions of the law,
and because, as Thrasher informs us, ten thousand Africans are landed
there annually, one-tenth only o f the number yearly shipped from Africa,
before England and the United States combined to suppress the trade,
should we stop the importation by our invasion ?
And when our envoy should proceed to Madrid to demand the surrender
of Cuba, might not the Spanish minister well ask, “ Do you complain
that slaves are landed in Cuba ? Has it not been officially reported to
the British Parliament that the great center of the slave trade is in the
city of New York? Do not you fit out the vessels, and bring the slaves,
and tempt our officials ? Do you not permit slaves to be landed on your
own coasts ?” Might he not truthfully say, “ If a fugitive slave is found
at Boston the whole strength of the government is exerted to restore
him to bondage, but if three hundred free negroes are landed as slaves
in Georgia, and part of them are arrested, although they are as much
entitled to their freedom as the merchant who paces the Exchange, does




568

The Acquisition o f Cuba.

not your President telegraph that he will not interpose in their behalf ?
and does not the man who imported them boast in your streets with im­
punity of his acts, and publicly insult those who would sustain the laws ?”
W hat could our envoy reply to such charges, when making his peremptory
demand upon the ground that slaves had been landed in Cuba ? How
would the official correspondence read in connection with our declaration
of war and invasion of Cuba, for an alleged complicity in the slave
trade ?
There are other considerations too, which should guide our actions be­
fore we come to extremities. Spain is no longer the decrepid Spain of
former years; she is reviving from her torpor; has recovered her land
from a grasping hierarchy; increased her population to eighteen mil­
lions ; re-opened her rich mines o f lead and quicksilver; laid a railway
from Madrid to the sea; and, as Bryant apprizes us in his recent work,
publishes twenty-five newspapers at Madrid, and has caused a school to
be established in every village in the country, making the attendance
compulsory.
W hile w7e may expect from her growing intelligence, and amelioration
o f her laws, an effectual prohibition of the slave trade and its consequent
suppression, as in Brazil, where the last cargoes landed have been
liberated ; while, too, we should fear nothing from the aggressions of
Spain, we must recollect that she has in Cuba an army larger than our
own, and no despicable navy; we must recollect, too, that she has ever
understood how to fortify and defend, has a powerful ally in the yellow
fever, and has the sympathy of France and England, now entirely at
leisure, and with at least one hundred steamships-of-the-line and steam
frigates to give force to their sympathy— a force sufficient, if exerted, to
blockade our ports and to draw a cordon around Cuba.
But Mr. Smith says we are to compensate Spain. W e are to pay
her one hundred millions for her title, possibly more, for if the sale is
to be valid the vendor must have a voice in the negotiation.
Let us assume the price at one hundred millions, how are we to profit
by the payment? The annual interest on the debt we must contract for
the purchase will be five millions. How are we to pay it ?
The annual expenses of Cuba are now thirteen millions, exclusive of
those incurred by Spain on her account, and her imports are not far from
forty millions, a portion of which are from the United States.
Let us assume that Cuba is ours. How will our expenses be increased ?
and what provision shall we have for their payment ?
Shall we not require troops, ships, and lighthouses for Cuba? and if
her expenses are now thirteen millions, can we reasonably expect to re­
duce the charge below ten million dollars annually ? The two items of
interest and charge are at least fifteen millions yearly.
But if Cuba becomes a component part o f the Union will not her sugar
and molasses enter free? She produces annually more than seven hun­
dred million pounds o f sugar, and more than twenty million gallons of
molasses ; the remission of the duties on these will reduce our revenue
nearly eight millions of dollars. Adding this loss to the annual charge
for interest and expenses, we find an aggregate annual charge against
Cuba of twenty-three million dollars.
Let us take the imports of Cuba at forty millions ; it is safe to presume
that not more than thirty millions of this will come from foreign coun­




The Acquisition o f Cuba.

569

tries, and as our revenue now averages but eighteen per cent from im­
ports, the net amount of revenue from Cuba would, in such case, fall
below six millions, leaving an annual deficiency of seventeen million dol­
lars. Concede that this may be reduced one-fourth by direct taxes on
Cuba, and that changes may be made in our duties, shall we not still
incur a deficit equal to the interest on two or three hundred millions of
dollars ?
Is our country prepared to incur such additional charge for the ac­
quisition of Cuba ? Again, what will be the effect on the South ? W ill
not the competition of Cuba compel Louisiana to abandon most of her
sugar plantations and go into cotton, thus adding some four hundred
thousand bales to the crop, and materially reducing the value of cotton ?
W ill this be desirable to the South ?
Shall we not, too, have another contest, tending like that of Kansas to
the dissolution of the Union ? A contest to determine whether Cuba
shall enter the Union as a free State, with twelve representatives and
senators, of various hues, or shall be admitted with a like number of pro­
slavery delegates. In connection with this we are to remember that but
one-third of the existing slaves in Cuba are females, and that the number
of slaves must consequently diminish as soon as the slave trade ceases,
while the whites, free negroes, and Chinese, now more than thirty
thousand, are rapidly increasing.
In view of all these considerations,
is our own nation unanimous for the purchase or forcible acquisition of
Cuba ?
If our country really requires colonies adapted to the culture of sugar
and coffee, it is easy to acquire them without incurring the enormous ex­
penses which must attend the possession of Cuba. There are the Sand­
wich Islands on the one side, of great fertility, and lying in the route
from California to Asia, where the native population is dying out., and a
cession may be obtained for a mere trifle. There our whalers assemble
to refit, and there would be a convenient station to coal our steamers
and obtain refreshments, sugar, coffee, and other tropical productions.
On the other side, we have the coast of Western Africa, but a few days’
sail more distant from New York than the southern coast of Cuba.
There we might occupy the coast from the Congo River to the Bight of
Benin, a tract of greater length than the island o f Cuba, and admirably
adapted to all tropical fruits. Here we should find at least one navigable
river, and easy access to the interior, and we might effectually suppress
the slave trade, create asylums for our free blacks, civilize and Christianize
the natives, and thus repay our debt to Africa, and all this could be put
in train for less than one year’s interest on the cost of Cuba.
If philanthropy is our pole-star, and economy worthy of consideration,
let us take the right direction ; and let us pause for reflection before we
undertake by conquest and vast expenditures to absorb and assimilate
a million and-a-half o f foreigners, by no means homogeneous, speaking
different languages, and trained under monarchical institutions in Cuba.




570

Considerations on Value and the Precious Metals.

Art. V.— CONSIDERATIONS ON VALUE AND THE PRECIOUS METALS.*
P e r m i t metomake a few observations suggested by an article over the sig­
nature “ C. H. C.,” in your March number, “ On the Nature of Commercial
Value.” The writer o f the paper in question very justly comments upon
the “ practical mischief,” which has arisen from the general misconcep­
tions growing out of the treatment of this subject. But what, I would
ask, will he find but discord and confusion in that which generally
goes by the name of “ political economy 2”
Even at the present day
we find distinguished men, philosophers they are called, who maintain
Ricardo’s “ Theory of Rent,” while it has been shown, clearly and beyond
cavil, that this theory, and all the facts in the history o f the occupation of
the earth, from the remotest ages to the present hour, are at direct variance
with each other. The same may be said o f Malthus’s “ Law of Popula­
tion,” which is equally fallacious, but is maintained with the same dog­
matical partisanship by these “ philosophers.”
What, then, can be
expected from such sources but “ practical mischief 2”
But one theory o f value, as I conceive, has ever been given to the
world which holds good, is true, and can maintain its ground under all
circumstances, and is sufficiently comprehensive to “ embrace every com­
modity or thing, in reference to which the idea of value could exist—
whether land, labor, or their products.”
I refer to that of Mr. Henry C.
Carey, first announced by him in “ Principles of Political Economy,”
Philadelphia, 1837. It will be found in volume i., page 18, of that work.
Thirteen years later it was adopted without credit by the distinguished
French economist, Bastiat, in his “ Harmonies Eeonomiques,” Paris, 1850.
Within the narrow compass of a brief article like tbe present, it is im­
possible to do justice to the subject, which can only be done by present­
ing some such beautiful illustrations as those by which Mr. Carey has
established its truth. It will, however, be found treated in detail in his
recent work, “ Principles of Social Science,” volume i., chapter vii., page
147, Philadelphia, 1858. Mr. Carey there conclusively demonstrates that
value is determined by the cost o f reproduction ; that the cost o f reproduc­
tion is the only measure o f value. In other words, and we quote from
him, “ value is the measure o f the resistance to be overcome in obtaining
those commodities or things required fo r our purposes— o f the power o f
nature over man.”
Professor Ferrara, of Turin, in “ Biblioteca del Economista,” volume
xii., page 117, regards this formula as “ most felicitous,” and “ destined to
be universally adopted.”
The writer of the article on “ Commercial Value” very properly points
out the confusion which has arisen in the treatment o f this subject, by
regarding “ value” and “ price” as expressing the same idea. Archbishop
Whateley has complained of the great defect of political economists be­
ing “ the want of definitions,” which will establish the meaning of im­
portant leading words in the science. But this is but one of the discords
to which I have already referred, and which characterize all political
economy o f the English school!
* In accordance with oiu* invariable rule o f keeping our pages open to the discussion o f both
sides of all questions of interest, we admit the remarks ot our correspondent upon the article of
“ C. U. 0.,” upon commercial value.—Ed. Merchants' Magazine.




571

Considerations on Value and the Precious Metals.

Further, respecting the movements o f the precious metals, the writer
of the article in your Magazine says :— “ Every one, whose attention
is called to the subject, will observe that money, real money,
always runs away from countries and districts where interest is high
to those where interest is low.
Following the law of value, money
flows from the cheap to the dear market like every other commodity.
Thus, it leaves California, where interest is 24 to 30 per cent per annum,
for New York, where it is 6 to 9 per cent, and leaves New York for
London, where it is 3 to 4 per cent, and London for Hamburg, where it
is 2 per cent, and so on, running always counter to the rate o f interest.
“ I have been surprised that the plain contradiction of the common
notion of the value o f money, expressed in this fact, has not attracted
public attention. I think I have never heard or seen any public mention
of it, except once in the sermon of a philosophical preacher.”
Without pausing at present to examine your correspondent’s “ law o f
value,” or his “ cheap” or “ dear” market, I would call the attention of your
readers to the following passages from an article on “ Money,” by Henry 0.
Carey, printed in the Merchants' Magazine, vol. xxxvi., pages 403 to 428,
wherein will not only be found noted the facts to which your correspondent
“ C. H. C.” refers, respecting the movements of the precious metals, but
an explanation of the causes of those movements. I quote from Mr.
Carey as follows :— “ Of all the commodities in use by man, the precious
metals are those that render the largest amount of service in proportion
to their cost, and whose movements furnish the most perfect test of the
soundness or unsoundness o f its commercial system. They go from those
countries whose people are engaged in exhausting the soil to those in
which they renovate and improve it. They go from, those at which the
price of raw products and the land itself is low—-from those at which
money is scarce and interest high.
The country that desires to attract
the precious metals, and to lower the charge for the use of money, has
then only to adopt the measures required for raising the price of land
and labor. In all countries the value of land grows with that develop­
ment of the human faculties which results from diversity in the modes of
employment, and from the growth of the power of combination. That
power grows in France, and in all the countries o f northern Europe;
and for the reason, as has been shown, that all those countries have
adopted the course of policy recommended by Colbert, and carried out
by France.
It declines in Great Britain, in Ireland, in Portugal, in
Turkey, in the Eastern and Western Indies, and in all countries that fol­
low the teachings of the British school. It has grown among ourselves
in every period of protection ; and then money has flowed in and land
and labor have risen in value. It has diminished in every period in which
trade has obtained the mastery over commerce. Land and labor have
always declined in value as soon as our people had eaten, drunk, and
worn foreign merchandise, to the extent o f hundreds of millions of dol­
lars, for which they had not paid; and had thus destroyed their credit
with other communities o f the world.” (Pace 422.)
*

*

*

*

°

' %

%

“ The precious metals go from California, from Mexico, from Peru,
from Brazil, from Turkey, and from Portugal— the lands in which
property in money is transferred only by means of actual delivery of the
coin itself, to those in which it is transferred by means of a check or




\

572

Considerations on Value and the Precious Metals.

note. It goes from the plains o f Kansas, where notes are not in use, to
New York and New England, where they are—from Siberia to St. Petersburg—-from the banks of African rivers to London and Liverpool— and
from the “ diggings” o f Australia to the towns and cities of Germany,
where wool is dear and cloth is cheap.” (Page 426.)
B y a reference to the second volume of Carey’s “ Principles o f Social
Science,” it will be found that the author therein treats this subject very
fully, under the head of “ The Instrument of Association,” and that he
gives due prominence to the facts above quoted. His entire book is a
harmonious system of inductions from facts ; and he is the first sys­
tematic writer on political economy who has followed throughout his
speculations the Baconian method in treating of science.
One other point in the paper of your correspondent I will remark upon,
and then conclude.
He says:— “ If we double the supply of money
upon the market, other things remaining in supply and demand as before,
the prices of all property will double in the average. In this case, money
falls in value one-half— two ounces o f gold must be given in exchange
for commodities which could have been obtained before for one ounce ;
there is no alteration in the value o f other things, because their relation
to each other remains unaltered; they exchange for precisely the same
quantities of each other as before; the alteration is wholly in the value
of money itself.”
It being admitted by your correspondent “ 0. H. C.” that commodities
go “ from the cheap to the dear market,” and he having presented the
proposition which we have quoted above, he can in no way object to
furnishing your readers with answers to the following questions, indeed,
it would seem difficult, if not impossible, for the proposition itself to stand
without the questions being properly disposed of.
If it be true, as stated by your correspondent, that the only effect of
increasing the supply of money is to increase prices in a corresponding
ratio—
1. How is it that prices in Europe have not so increased within the
last three centuries, as to have arrested long since the continuous, neverceasing flow of the precious metals from America thereto ?
2. How is it that Europe has not become from these imports “ the
dear market,” into which would flow the manufactured goods from some
other “ cheap markets” — those for instance which have been drained of
these precious metals ?
3. How is it that prices have not long since so greatly increased in all
European countries receiving these metals, as not to have literally pu t an
end to their export trade ?
4. How is it that France, with a net import of the precious metals,
over and above the export, of more than S-500,000,000 within the past
quarter of a century, is increasing her general exports, the results of her
industry, in a ratio exceeding those of any other country iu the world ?
5. How is it that with the import of the precious metals into Northern
Germany, Belgium, Sweden, and Denmark, the exports of manufactured
goods in all of these countries steadily increase ?
6. How is it that the precious metals have always flowed Jrom those
countries in which raw materials are cheap, and therefore exported,
into those countries in which manufactured goods are cheap and also ex­
ported ?




U sury: its Meaning and Definition.

573

7. In view of the phenomena presented in France, Northern Germany,
Belgium, Sweden, and Denmark, into which the precious metals have
been, and still are, flowing, is it not probable, or even quite likely, that
those metals possess some life-giving property ? May it not be that they
impart activity to the movements and the industrial pursuits o f men ? and
would it not seem that their influx prevented “ other things from remain­
ing in supply and demand as before ?”
8. If they do not possess any such property, why is it that while they
can be neither eaten, drunk, nor worn, they are held in more universal
regard by man than any other commodity known to him ?
9. W hy, if they have no grand and distinctive quality, is it that they
have been thought worthy o f so much legislation, and of so many dis­
quisitions in state papers, books, magazines, and newspapers, by distin­
guished and thoughtful men ?
b.

Art. VI— USURY: ITS MEANING AND DEFINITION.
I t is of importance, in these times o f commercial troubles, when men’s
minds are being seriously turned to the consideration o f the economy of
our banking and currency system, that a correct knowledge he obtained of
the word usury. There is the more necessity for this knowledge, inasmuch
as it is a word to which a modern meaning has been attached, different
from its former use— one which refers it to an exorbitant rate of interest;
and although this modern sense may now almost universally prevail, it is
obvious it can be of no weight at all in the consideration o f those pas­
sages in which the word occurs in ancient times, or in Holy Writ. Any
interpretation, therefore, of such passages, must be in strict accordance
with the meaning then properly attached to the word, for it is only in
this way that the mind of their author can be obtained.
Nothing is suggested regarding the real meaning o f the word, usury,
from the expression itself. It is evidently another form o f the word use,
more expressive o f the act o f lending out money on interest. W ords are
only signs, and their signification is the stamp of public consent. The
question, therefore, regards the original sense attached to the word. The
only proof which I intend to bring forward, and which to my mind
appears conclusive, is derived from the use made of the expression by the
English translators of the Scriptures, in that admirable version, the rigid
adherence of which to the Hebrew idiom, it has been well remarked, has
at once enriched and adorned our language. Now, we know the word
usury has been invariably employed by these translators in version of the
Hebrew word— to bite. This is sufficient to fix the sense o f the word
under review. It is impossible, therefore, to deny that the Hebrew word,
as it stands in connection with the word increase, as its exegetical
synonym, and viewed in its relation to the previous and following context
in those passages of Scripture in which it occurs, denotes interest in its
lowest as in its highest degree.
It is not always safe to receive the sense naturally suggested by a word
as its true sense. But no exception o f this kind can be made with regard
to the Hebrew word. It seems to have been employed by the Hebrews




574

U sury: its Meaning and Definition.

originally to express their sense of the practice of lending on interest.
Occurring in the Hebrew Scriptures as an adopted word, that of usury is
not its primitive meaning. The barrenness, in certain respects, of a lan­
guage like the Hebrew, rendered it often necessary to employ words in a
figurative sense, and the ingenuity o f the Hebrew people made them apt
in this practice. It means, to bite. This expression was employed
figuratively by the Jews to denote the practice of usury, and the secon­
dary meaning seems to have become, in course o f time, to be regarded as
its real meaning.
The word as employed, then, is very expressive of the light in which
lending and borrowing on interest stood in the estimation o f the Jews,
as well as of the inspired penmen who used the Jewish language. It is
plain that nothing noble or disinterested on the part of the lender, nothing
profitable or desirable on the part of the borrower, could be considered
to attach to a practice so stigmatized; but that, on the contrary, from the
very nature of the term employed to denote the practice, it was associated
in the minds of God’s ancient people, with every mean and disgraceful
art, and with every low and dishonorable pursuit. The expression seems
to have been used metaphorically much in the same way as a word of
similar import is often employed now-a-days; as, for instance, when a
person has been circumvented in business by a more cunning and crafty
neighbor, he is said, very laconically, to have got a “ nip.”
W e may here state, more as matter of information than o f argument,
that the Greek word for usury is Tokos, “ increase,” and that the Latin is
Fenus or Farms, “ any increase.” These two expressions are applied to
denote the increase or interest of money. The idea is evidently derived
from animal increase, or the production from a parent of an offspring like it­
self. In this sense it is used by Aristotle, one of the most thoughtful of the
ancients, who declares lending out o f money on interest or on usury to
be a perversion of it from its proper use to an unnatural purpose, the
increase of itself; whence, he adds, “ comes the name of interest, as be­
ing the offspring of a parent like itself.” The same form of thought is
employed by Shakspeare in the passage where he describes usurers as
taking “ a breed of barren metal.” *
W e have seen, then, that the modern idea to which I have referred—
that usury denotes an exorbitant rate of interest or increase, however
frequently we may see it dropping from the pens of financial writers and
others, or to whatever extent that idea may now be attached to the word,
derives no countenance at all from any conclusions which can be drawn
from the real meaning of the word as originally used. It is of great
interest to endeavor to trace in what manner this fictitious meaning be­
came attached to it.
This modification in its import has evidently originated in a change of
view on the whole subject of lending and borrowing on interest; and
that change of view, again, has originated in a change of feeling on the
subject. Usury is a v ice; and in its history we may read the history of
therise and progress of every other vice. Men first look on with abhorrence,
* According to the etymology of the Greek and Latin words the principal is supposed to gene­
rate the interest.— G i b b o n .




Fufidius, rich in lands, and large increase
Of growing usury, dreads the foul disgrace
T o be call’d rake; and, ere the money’s lent,
He prudently deducts his cent per cent.— H o r a c e , Satires.

U sury: its Meaning and Definition.

575

then with indifference, then with complacency, then with love. First to
be rated, then patronized ; vices once seen black as hell, become established
institutions in the world. For long ages, the traffickers in the nefarious
system were looked upon by all good Christians as are the basest Shylocks of the present day.
It is a matter of importance to trace the outward history of this great
change— a change of thought which has entirely altered the face of
society, and given rise to institutions which are producing the direst
effects upon the destinies o f the human race.
The moral causes o f this change I have just stated, but its outward
causes are to be found in the history of Bible literature since the Reformation. It is patent to all versed in the religious history o f the three past
centuries, that a change of opinion as regards the authority of the Old
Testament has taken place. Seldom do we find a passage quoted from
the Old Testament now-a-days; and, even when quoted, is it not often
rather as a quaint illustration than as an authority 5 W h o that has read
the writings o f the fathers of the Reformation and their immediate suc­
cessors, has not been struck with their firm conviction and implicit faith
in the Old Testament declarations ? Then, the two portions of the inspired
volume were regarded as one genuine revelation o f God, equal in
authenticity and equal in authority. Attached to their quotations, we
find none of those qualifications— none of those defences— none o f those
apologies, too often associated with them by modern divines. The lan­
guage of the New Testament is now regarded as carrying an authority in
itself, but not more so than was the language of the Old Testament in the
eyes of our forefathers.
The causes which have led to this state of things are— the want of some
principle to determine what passages in the Old Testament are, and what
are not, to be regarded as of authority— the entrenchment, by the Church
of Rome, behind certain ancient forms which are now admitted to be
abolished— and the sapping o f modern Socinianism and rationalism.
These three things have contributed, in different ways, and according to
their different natures, in generating a kind of tacit suspicion of the Old
Testament, and an impatience in submitting the faith to Old Testament
declarations. Neither must we forget here to state, as of paramount im­
portance, the apparent strictness o f these ancient laws as opposed to
those lax notions which are but too apt to prevail in the heart of man.
Whilst the Roman Catholic Church has adhered to some things long
since abolished, and has advanced them as the distinguishing characteristics
of her faith, the Protestant churches, on the other hand, in their anxiety
to preserve inviolate that faith once delivered to the saints, have suffered
many o f the mosaic laws to become a dead letter. In clearing away the
cumbrous ruins o f the ceremonial laws, they have, in some measure, un­
consciously permitted the most precious treasures to be removed along
with these ruins. The heats of ecclesiastical debate, and theological strife,
have acted as repellant forces, and instead of our practice having become
welded to the Old Testament laws, the anchor chain has been severed, and
the social fabric has been ever since allowed to drift among rocks and
quicksands. W e need not bring forward witnesses to this truth when
they may be seen by reflecting men on every side. Amidst a ruin so ex­
tensive and complete, the most careful observer can hardly grope his way.
It is also to be lamented that notwithstanding all that has been written




576

U sury: its Meaning and Definition.

by excellent and pious men in the way of exposition and interpretation,
no intelligible principle has yet been laid down to determine what por­
tions of the mosaic law are to be received as of binding and permanent
authority. W e have, in this matter, been pretty much left in uncertainty
and d ou bt; and the natural result has been that those laws which, in
their comprehensive simplicity and beauty, were designed to be the great
statute book of the world, have either been altogether lost sight of, or
made to twist and conform to those very things which they in reality
condemned. The Jewish nation was undoubtedly set forth, with regard
to its laws, as a model nation to all others. Have we not seen, for example,
the same troubles and distresses which immediately ensued on its rejection
of the simple divine form of government, and the foolish zeal for the
centralization o f power, experienced over and over again in the history
of every subsequent monarchy and oligarchy ? Could any law, for example,
human or divine, be more perfectly calculated to raise up a race of
patriots and freemen, than that which regulated the restoration of property
and possessions on the year of jubilee? And that this law of release had
practically this efFect, witness the pathetic song of the exiled Jews by
Babel’s streams, with whose saddening strains we are all familiar. That
they had some things special and particular we would be the last to deny,
but it is not the less true that they possessed many things in common.
Yet it has been erroneously considered that when that nation passed
away into obscurity, it was proper that its laws— political, social, and civil,
— should also pass with it into oblivion.
It is a grave matter that so small a share of inquiry is accorded in the
pulpit ministrations of the day, to that interesting and instructive polity
recorded in the Old Testament, which was at once the excellency and
characteristic of the Jewish nation. Looking at this constitution through
the perverted medium of our social atmosphere, there appears in it some
things the nature and obligation of which it is now difficult to determine.
But, taken as a whole, there can be no manner of doubt that this noble
constitution is eminently fitted to subserve the great ends of all good
governments, and that those temporal sanctions by which it is enforced
are the best guaranties towards its execution. It is the torn shreds of this
constitution which still preserve nations and governments from dissolution
and ruin. It is not an economy fitted and designed, as many have sup­
posed, to separate and seclude. It is antagonistic to nothing but vice and
disorder. It is the precious legacy and the common property of mankind,
and will yet bind them together in a universal brotherhood. Its characters
have been written in lines of living light, and striking indeed is the con­
trast which it bears to the fugitive and transitory enactments of human
legislation.
But although many of the mosaic laws have been allowed to depart
as things out of date, the same cannot be said as regards those which
bear upon the sin of usuiy. These enactments have been indelibly
stamped upon the human mind. They may have become obscured during
the course of ages, but the feeling that there is something vicious in the
practice of usury, has never been, and never will be, obliterated. Legal­
izing the thing has had a reactive influence upon public opinion. It is
impossible that the present views on the subject can be traced to legisla­
tion itself. That legislation is the result of public opinion. Nevertheless,
these statutes have had the effect of stereotyping those very views upon




Journal o f Mercantile Law.

577

the public mind. In so far as this human legislation is the counterpart
of the divine, so far has it familiarized our minds with the idea of the
sinfulness of usury; hut, in so far as human law has legalized a thing in
itself positively simple, to that extent has it riveted on the minds o f men
those lax notions regarding this sin which now prevail.
It is foreign to my purpose, in this article, to enter upon the subject of
the effects o f usury upon trade, a matter upon which the public mind
seems to be, in some measure, awakening. I will conclude by evincing
mv belief that the nation which first adopts the platform o f cash pay­
ments in a pure metallic currency, introduces herself at once to the high
road of prosperity and fame. Her produce would be raised, and com­
modities acquired, untaxed by those large draughts which usury constantly
makes. Every description of labor would meet an appropriate reward,
and comfort and prosperity prevail. Her foreign commerce would be
conducted on the best of terms, for every other nation would be anxious
to sell where payment was so prompt and sure. She would not occupy
that degrading position which indebtedness must ever entail. The fame
of that nation would resound to the ends o f the earth, and her unoccupied
lands would speedily be filled up by an industrious, happy, and contented
people. Are these not objects worthy the attention of the statesmen of
America ?

JOURNAL OF MERCANTILE LAW.
DAMAGED WHEAT— COAL OIL.

N. S. Nettleton vs. the ship Fanny Fosdick.
This was a libel filed to recover against the ship for failing to deliver at this
port, in good order, 990 sacks of wheat shipped at New Orleans in December
last, for which usual bills of lading were signed. On January 10th the wheat
was unladen into lighters in New York, and the libelant alleged it was found to
have been damaged by being improperly stowed near coal oil, the stench from
which penetrated the wheat. The evidence showed that it was the custom to
stow together on board of general ships, sugar, molasses, hides, oils, and other
articles of a volatile character, unless otherwise agreed between the parties, or
upon notice given to the vessel not to stow particular articles together. No such
agreement or notice was shown. There were 150 barrels of coal oil stowed in
the lower hold of the ship, and about 200 bags of wheat were stowed some 15
feet from the oil. The rest was stowed between decks. When unladen, no
separation was made between that stowed in the lower hold and that between
decks. The testimony as to the smell of the oil and its effects upon the wheat
varied considerably ; and it was shown that the wheat was in apparently good
condition, but that the smell of it seriously diminished its market value, 'it was
not shown positively whether this smell was permanent or would be driven off by
ventilation, and the samples in court were declared by witnesses to be free of
objectionable flavor.
Judge Betts considered that, on the evidence, there was no fault on the part
of the ship in lading the wheat in connection with the cargo she was carrying.
The ship did not take strictly the responsibility of a common carrier in respect
to the carriage of the grain. The shipper must be assumed to have laden it on
board with the knowledge of the usage of trade at that port in respect to general
ships, and that ship owners in that class of business were not liable for prejudices
to a cargo, arising from gasses or fumes generated out of the contents of her
V O L . XL.---- N O . V .
37




578

Journal o f Mercantile Law.

lading during a voyage, not occasioned by any fault of the stowage and security
of the cargo on board, (Baxter vs. Leeland, 1 Blatch., 526.) It was reasonable
on the evidence to infer that the 790 bags stowed between decks would not be
injured by the coal oil in the hold full 60 feet off, and there would fail to be furnished
proof rendering the ship liable at any rate for more than the damage to the 200
bags. The libelants having voluntarily mixed that with the rest, they cannot
claim to hold the ship liable for any damage occasioned thereby. They had
established no right of action against the ship. Libel dismissed with costs.
IN ADMIRALTY.

In the United States Circuit Court.
David D. Mattory, &e.

Before Judge Betts.

Enoch Cook vs.

In the latter part of April, 1853, a collision occurred in the roadstead of
Pernambuco, between the bark Hannah Sprague, lying at anchor there, and the
ship Coriolauus, under way and attempting to get out the harbor to sea. Both
were American vessels on return voyages to the United States from foreign ports,
and came to Pernambuco for supplies, intending to pursue their respective voyages
immediately. The ship came to her anchorage a few hours previous to the arrival
of the bark, the latter being brought to an anchor a few hundred yards eastwardly and leeward from her, in plain sight, and both lying in the open roadstead,
about a mile from the shore. The company in each vessel were well aware of the
position of the other, and of their mutual purpose to get to sea again directly.
Late in the afternoon a boat from the bark went to the ship, then making ready
to sail, and brought from her a barrel of pork for the use of the former, and at
about nightfall the ship got uuder way and passed out to sea across the stern of
the bark, a few lengths off, each vessel being plainly seen from the other. The
wind was blowing about a four knot breeze from the southeast, with a heavy sea
swell. The ship run off upon a tack in shore, a distance differently estimated by
witnesses, some witnesses on each vessel speaking of both vessels as all the while
remaining in sight of each other, whilst others thought they were wholly out of
view when the ship tacked northwardly, with intent to make a course north out
of the roadstead into the broad sea. The night was partially thick and obscure
until after a slight shower of rain, when the breeze subsided, and scarcely a steer­
age wind continued, and the ship was found to be drifting in towards the land on
a current. It was discovered after she came round on the latter tack, that she
was drifting and bearing down on the bark, and the ship called out to the bark
to pay out chain to let her go by, and the bark, according to the evidence, did
pay out chain. The vessels, however, came in collision and the bark was injured.
The court held that the bark being lying at anchor in an open roadstead, and so
well known, that the collision must have been caused prima facie by the other
party, and their evidence to overthrow that presumption was more than counter­
balanced by the evidence on the part of the bark. Decision in favor of the
owner of the bark, with a reference to a commissioner to ascertain the damage.
UNDERVALUATION OF SUGAR.

'The United States vs. H. Pratt McKean, et al.
This was an action to recover duties on an importation of sugars from Manilla,
in January, 1856. The sugars were shipped on a rising market, and in the in­
voice were valued at the price of the time of shipment, upon which the govern­
ment claimed to recover duties not only on the increased value, amounting to
$1,356 55, but 20 per cent additional duties, under the act of July 30, 1846,
section 8, amounting to $12,977 90. The case was tried in December, 1857, and
the court ruled that plaintiff had given no legal proof entitling them to demand the
additional duties, to which the plaintiff excepted, and a verdict was taken for
plaintiff, by consent, for the smaller sum of $1,356 55, subject to the opinion of
the court.
The judge decided that the increase of 20 per cent, though called additional




Journal o f Mercantile Law.

579

duties, was strictly not a tax levied upon merchandise, and might probably be
equally well called a line or penalty imposed on the importation for not lawfully
making up his invoice. The increase did not, therefore, become a charge upon
the merchandise. The liability of the importer for such penalty must accrue
otherwise than on an implied assumpsit to pay the duties legally taxable on im­
portation. It must be sought for iu the statutory enactments which created it,
and provide the means for its recovery. The proof of fraud might enable plain­
tiffs to recover against the defendant without a formal observance of the pro­
visions of law appointed for ascertaining the correctness of the valuations made
upon the invoice, because direct fraud in the importer supplies a substantive
cause of forfeiture without regard to the 20 per cent undervaluation. There
being no imputation of fraud, the prosecution must establish the indebtedness
of the defendant according to the statute. No proof was given of the examina­
tion and appraisement of this importation in the manner directed by the act of
Congress. There was no evidence, therefore, authorizing a verdict for the plain­
tiff for the amount of the additional duties, and on that branch of the case judg­
ment must be given for the defendant.
Judgment for plaintiff for the agreed amount.
COLLISION— PRACTICE.

James Lippincott, et at., vs. the schooner Ned.
This was a libel filed by the owners of the propeller Freeman Rawdon, to re­
cover the damages caused by a collision with the schooner. The libel merely
alleged that on the 30th of June, 1856, the steamer was run into by the schooner,
damaging her in her rigging, and detained and otherwise damaged, to the amount
of $6,000. The claimants responded that they are the owners of the schooner.
The court held that the pleadings were defective in every essential ingredient,
no triable question being presented by the papers, and, consequently, no judg­
ment should be rendered in the action.
Beebe, Dean and Donahue for claimants; Mr. Ridgway for defendants.
Elzey S. Powell, et al., vs. the propeller Freeman Rawdon.
This was a libel filed by the owners of the schooner Ned to recover their
damages occasioned by the same collision. The schooner was coming from
Wilmington to New York, and the collision occurred about two miles south­
east by east from Sandy Hook, at 10 o’clock P. M. The tide was ebb, and the
wind from the northwest. The answer denied that the schooner was licensed
for the coasting trade, in which the libel averred she was very aged, not having
the proper proportion of American seaman on board.
The judge held that this objection furnished no defence. The right to re­
muneration for such a tort committed to a vessel was in no way derived from a
coasting license or registry, but existed in the right of property in the vessel.
Ou the pleadings and proofs, the collision was occasioned by fault on the part of
the propeller, and she was liable for the damages. Decree for libelants, with a
reference to ascertain the damages.
EXCEPTIONS TO INTERROGATORIES.

The ship Sea Nymph, Edward Mott Robinson vs. D. Herman Lowett.
Exceptions were taken by the claimant to interrogatories propounded him by
the libelant. The libel seeks to enforce from the vessel payment of $2,031 25,
upon an alleged engagement of the claimant, her owner, made January 31,1855,
to pay the libelant, a ship broker, that sum for procuring a charter-party for the
ship to proceed from New York to the Chincha Islands, and there load with
guano and thence proceed to St. Thomas, West Indies. The libel avers that the
libelant performed the agreement by procuring the charter-party stipulated for,
but this claimant, after sailing the ship under the charter-party to Callao, re­
fused to fulfill its terms, and deviated from it, and made a different voyage, and *
now refuses to pay the money to the libelant for his services as agreed; also




580

Journal o f Mercantile Law.

avers that the ship, instead of going to St. Thomas, came into this port with a
cargo of guano, and made freight thereon.
The answer filed by the claimant denies and puts in issue the material aver­
ments in the libel, and also takes exception to the jurisdiction of the court in the
case.
The libelant therefore reliled eight interrogatories to be answered by the claim­
ant Robinson, who took exception to the second, third, and fourth as immaterial
and irrelevant.
Held by the Court.— That the answer filed by the claimants is a full and
sufficient answer to all the matters pertinent to the issues made upon the plead­
ings in the cause, and the inquiries propounded in the second, third, and fourth
interrogatories are not made important or relative by any charges or allegations
set forth in the libel or answer.
Ordered. That the exceptions to the interrogatories be allowed, with costs to
be taxed.
COLLISION AT WHARF— BOISTEROUS WEATHER.

David M. Wetmore vs. the steamer Granite State.
The pleadings charge that the barge Rambler was moored at pier 22, East
River, December 18,1857, taking in a load from a ship lying at the same pier,
and was run into, broke adrift, and injured in the night time by the steamer
Granite State. The answer alleges that the steamer is a freight and passenger
boat, plying regularly between New York and Hartford ; that she arrived in port
during a dark and boisterous state of weather, at about 4 o’clock A . M .; was
coming round in the East River in the usual manner, and the collision occurred
in consequence of the negligence of the barge, no person or lookout being on
board, and no light displayed. A large amount of testimony was given, each
party seeking to show the other guilty of negligence and culpable conduct in
what was omitted and what was done conducing to the collision.
Held by the Court.—That upon the proofs, the barge was placed in a usual and
proper position at the end of the pier, and her owner was not obliged by the
custom of the port or in his business to have a watch kept on board, or a light
suspended during the night time ; that the steamer was under obligation to avoid
coming upon vessels moored at the wharves, and that she undertook at her own
peril to reach her usual berth, if the boisterous weather, the darkness of the night,
or the passing of ferry-boats rendered it dangerous or even difficult to do so.
The barge was not upon any tracks the steamer was entitled to take, but was
lying at a wharf from which the steamer was by the laws of navigation com­
pelled to keep a safe distance. The steamer was not acting under any constraint
of the weather or other emergency, and having elected to navigate under the
embarrassments surrounding her, it was done at her own peril, and she must be
answerable for the consequence.
Decree for the libelant for his damage, with order of reference to a commissioner.
DECISION IN ADMIRALTY— SLAVE TRADE— SEIZURE.

In the United States District Court. Before Judge Betts. The United
States vs. the brig Henry.
Motion in behalf of the collector for a certificate of probable cause for seizing
the vessel for being engaged in the slave trade. Objection was made by the
claimants, on the ground that there was no manual arrest of the vessel by direc­
tion of the collector, nor any process of law exhibited as authority for prevent­
ing her from going to sea.
The judge held that in addition to acts of manifest control of the vessel in port
by United States officers, under the authority of the collector, and the written
stipulation of the counsel for claimants, that the brig was under actual seizure
by direction of the collector. It is proved that the Deputy Marshal having her
in charge had a warrant in his possession regularly issued out of this court. This
imports her seizure and detention by authority of the law. On the facts sufficient
probable cause is shown by the collector for the seizure. Motion granted.




581

Commercial Chronicle and Review.

COMMERCIAL CHRONICLE AND REVIEW.
I M P R O V E M E N T IN

T R A D E — N A T U R A L P R O D U C T IO N S — NO

E N T E R P R IS E S — ABU N DAN CE

OF FO O D — T O N ­

N A G E B U I L T — V A L U E OF— D I M I N I S H E D C O N S T R U C T I O N — L O W F R E I G H T S — NO B U I L D I N G — F O O D B U Y E R S
— F L O A T I N G C A P IT A L I N C R E A S I N G — C O N V E R SIO N I N T O F I X E D — A C C U M U L A T IO N O F M E A N S — S P E C IE IN
FRANCE AND G R E A T
D IM I N I S H E D

B R IT A IN — R A T E

EXPORTS

OF IN T E R E S T — CROPS— GOODS

OF B R E A D S T U F F S —

EM PLOYM ENT FOR M ONEY— BANK

S H IP P E D T O U N I T E D S T A T E S —

GOV E R N M E N T R E VEN U ES— NORTH

D IV ID E N D S — R A T E

OF IN T E R E S T — P R IC E

C A R O L IN A

L O A N — NO

OF B I L L S — S P E C IE

EX­

P O R T S — D E S T IN A T IO N OF— A S S A Y -O F F I C E — P H I L A D E L P H I A M IN T — F O R E I G N N E W S — I M P O R T S — G O O D S
IN

BOND— GOODS C O N SU M E D — E X P O R T S — S O U T H E R N

C R O P S— C O T T O N — S U G A R — V A L U E

EXPORTED

— E F F E C T U P O N E X C H A N G E S — C R O P S A N D P R I C E S — W A R IN F L U E N C E S .

T h e r e is a continued improvement in the general tone of the financial and
commercial markets. The great natural productions of the earth are such as to
give warrant to a large increase in the capital of the country, while there is an
absence of all great enterprises which absorb capital. There are no railroads,
ships, houses, stores, or canals being constructed in anything like the proportion
of former years; while the breadth of land under crop, and the yield of the
seasons, is larger than ever, and the abundance of food, materials, and money is
being availed of for the prosecution of industry in the production of exchangeable
wealth to an extraordinary extent. The shipping tonnage built in 1858 was
only 242,000 tons, against an average of 500,000 tons per annum in the previous
four years. This was a diminution of §25,000,000 put into shipping, and for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1859, the tonnage built will not exceed 150,000
tons, or an investment of §15,000,000 in tonnage in place of a yearly average
of §50,000,000. The great quantity of tonnage built from 1852, under the
Australian, Californian, and Russian war excitements, with the large demands
for food transport, has left a surplus of shipping, manifest in the low freights,
and which, in face of the good harvests and possible peace abroad, have little
chance of revival. Railroads have fallen into perhaps a worse condition, and
time will be required to restore the value of that class of investments; dwellings
and stores are also in abeyance for the moment. But, on the other hand, the
earth teems with large crops—gold, cotton, food, minerals, and materials generally
are in great supply, giving to food consumers an advantage over food producers
that they have not enjoyed for some years. This is a state of affairs which
points to a continued low price for money, or, more accurately speaking, rent for
capital. In those seasons when the conversion of floating into fixed capital i3
taking place with great activity, the price of the former gradually rises until it
can no longer respond to the demand, and construction ceases perforce. Floating
capital then resumes its accumulation, and its price falls. The large import of
goods, which, by inspecting our usual commercial tables at the close of this
article, it will be seen have taken place, is no evidence of an improved demand
for money or capital, because it represents merely an increased exchange of
capital goods for produce. The sales of the one, with reasonable adherence to
short credits, cancel the purchases of the other. There are seasons when capital
is invested in goods that are sold on credit to those who produce no equivalent,
and the process continued causes an absorption of capital. Such a state of
affairs existed in 1837, but is not likely to recur again in the present century.
The accumulation of means is marked at all the great centers of finance. The




582

Commercial Chronicle and Review.

banks of France and England for the month of March for many years have
shown specie as follows, and the rate of interest:—
Bank of England.
Bank of France.
Specie.
Interest.
Specie.
Interest. Total specie.
$64,128,101
5
$67,115,810
4
$181,243,911
49,121,201
6
88,268,546
6
87,889,747
48,621,178
6
41,678,545
6
90,299,723
72,191,427
3
63,323,865
4
135,515,292
96,562,946
2i
107,855,542
8J204,418,488

Years.
1855 ..................................
..........................
1856
1857
..........................
1858
..........................
1859
..........................

This gives an extraordinary result, but the accumulation is due to the cessation
of large credit enterprises and the good crops of food, vines, silk, &c., the failure
of which has of late years caused so large an expenditure of means in both
France and England. While the crops have been so abundaut, the political
horizon has not encouraged large credit enterprises, and the dilapidated state of
American credit has not encouraged investments in the securities there offering.
While England and France have not been called to invest largely in imported
food and materials, with the exception of cotton, they have been disposed to
ship goods largely, to fill the supposed wants in this market arising from the
small manufacturing production of the last year. Cotton and gold have been
the means most depended upon to meet those goods, since the export of breadstufis
has been very small. The specie movement has not, however, exerted any
influence upon the market in New York. The larger imports improved the
government revenue and obviated the necessity for a new loan, and the price of
the old one rose in the market, and the value of money became less.
Bids for the §500,000 6 per cent bonds of the State of North Carolina were
opened at Raleigh. The whole amount bid was §2,072,000 ; about one-third of
the sum wanted was awarded at par, and the lowest rate in the award will net
about 97J at the State Treasury.
In the absence of other modes of employing money thpre has been some
increase of bank capital, since these institutions continue to pay fair dividends.
The New York banks pay from 7 to 12 per cent per annum. The semi-annual
dividends in other cities have been as follows :—
Capital.
Boston.............. $33,160,000
Portland...........
1,975,000
Philadelphia.. 10,313,155
New Orleans... 17,829,000

Average
,---------------------------Dividends.-------------------------- » per an.
October.. $1,176,250 A pril..........$1,185,950
7£
“
57,100
“
79,000 9
May.......
313,274 November.
410,091 8
“
1,091,010
“
1,109,000 13

These large profits, at a time when the rate of money in the market is low,
and no immediate prospect of a renewed demand for it, naturally induces a larger
creation of bank capital, and this is organizing in Boston, New York, Portland,
and elsewhere. The chance is that this movement may lead to a renewal of
speculation in bank stocks. The present rate of interest in New York is
comparatively as follows :—
KATES OF M O N E Y AT N E W YORK.

Loans on call, stock securities. .
Loans on call, other securities..
Prime indorsed bills, 60 d a y s ..
Prime indorsed bills, 4 to 6 mos
First-class single signatures . . .
Other good commercial paper .
Names not well known.............

Feb. 15th.
5 a 6
6 a 7
5 a 6
6 a 7
7 a n
8 a 9
9 a 10

March 15th.
4 a 5
4i a 6
H a Si
Si a 6 i
6 a 7
7 a 8
9 a 10

April 1st.
4 a 5
4i a 6
4 i a Si
Si a 6i
6 a 7
7 a 8
9 a 10

April 15th.
4 a 5
5 a 6
5 a Si
6 a 6i
6i a 7
8 a 9
9 a 10

The expansion of the banks, as seen in the bank tables, has been very consid-




583

Commercial Chronicle and Review.

erable, and this has, to some extent, grown out of the rediscount of country
bank paper, showing a progressive inflation in the interior following the revival
of business. The continuance of large imports, with the small exports of breadstuffs, may give such an impulse to the outward movement of specie as may
induce a violent contraction of these spreading loans. The rates of bills are
now as follows :—
February 17.

March 17.

April 1.

April 17.

London................
9f a
9f
9f a
9£
9J a
9|
9f a
10£
Antwerp............. 5 .1 5 | a 5 .1 4 J 5 . 1 3 f a 5 . 1 2 i 5.15 a 5 .1 2 i 5 .1 3 f a 5 .1 2 |
Paris.................... 5 . 1 3 f a 5 12i 5 .1 3 £ a 5 .1 l4 5.15 a 5 .1 1 £ 5 .1 8 J a 5 .1 1 i
Amsterdam___
.. a
41^41 ^ a
41§
41J a
41-J
41-Ja 41£
Frankfort.............
41J a
41f
4 lf a
41f
41f a
41f
4l| a 41-J
Bremen...............
.. a
79^
79 a
79J
79 a
79J
79£a 79f
36£
36£ a
36£
36J a
36f
36f a
37
Hamburg........................ a

The supply of bills has been mostly against cotton, and has not been quite
sufficient for the demand under the large imports. Hence the rise in value, and
the greater impulse to the specie exports, which have been comparatively as
follows, with the receipts :—
GOLD RECEIVED FROM CALIFORNIA AND EXPORTED FROM N E W YORK W E E K L Y, W IT H THR
AMOUNT OF SPECIE IN SUB-TREASURY, AND THE TOTAL IN THE CITY.

c----------- 18§i8.----------- s ,-------------Received.
Exported.
Received.
8........ ................ $2,398,684
15........ . $1,607,440 1,045,490 $1,376,300
23........
1,244,368
30........ . 1,567,779
57,075 1,210,713
Feb. 5........
2,928,271
13........ . 1,348,507
48,850 1,319,923
20........
641,688
27........ . 1,640,430
128,114 1,287,967
...........
Mar. 5........
297,898
12........ . 1,279,134
225,274
933,130
19........
11,000
116,114
26........ . 1,403,949
88,120
........
Apr. 2........
115.790 1,032,314
9........ ................
250,246
16........ . 1,325,198
203,163 1,404,210
Jan.

Total........ . 10,183,437

9,789,145

IS159.
Specie in
Total
Exported. sub-treasury. in the city.
§1,052,558 $4,202,151 $82,601,969
218,049 4,312,987 33,693,699
567,398 4,851,666 34,823,766
467,694 7.230,004 34,985,294
606,969 8,103,546 34,095,987
361,550 8,040,900 83,460,000
1,013,780 6,770,555 33,115,510
358,354 7,193,829 33,664,000
1,427,556 7,215,928 33,915,893
307,106 8,677,357 34,207,411
870,578 9,046,759 34,089,942
208,955 8,041,268 34,227,800
1,343,059 7,686,700 32,918,800
576,107 7,232,451 32,981,118
1,637,104 7,079,111 32,557,778

8,564,557 11,017,117

The outgoes of specie are far much more than last year, while the receipts are
less. The destination and character of the shipments are as follows :—
SHIPMENTS OF SPECIE FROM PORT OF N E W YORK.

American
coin.

Silver. Sov’ reigns.
Bars.
Liverpool. 100,500 1,555,001 114,033
G alw ay..
1,000 .....
20,000
Bremen.. 117,840
2,800 .....
153,355
.....
Havre... . 283,914
....
480,532
Porto Rico
6,000
...
Ponce . ..
.....
.....
Rio Grande
9,000
....
Jacmel . .
1,500
90
C. Bolivar
18,000
Maracaibo
11,000
....
.....
....
P.Cabello
10,000
....
Havana .
500 .........
Matanzas.

D’bloons.

French
gold.

...........

.......
.......

6,400
23,500

52,688

........

....
600
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....

—

Spanish
silver.

Tcrtal.
1,769,634
21,000
274,595
.... 764,446
2,500
14,900
....
23,500
...
9,000
....
1,600
....
18,090
....
11,000
10,000
....
....
52,688
500
—
....
....
....

600
82,688
2,500 2,970,753
T otal.. $571,754 2,188,888 124,423
May, 8th to
ArSr. 9 3,840,426 18,600,252 263,775 347,817 1,454,261 92,982 359,327 25,893,253




584

Commercial Chronicle and Review.

The amount of American coin shipped is very small as compared with the
grand total. The California bars continue to be the best remittance, and while
the supply of money is so abundant in the banks, the largest proportion of gold
that is deposited in the Assay-office is ordered into bars for export. The operation
of the Assay-office for three months has been as follows:—
NEW YO K E ASSAY-OFFICE.
DEPOSITS.

.--------------- —Foreign. —-----------------Gold.
Silver.
January..
February.
M a rch ...

Coin.

Bullion.

Coin.

$4,000
6,000
8,000

$18,000
10,000
3,000

$23,380
57,700
82,000

Total . $18,000

,--------------- United States.-------------- ,
Gold.
Silver.

Bullion.
....

Coin.
«...

Bullion.

Coin.

Bullion.

$9,000
3,000

___
___

$365,000
669,000
351,000

$2,500
2,300
3,500

$4,120
6,000
4,500

$26,000 $163,080 $12,000

___

1,885,000

$8,300 $14,620

PAYMENTS BY ASSAY OFFICE.

January .........
February ........
March................
T ota l.. . .

Bars.

Coin.

$387,000
750,000
255,0G0

$252,000
10,000
290,000

$1,392,000

$552,000

The amount ordered into bars about equals the deposits of United States gold
bullion. The old coins, silver, &c., are generally ordered into new coins, and the
operations of the Mint at Philadelphia have been as follows for the same period :
UNITED STATES M INT, PHILA DE LPH IA.

r—---- Deposits.-------- ,

January................................
Febru ary..............................
March.....................................

Gold.
$148,040
80,155
67,000

Silver.
$51,635
77,650
107,640

.----------------Coinage.---------------- ,
Gold.
Silver.
Cents.
$59,825
$56,000 $35,000
147,983
127,000
27,000
119,519
108,000
27,000

Total...............................

$285,190

236,925

327,327

291,000

89,000

The latest accounts from Europe giving stronger hopes of a continuance of
peace, accompanied by a rise in funds and in the value of money at the great
centers, following the improved state of business, have imparted a more cheerful
tone to the general markets in the United States, and there is more activity in
manufacturing and trade. The large importations of March seem well to have
supplied the market, since, contrary to what was the case last year, the amount
of goods in bond in New York has increased. The quantity of goods in bond
in New York has been as follows :—
February 1 ......................................
March 1 ..........................................
April 1.............................................

18S7.

1858.

1859.

$13,175,360
13,692,055
15,612,626

$22,949,622
18,869,507
15,515,010

$6,710,531
5,602,008
6,075,993

In 1857, goods had in March already begun to accumulate in bond for the
expected reduction in the tariff after June, 1857. Those goods continued to
increase in volume until the panic, cutting off imports, left the demand to fall
upon the stock in bond, which was reduced in the spring months, February and
March, §7,500,000, in which period this year it has not much varied. The real
excess of goods put on the market in the months of February and March has
been but §10,000,000 over last year. The value of the crops of the South, on




585

Commercial Chronicle and Review.
the other hand, is very much greater than last year.
crops for three years are as follows :—
Years.
1856 ......
1857 ...........
1858 ...........

,-----------------------Sugar.----------------------- v
Hhds.
Pounds.
Value.
*73,976
81,373,000
$8,137,360
279,697 307,666,000
17,900,605
352,296 416,640,000
21,734,760

The sugar and cotton
,------------- Cotton.--------------\
Bales.
Value.
2,930,517
-$171,000,000
3,113,962
186,737,720
3,700,000
203,500,000

Thus the value of these two crops is $44,000,000 more than in 1856, and the
probability is that, with the news of greater confidence in peace, and the large
exports of goods to the East, the remainder of the present crop will sell for far
higher sums, and compensate for large importations into the market. If
sugar is not exported, the increase of the crop tends to diminish imports, and
thereby redresses the balances of the external trade. The short crop of 1856
raised the value of sugar imported from an average of $15,000,000 to over
$50,000,000, producing an important influence upon the exchanges. The large
crop is now reversing that influence, by checking the foreign purchases of the
article. The crops at the West are represented as of high promise, but this fact,
in face of a small and declining foreign demand for food, does not help the
condition of that section, or of the railroads, which suffer much depression for
the present, since in seasons of good crops it is the foreign market that must
make Western produce available. The Eastern States receive their supplies
without aid from the extreme West, and it is only when the export demand takes
off the surplus that prices rise to a point which will justify railroad transporta­
tion. The event of a European war is quite likely to give a very large demand
for United States produce. Not only the withdrawing of great numbers of
men from peaceful pursuits, which, with the majority, are agricultural, but their
support by State funds in great bodies, and the waste and devastation of their
operations, have all their effects of famine, and throw the belligerents upon
outside nations for their supplies, that cannot fail to be very large. Such a state
of affairs, which is not only possible but even probable at no distant day, must
cause a great change in the relative position of internal sections.
The revival in imports has been very marked for the month of March, and the
quantity of goods is in advance, perhaps, of those of the month of March for
any previous year. The aggregate is less than for March, 1857, but deducting
the specie it is greater. The following figures show the increase for March :—
FOREIGN IMPORTS AT N E W YORK IN MARCH.

1856.

1857.

Entered for consumption............... $15,781,297 $12,350,457
2,222,655
6,384,835
Entered for warehousing...............
Free goods.......................................
2,141,661
2,338,379
Specie and bullion.........................
111,345
1,061,833

1858.

1859.

$7,245,526 $15,314,023
1,812,230
2,804,413
2,894,743
2,620,354
277,203
81,666

Total entered at the port.............. $20,256,958 $21,135,504 $11,729,702 $20,820,456
Withdrawn from warehouse.........
1,852,396
2,639,223
4,444,415
1,718,237

The foreign imports at New York for the first quarter of the current year,
(three months, ending March 31st.) are $30,072,324 more than for the same
period last year, but $6,549,940 less than for the corresponding three months of
1857:—




586

Commercial Chronicle and Review.
FOREIGN IMPORTS AT NEW YO RK FOR THREE MONTHS, FROM JANUARY 1ST.

1856.

1857.

1858.

1859.

Entered for consumption.............. $40,859,551 $46,159,430 $11,255,199 $46,102,196
Entered for warehousing.............
5,334,168
10,898,091
5,052,301 5,210,622
Free goods. ....................................
5,439,624
5,631,141
5,909,530 1,498,196
Specie and bullion.........................
231,956
2,912,060
826,834
245,114
Total entered at the port.............. $51,811,305 $65,666,128 $29,044,464 $59,116,188
Withdrawn from warehouse........
6,245,011
1,814,614 13,682,112
5,914,505

This leaves the total receipts of foreign produce, merchandise, and specie, at
New York, since the beginning of the fiscal year, (that is, for nine months, ending
March 31,) $11,466,055 more than for the corresponding period of the previous
year, and $20,122,241 less than for the nine months ending March 31, 1851. In
comparing with last year, the large quantity of goods then taken out of bond is
to be borne in mind.
FOREIGN IMPORTS AT NEW Y O RK FOR NINE MONTHS ENDING MARCH 3 1 .

1856.

1857.

1858.

1859.

Six months........................................ $89,912,809 105,254,140 109,688,102 $91,082,433
January..........................................
15,518,064
19,006,132
8,105,119 19,441,962
February........................................ 16,036,283
25,524,492
9,209,043 18,848,310
March............................................... 20,256,958 21,135,504 11,129,102 20,820,456
Total for nine months............ 141,1S4,114 110,921,468 138,133,166 150,199,221

The duties have, as a matter of course, followed the improved imports of goods,
and for the quarter are very nearly $4,000,000 in excess of the receipts for the
corresponding season last year : —
CASH DUTIES RECEIVED AT N E W YO RK .

1857.
Six months ending January 1.
In J a n u a ry..............................
February...................................
March........................................
Total nine months............

$22,918,124
4,531,318
6,111,249
3,152,184

1858.

1859.

43
43
85
98

$16,345,553 51
1,641,414 59
2,063,184 86
2,213,452 15

$15,381,614 49
3,418,411 38
3,328,688 93
3,164,011 00

$36,384,931 69

$22,264,265 11

$25,358,185 80

The imports of foreign dry goods at the port of New York for the month of
March are larger than perhaps for any previous month except in 1856. It will
be observed that the increase, as compared with that year, is in cotton and
woolens, and the decline is in silks. The dress goods of the two former materials
have been largely imported. The withdrawals from warehouse, that were large
last year, have been small this, by reason of the exhaustion of stocks. The
entries have also been very small:—
IMPORTS OF FOREIGN D R Y GOODS AT N E W YO RK FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH.
ENTERED FOR CONSUMPTION.

1856.
Manufactures o f wool....................
Manufactures o f cotton.................
Manufactures o f silk.....................
Manufactures of flax.....................
Miscellaneous dry goods...............

Total........................................ $10,183,354




1857.

1858.

1859.

$2,654,913 $1,668,033 $1,010,923 $3,200,832
1,529,208
1,138,160
881,019
2,546,312
3,991,311
2,631,033
2,028,145
2,129,031
962,509
692,556
361,381
1,119,112
1,039,281
911,518
352,119
683,420
$1,641,960

$4,694,313 $10,118,833

587

Commercial Chronicle and Review.
W IT H D R A W N FROM WAREHOUSE.

1858.

1859.

1856.

1S57.

$191,788
431,076
269,847
195,485
56,559

$245,496
407,219
308,531
207,037
124,412

$552,770
779,075
550,331
301,285
228,655

$158,687
192,028
65,919
122,261
62,536

$1,144,755
10,183,354

$1,292,695
7,641,960

$2,412,116
4,694,313

$601,631
10,178,833

Total thrown on m arket.. . . $11,328,109

$8,934,655

$7,106,429 $10,780,664

Manufactures of wool..................
Manufactures of cotton...............
Manufactures o f silk...................
Manufactures of flax...................
Miscellaneous dry goods.............
Total...................................... .
Add entered for consumption.. . .

ENTERED FOR WAREHOUSING.

1856.

1857.

1858.

1859.

$94,238
44,073
221,218
59,277
62,323

$459,542
238,158
499,715
185,881
93,709

$209,859
254,105
133,528
137,774
89,216

$132,723
134,438
28,413
51,457
36,103

$481,130
10,183,354

$1,477,005
7,641,960

$825,482
4,694,313

$383,184
10,178,833

Total entered at the p o r t.... . $10,664,484

$9,118,965

Manufactures of w ool.................
Manufactures of cotton...............
Manufactures of silk....... ............
Manufactures of flax....................
Miscellaneous dry goods.............
T o ta l.....................................
Add entered for consumption. . . .

$5,518,795 $10,561,967

The total receipts of foreign dry goods at the port of New York since the 1st
of January are larger than in any former year for the same period, and are nearly
three times as large as last year. The warehouse operations have been very
small, the stocks being reduced very low, and the arrivals being required to meet
the market. The fears that were entertained of a change in the tariff have now
passed away:—
IMPORTS OF F O R E IG N D R Y GOODS AT THE PORT OF N E W T O R E , FOR THREE MONTHS,
FROM JANUARY 1ST.
ENTERED FOR CONSUMPTION.

Manufactures of w o o l..................
Manufactures o f cotton.................
Manufactures of silk ....................
Manufactures of flax.....................
Miscellaneous dry goods...............

1856.

1857.

$6,253,064
5,754,030
9,534,846
2,626,436
2,340,758

$5,957,801
7,317,607
9,802,850
2,553,602
2,708,490

1853.

1859.

$2,450,086 $8,050,711
2,392,849
8,187,441
4,197,493
9,158,666
903,725
3,111,272
866,402
1,801,925

T otal....................................... $26,508,654 $28,340,350 $10,810,555 $30,390,015
W IT H D R A W N F RO M W AREHOUSE.

1856.
Manufactures
Manufactures
Manufactures
Manufactures
Miscellaneous

o f w o o l..............
of cotton............
o f silk...............
of fla x ..............
dry goods............

$558,382
1,266,177
823,140
562,382
166,468

Total..........................................
Add entered for consumption.. . .

$3,376,549
26,508,654

Total thrown upon market.




1857.

1858.

$641,948 $1,464,336
1,540,957
2,238,947
900,667
1,889,397
543,017
1,020,478
278,092
618,273
$3,904,681
28,340,350

$7,231,431
10,810,655

1859.
$529,427
953,658
349,201
475,162
189,708
$2,497,156
30,890,015

$29,885,203 $32,245,031 $18,041,986 $32,887,170

588

Commercial Chronicle and Review,
ENTERED FOR WAREHOUSING.

1856.
Manufactures of w ool.................
Manufactures of cotton...............
Manufactures o f silk...................
Manufactures of flax...................
Miscellaneous dry goods.............
Total...................................... -.
Add entered for consumption™.. .

1857.

1858.

1859.

$438,324
725,635
649,251
297,656
146,339

$840,504
1,012,296
1,067,628
527,874
223,400

$640,756
1,170,681
686,794
379,310
255,045

$361,228
474,500
185,108
151,114
92,814

$2,257,205
26,508,654

$3,671,702
28,340,350

$3,132,586
10,815,555

$1,264,764
30,390,015

Total entered at port............ $28,765,859 $32,012,052 $13,943,141 $31,654,779

Turning now to tlie exports, we find the total shipped from New York to
foreign ports during the month of March, exclusive of specie, is rather more
than last year, but considerably less than for the two preceding years :—
EXPORTS FROM NEW YORK TO FOREIGN PORTS FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH.

1856.

1857.

1858.

1859.

$8,044,122
190,842
468,280
2,684,396

$7,904,481
483,330
628,080
2,174,965

$4,503,871
27,590
649,899
836,194

$5,377,840
200,779
297,382
3,343,677

Total exports........ .............. $11,287,640 $11,190,856
Total, exclusive of specie . .
8,703,244
9,615,891

$6,017,054
5,180,860

$9,219,678
5,876,001

Domestic produce......................... ,
Foreign merchandise (free)........
Foreigu merchandise (dutiable).,
Specie and b ullion ......................

The shipments of specie have increased, to compensate for the declining
shipments of produce, which, however, is mostly due to the cessation of the
exports in breadstuff's. The total, exclusive of specie, is less than for the last or
all of the former years :—
EXPORTS FROM NEW Y O RK TO FOREIGN PORTS FOR THREE MONTHS, FROM JANUARY 1.

1856.

1857.

1858.

1859.

Domestic produce........................... $18,710,798 $17,847,525 $12,421,547 $12,423,614
285,422
810,956
Foreign merchandise (free)...........
355,577
608.478
824,463
1,180,366
Foreign merchandise (dutiable)...
1,267,052
793,550
2,893,573
5,314,637
Specie and bullion.........................
9,328,725
8,020,792
Total exports...........................$23,714,256 $25,153,484 $28,372,901 $21,746,434
Total, exclusive o f sp ecie.. . 19,820,683 19,838,847 14,044,176 13,725,642

The exports for the nine months show nearly the same results, viz., a great
decline in the aggregate, and also in produce exclusive of specie :—
EXPO RTS, EXCLUSIVE OF SPECIE, FROM N E W YO RK TO FOREIGN PORTS FOR NINE MONTHS
ENDING W IT H MARCH.

1856.

1857.

1858.

1859.

Six months........................................$39,915,729 $43,596,501 $34,702,441 $27,994,834
January..........................................
5,511,230
4,884,170
4,689,739
4,114,008
Febru ary........................................
5,606,209
5,938,786
4,173,577
3,735,633
March..............................................
8,703,255
9,015,891
5,180,860
5,876,001
Total nine months................. ........ $59,736,412 $63,435,348 $48,746,617 $41,720,476
Specie for same time...................... 14,444,518 27,265,043 31,290,837 21,662,264
Total exports, Dine months $74,180,930 $90,700,391 $80,037,454 $63,382,740




589

Journal o f Banking, Currency, and Finance.

JOURNAL OF BANKING, CURRENCY, AND FINANCE.
NEW YORK CITY DEBT.

The following is the debt of the city of New Tork, July, 1858, redeemable
from the sinking fund and from taxation. The whole debt bears 5 per cent
interest, except the Central Park fund, §3,356,800, which bears 6 per cent:—
Redeem­
From
sinking fund.
able.

1858
1859
1860
1861
1862
1863
1864
1865
1866
1867
1868
1869
1870
1871
1872

$199,160
2,500,000

............
402,768
3,076,000

From

taxation.
$50,000
50,000
67,000
67,000
67,000
67,000
67,000
67,000
67,000
67,000
67,000
66,700
50,000
50.000
50,000

Total.
$249,160
50,000
2,567,000
67,000
67,000
67,000
67,000
67,000
67,000
67,000
469,768
66,700
3,125,000
60,000
50,000

Redeem
From
From
able.
sinking fund. taxation.
1873
$115,000 $204,000
1874
60,000
1875
1,284,700
50,000
1876
60,000
1880
2,147,000
1887
2,682,900
1890
1,000,000
1898
673,900

Total.
$319,000
50,000
1,334,700
50,000
2,147,000
2,682,900
1,000,000
673,900

Total 14,080,428 1,273,700
S’g F’ d. 3,033,375

15,354,128
3,033,375

Total 11,047,053
1859 .

12,320,752
1,600,000

This last item of §1,600,000 is redeemable from Central Park assessments.
The purposes for which this debt was created may be enumerated as follows :—
Croton water stock.................. §9,101,760 Docks and slips.......................
§500,000
New reservoir.......................... 1,029,100 Public education.......................
154,000
Fire indem nity........................
402,768 Tompkins market.....................
169,700
190,000
Building loan.............................
Central P a rk ............................ 3,356,800
Total.................................. 15,354,128
Public building........................
450,000
MICHIGAN TAXABLE PROPERTY.

The taxable value of real property in Michigan has increased from §29,000,000,
in 1848, to §120,000,000, in 1854, viz.
...................................................
...................................................
..................................................
..................................................
..................................................
..................................................
..................................................

Valuation.
§29,908,769
28,999,202
29,384,270
30,976,270
30,976,270
120,362,474
120,362,474

TotaL......................................

$390,969,729

Tears.

1848
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1854

Tax.
Per cent in mills.
$150,716
5.04
102,404
3.53
113,768
3.87
106,000
3.42
110,000
3.55
10,000
0.03
30,000
0.25
$622,892

1.59

The expenses of the State of Michigan for two years, 1859-60, are as follows:
Asylum for the insane................. $100,000
Asylum for deaf, dumb, & blind.
82,000
Agricultural college....................
41,500
State prison................................
27,000
House of Correction.................
20,000
State Normal School..................
13,000
Expenses of State government.
20,000
Relief of sufferingin north’n cos.
15,000




Geological survey........................
Military fu n d ..............................
Agricultural society...................
Emigrant a g e n t..........................
Publication of Dr. Houghton’s
papers.......................................

$5,000
6,000
5,000
3,000
1,000

T o ta l................................$339,000

Total, 1859.............
*• 185S.............
“
1857.............
“
1856
“
1855.............
“
1854.............
“
1853.............
“
1852.............

a January 1, 1859.
b December 6, 1858
c July and August,




1,476
1,422
1,416
1,398
1,307
1,208
879
824

401,976,242
394,622,799
370,834,656
343,874,272
332,137,288
301,376,071
227,807,553
217,317,211

657,183,799
583,165,242
684,456,887
634,283,180
570,144,758
557,397,779
413,756,799
304,204,078

63,502.449 25.976,497
60,305,260 28,755,834
59,272.329 26,124.522
49,485,215 20,865.867
52,727,082 24.073,801
44,350,330 22,367,472
22,3S8,989 20,219,724
20,607,75920,582,100

d October 30, 1858.
e January 3, 1S59.
/ April 1, 1858.

Other
Due
invest- b y other
ments.
banks.
........... $1,478,896
889,830
$78,954
701,545
9,187.245
93,365 1,491,522
877.(00 2,584,819
597,330 15,109,559
591,194 2.223,935
453,521 4,418,420
5(8,222
67,574 1.(17.041
413,675 2,557,182
45,666 1.291.243
2.964,540 2,2( 0.450
078,274 4,073.065
2,192.019
873.471 9.268,254
8,248 2,575,166
144,074 6,535,215
587,079
1,837 2,027.( 94
171,(89 1.177,489
711,157 2,013,615
14,440
137,059
862.775
30,866
1,256
1.341
8,127

Notes
o f other
banks.
$273,303
170,994
41,780
4,983,427
802.060
278,881
2,644,765
578.006
334. J24
61,446
09,803
814,(60
317.262
600,290
720,662
872,846

8,323.041 78,244,987
6,075.903 58,052,802
5,920,336 65,894,205
8.822,516 62,639,725
8,734,540 55,788,735
7,589,830 55,516,085
8,935,972 50,718,015
11,949,548 41,031,855

18.858.289
22,497.436
28,124/108
24,779,049
23,429,518
22,059,006
17,196,083
10.303.289

g December, 1858,
h January, 1S59.
i November 1,1858

Specie
funds.
.............
$232,625
... .. ..
...........
262,595
18,436,967
.............
3,349,824
114,812
1,521.063
49(5.663
51,642
.............
4<2,451

581,723 1,287,077
1,017,480
199
348,058
1,007,575
9.272
271,586
565,685
36,623
150,741
1,152,433
22.579
54.963
852.288
63.1-93
512
4.223
26
1,399
26,808,S22
15,380,441
25,081,641
19,937,710
21,935,788
25,579,253
15,341,196
11,003,245

Duo
to other
Other
Specie. Circulation. Deposits.
banks. .liabilities.
$668,754 $3,886,539 $2,8S2,910
$69,271
$90,082
1,069,920
...........
294,423 3,115,643
615,874
5,44)
178.556 3,024,141
1,443
11,112,715 20.839,438 30,538,153 7,654.234 1,537,853
6( 8,833 3,318,681 8,130,475 936,081 296,8S9
915,844
5,880,247
4,140,OSS
684,997
893,155
28,335,984 28,507,990 110,465,798 35,134,049 2,824,618
952,231
4,054,770 4,239,235
770,935
11,345,536 11/80,480 26,054,568 4,569,625
429,167
217.342
900,846
832,657
86,180
3,120,011
3,977,971
9,028,664 1,725,807
417,667
3,077,087 10,340,342 '7,401,701
982,351
58,780
6.202.626
1,502,312
1.248,525
184,856
7,766
2,001,414
9,170,333 8,897,640 3,746,604 3,214,920
8,751,968 11,687.582 5,317,923 1,727,995
552,254
3,371,956 6,051,177 3,830,607 1,006,832
2,131
9,( 94.009 21,822,538 2,198,982 1,781,058
16,218,027
2,863,01 S 6,472,822
4,659,609 J,073,269
441,165
4,984,141 14,845,696 5,144,879 4,838,364
579.830
3,921,879 6,069,120 3,123,622
269.585 5.707,048
640,058
15,621
525,344
1,869,000 5,379,936 1,723,840
176,366
68,215
1,845,441
6,040,304
4,389,851
488.878
206,235
331,978
42,018
555,693
35,165
126,011
706,009 4,695,170 3,022,384
1 ,5 7 3 ,6 9 4
15,272
48,643
13,131
23,346
23,748
6,629
4,418
104,537,818
74,412,832
58,349,838
59,314,063
53,944,546
59,410,253
48,671,04S
45,379,345

193,306,818
155.208,344
214,778,S22
195,747,950
186,952,223
204,689,207
155,165,251
131,366,526

j April, 1858, to January, 1859.
k December 27, 1858.
I December 81,1858.

259,568,278 68,215,651 15,048,427
185,932,049 ............. 14,666,713
230,351,352 ............. 19,816,850
212,305,662 ............. 12,227.867
190,401,342 ............. 15,599,623
188,188,744 ............. 13,439,276
128,957,712 ............. 6,438,827
109,586,595 ............. 8,835,309

m October 4, 1858.
n Nov., 1858, to Jai

Journal o f Banking, Currency, and

No. of
Loans and
Eeal
banks . Capital. discounts. Stocks.
States.
estate.
Maine a ........................
68 $7,408,945 $11,815,127
$145,565
52
New Hampshire b . . . .
5,041,000
8,250,754
66,086
41
4,082,416
Vermont c ....................
0,592,992 $106,600
222,564
174 61,819,825 101,002,947
Massachusetts d .........
1,584,884
90 20,321,009 25,131,150
Iihode Island e .............
161,309
536,403
76 20,917,168 26.799,430
C on n ecticu t/....... .......
938,755 1,< 85,178
300 110,25S,4S0 200,577,198 25,208,884 8,204,425
New York g .................
New Jersey h ...............
46
7,359,122 12,449,460
785,523
421,763
Pennsylvania i ...........
87 24,565,805 46,825,206 2,954,443 1,423,253
12
3.0(9,285
Dcleware a ...................
1,088,185
22.610
81.499
32 12,560,635 21,854.934
484.825
Maryland a........... . . . .
8P2,965
Virginia a ....................
€3 14,685,870 22,419,512 3,569,437
954.029
38
6,625,200 12.247,300
210.347
North Carolina a .........
128,951
South C arolin a#.........
20 14,888,451 24.444,044 3,821,969 077.641
28 12,479,111 17,929,066 1,605,127 4,791,(22
Georgia j ......................
6 8,668,ISO 9,058,879 ICO,219 100,410
Alabama a....................
12 24,215,089 29,424.278 5,504,590 2,896,5(0
Louisiana k ...................
39
Tennessee a..................
8,361,357 18,202,706 1,577,578
486,622
Kentucky l ...................
37 12,216,725 24,404,942
793,641
508,503
22 5,790,781 9,830,426 417.385 109,549
Missouri a....................
4.000,334
1.296,616 6,486,662
48
87,769
Illinois m ......................
3,617,629
0,468,308 1,252,981
Indiana n ......................
37
195,711
6,707,151 11,171.343 2,C69,7S9
Ohio i ............................
53
586,670
745,804 1,158,547
Michigan g ...................
3
258,776
124,357
7,995,060
9S
9,262,457 5,114,415
304,142
W isconsin e..................
5,185
2
50,000
50,000
Minnesota h..................
97,087
2
56,000
Nebraska Territory o..
1,155

590

BANKS OF THE UNITED STATES, ACCORDING TO RETURNS DATED NEAREST TO JANUARY 1, 1859.

Journal o f Banking , Currency, and Finance.

591

The opposite table embraces, with a few unimportant exceptions, all the
chartered banks that were in operation on the 1st of January, 1859. The
“ specie funds ” consist (exclusive of some small amounts of gold and silver and
“ mint certificates ”) almost entirely of notes and checks of other banks, and
other obligations to pay on demand. To complete the table, it has been found
necessary to give the “ stocks, other investments, and other liabilities,” of the
banks of Khode Island, as they stood in May, 1858, the returns from that State
for January 1,1859, not embracing these items.
CITY

WEEKLY

NEW

Jan. 8
15
22
29
Feb. 5
12
19
26
Mar. 5
12
19
26
Apr. 2
9
16

Loans.
128,538,642
129,349,245
129,540,050
129,663,249
130,442,176
129,106,318
127,476,495
125,866,083
125,221,627
126,205,261
127,587,943
127,751,225
128,702,192
129,865,752
129,968,924

YORK

Specie.

28,399,818
29,380,712
29,472,056
27,725,290
25,991,441
25,419,088
26,344,955
26,470,171
26,769,965
25,530,054
25,043,183
25,182,627
25,732,161
25,748,667
25,478,108

BANK

W EEKLY

Circulation.
7,930,292
7,586,163
7,457,245
7,483,642
7,950,855
7,872,441
7,766,858
7,736,982
8,071,693
8, 100,021
7,996,713
7,998,098
8,221,753
8,449,401
8,293,459
BO STO N

Specie.

Loans.

Jan.

3
10
17
24
31
Feb. 7
14
21
28
Mar. 7
14
21
28
Apr. 4

..
..
..
..
,
.
..
,
.
..
..
..
..

60,069,424
60,310,965
60,106,798
59,400,354
58,992,556
59,120,142
59,087,249
59,099,993
58,636,328
58,892,981
58,436,379
58,152,742
57,672,804
58,031,003

8,548,934
8,295,392
7,931,712
7,383,391
7,088,736
6,814,589
6,671,619
6,679,740
6,410,563
6,386,580
6,265,661
6,238,518
6,370,283
6,401,822

W EEKLY

Date.
Jan. 3 . . .
10___
17___
24 . .
3 1 ....
Feb. 7 . . . .
14___
21___
28___
Mar. 7 ___
14___
21___
28___
Apr. 4 ___

Loans.
26,451,057
26,395,860
26,365,385
26,283,118
26,320,089
26,472,569
26,527,304
26,574,418
26,509,977
26,719,383
26,685,873
26,856,891
26,967,429
27,737,429




AVERAGE

RETURNS,

BANK

RETU RN S.

Deposits.
113,800,885
116,054,328
116,016,828
113.012.564
114,678,173
109,907,424
108.937.564
109,000,892
108,646,823
107,458,392
108,353,336
106,581,128
110,176,088
111,692,509
111,695,711

Actual

deposits.
92,826,622
95,456,323
95,066,400
93,837,935
91,965,256
89,346,818
89,026,357
88,215,837
86,800,028
86,188,109
86,441,793
86,343,249
87,737,138
88,142,544
88,087,797

BANKS.

Circulation.

Deposits.

6,543,134
7,016,104
6,793,723
6,609,374
6,224,137
6,514,576
6,332,342
6,275,458
6,283,959
6,578,472
6,372,298
6,227,150
6,108,505
6,386,853

22,357,838
21,615,468
21,127,712
20,727,905
20,598,451
20,845,520
19,983,531
20,082,960
19,469,489
19,935,649
19,202,029
19,809,807
19,908,785
20,899,191

OF TH E

Specie.
6,063,356
6,067,222
6,050,743
6,099,317
6,138,245
5,970,439
5,991,541
6,017,663
5,982,260
5,926,714
6,046,248
6,136,539
6,296,429
6,363,043

Average
clearings.
20,974,263
20,598,005
20,950,428
19,174,629
22,712,917
20,560,606
19,911,207
19,785,055
22,626,795
21,270,283
21,911,543
20,237,879
22,438,950
23,549,945
23,607,914
Due
to banks.

Due
from banks.

10,789,135
11,263,766
11,139,700
10,430,454
9,657,823
9,506,146
9,391,733

7,083,737
7,137,234
7,111,264
7,037,715
6,547,510
7,057,113
6,763,270

9,184,941
8,477,968
8,456,312
7,945,389
7,767,582
7,665,274

6,815,160
6,673,623
6,330,719
6,817,368
6,864,684
7,524,274

P H IL A D E L P H IA B A N K S .

Circulation.
2,741,754
2,854,398
2,830,384
2,769,145
2,709,311
2,786,453
2,804,032
2,782,792
2,778,252
2,901,337
2,900,832
2,923,551
3,029,255
3,425,196

Deposits.
17,049,005
17,138,607
17,323,908
17,498,219
17,557,809
17,007,167
16,384,087
16,129,610
16,012,765
16,372,368
16,703,049
16,899,846
17,476,060
17,154,770

Due banks.
3,424,569
3,297,816
3,258,315
3,093,921
3,159,539
3,307,371
3,695,963
3,964,000
4,086,651
3,854,990
3,841,605
3,929,010
4,109,455
4,329,343

592

Journal o f Banking , Currency, and Finance,
N E W ORLEANS BANKS.

Jan.

3 ..
10. .
1 7 ..
2 4 ..
3 1 ..
Feb. 5 ..
1 2 ..
19. .
2 7 ..
Star. 12. .
19. .
2 6 ..
Apr. 4 . .

Short loans.

Specie.

Circulation.

Deposits.

Exchange.

Distant
balances.

20,537,567
20,453,417
20,904,840
21,442,167
21,837,791
21,809,628
22,594,245
22,677,390
23,126,625
22,944,605
22,633,181
22,420,444
22,465,730

16,013,189
16,294,474
16,343,810
16,279,655
16,101,158
16,365,053
16,700,188
16,949,263
16,806,998
16,828,140
17,013,593
16,837,405
16,179,137

9,551,324
10,383,734
10,819,419
11,224,4-64
11,616,119
11,913,009
12,148,174
12,241,954
12,522,244
12,581,934
12,777,999
12,681,931
13,054,416

22,643,428
21,756,592
22,194,957
22,549,305
22,554,889
22,743,175
23,830,045
23,620,711
23,203,848
23,501,784
22,364,430
22,589,661
22,465,730

9,882,602
9,866,131
9,666,070
9,492,871
9,508,703
9,747,755
9,686,145
9,474,473
9,217,655
9,046,372
8,563,771
8,770,788
9,059,382

2,331,233
2,540,573
2,380,707
2,057,217
1,861,866
2,000,056
1,S79,644
2,174,619
2,320,031
1,959,638
2,432,776
2,420,725
2,545,873
Due banks.

P IT T S B U R G

Loans.

Jan.

3 ..
10. .
1 7 .. ...........
2 4 ..
3 1 .. ...........
Feb. 7 . . ...........
1 4 .. ...........
2 1 .. ...........
28. . ...........
Mar. 7 . . ...........
1 4 .. ...........
2 1 .. ...........
28. . .........
Apr. 4 . . ...........

6,743,540
6,964,674
6,988,923
7,027,680
6,953,599
7,001,804
6,945,722
6,982,847
7,069,162
6,991,949
7,213,664

BANKS.

Specie.

Circulation.

Deposits.

1,292,047
1,287,552
1,294,567
1,308,325
1,307,145
1,260,532
1,219,551
1,223,396
1,213,552
1,133,754
1,100,171
1,156,6S2
1,112,770
1,113,769

2,038,113
2,042,348
2,023,948
1,961,493
1,965,723
1,904,978
1,958,098
1,919,658
1,937,498
1,867,848
2,029,468
1,961,843
1,954,903
2,080,363

1,811,780
1,767,594
1,804,149
1,781,474
1,739,046
1,748,144
1,724,773
1,699,020
1,683,030
1,637,796
1,638,243
1,625,949
1,602,283
1,704,191

162,902
216,097
179,451
241,121
215,608
202,505
164,859
134,859
175,640
160,996
220,822
215,029
180,567
237,290

8 T . L O U IS B A N K S .

Exchange.

Jan.

8 .........
15.........
22.........
29.........
Feb. 5 .........
12.........
19........
26........
Mar. 5 .........
12____
19____
26 ____
4 ___
Apr.

Circulation.

&

2,030,608
1,992,670
2,116,870
2,185,385
2,032,235
1,865,125
1,932,210
1,819,745
1,808,100
1,733,620
1,673,475
1,596,806
1,566,380

' 1,705,262
1,578,800
1,584,541
1,640,541
1,599,203
1,682,084
1,678,054
1,636,054
1,575,362
1,569,742
1,605,802
1,642,589
1,542,211

Specie.

P R O V ID E N C E B AN K S.

Loans.

Jan. 17........
Feb. 7........
21........
Mar. 6........
21........
Apr. 4........

18,037,795
18,298,481
18,533,944
18,327,546
18,333,574
18,483,550

Specie.

Circulation.

Deposits.

537,884
451,771
412,571
375,757
377.945
387,317

2,003,313
1,789,673
1,927,359
1,967,389
1,943,450
1,938,448

2,513,422
2,446,451
2,411,858
2,324,691
2,288,175
2,374,941

Due oth. b’ks.

1,307,647
1,135,309
968,154
978,410
255,892
972,491

VALUATION OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

Hartford has 2,559 dwelling-houses, valued at $7,850,287 ; 8,193 acres of
land, $1,445,340; 333 stores, $1,690,764; bank stock, $1,571,096; insurance
stock, $2,166,140; money at interest, $1,443,237 ; manufacturing investments,
$1,226,179 ; merchandise and trade investments, $1,796,263 ; which, with other
ftems, make the total real and personal estate of the city $21,512,499.

»




Journal o f Banking, Currency, and Finance.

593

VALUATION OF BALTIMORE,

The message of the Mayor of Baltimore gives the following aggregate value
of the property in each ward :—
Wards.
i ......................... . . .
2 .........................
8 .........................
4 .........................
5 .........................
6 .........................
7 .........................
8 .........................
9 .........................
10......................... . . .
i t .........................
12.........................
13.........................
14.........................
15.........................
16.........................
17.........................
18.........................
19.........................
20.........................

Direct.
$3,353,083
2,854,206
3,820,631
2,973,754
2,032,202
2,377,314
1,842,427
2,604,836
29,346,008
9,019,533
13446,249
5,338,904
13,184,600
6,845,518
5,486^815
2.463,238
3,230,074
8,567,501
3,178,739
5,592,956

T o ta l.......... . . .

$128,158,588

Eeal exempt.
$123,278

797,191
868,887
355,566

1,248,524
1,290,869
1,159,293
649,474
$6,493,082

Personal exempt.
Total.
$3,477,106
$745
2,854,206
3,820,631
2,973,754
2,032,202
2,377,314
2,667,546
27,928
3,531,723
38,000
29,346,008
9,019,533
13,845,792
43,977
5,338,904
13,184,600
6,845,518
5,486,815
•2,463,238
4,593,073
114,475
94,272
9,952,642
4,410,568
72,536
6,262,262
19,832
$431,765

$135,083,435

VALUATION OF LOUISIANA.

The following is the last, summing up of the census returns of the State of
Louisiana, as given by the New Orleans Delta:—
Assessed value of taxable property.........................................................
Of which New Orleans has.........................................................................
Assessed taxes thereon.......................
In New Orleans.........................
School money................................................................................................
Number of voters in the S ta te .................................................................
Educable children.........................................................................................

$378,604,232
98,256,725
1,398,698
483,554
306,468
58,546
76,612

New Orleans owns more than one-fourth of the property, and pays more than
one-third of the taxes of the State.
BOSTON BANK DIVIDENDS.
COMPILED FOE THE MERCHANTS’ MAGAZINE BT JOSEPH G. MARTIN, COMMISSION STOCK
BROKER, NO. 6 STATE-STREET, BOSTON.

The following table presents the capital of each bank, together with the last
four semi-annual dividends, and the amount paid on Monday, April 4, 1859 ;
also the market value of each stock, dividend off, October, 1857, April and
October, 1858, and April, 1859. This table shows the reduced figures during
the panic of October, 1857, and the subsequent reaction, in some cases higher
than previously. The only change in the dividends from October, 1858, is an
increase of i per cent by the Washington Bank, and a decrease of i per cent by
the Market and New England. The payments are generally larger than had
been expected, as the low price at which the banks have been obliged to loan
their money had led to the belief that the dividends must fall off. As it is, some
von. XL.— no . v.
38




Journal o f Banking , Currency, and Finance.

594

of the banks could hardly have earned the percentage paid, but, haying a large
surplus, have drawn a little from that, instead of reducing the dividend, with a
view to better business hereafter. The Bank of Mutual Redemption, which
went into operation August 23,1858, does not pay a dividend. The 2 per cent
of the Bank of the Metropolis is for the first four months of its operation. The
Safety Fund Bank went into operation February 1, with $600,000 capital. The
latter two are under the General Banking Law, and two other banks, the Revere
and Mount Vernon, are soon to be organized.
Banks.

Atlantic...............
Atlas....................
Blackstone .........
Boston (par 50)..
Boylston..............
Broadway...........
City.....................
Columbian.........
Com m erce.........
E a g le .................
E lio t...................
Exchange............
Faneuil H all . . . .
Freeman’s ...........
G lo b e .................
Granite................
H am ilton...........
Hide & Leather.
H o w a rd .............
Market (par 70).
Mass’ts (par 250)
M averick...........
Mechanics’..........
Merchants’..........
Metropolis.........
National..............
New England. . .
N o rth .................
North America..
Shaw m ut...........
Shoe Leather..
State (par 60) . .
Suffolk................
Traders’...............
Tremont..............
U nion..................
W ashington........
W ebster..............
Total
Total
Total
Total

April, 1859
Oct., 1858
April, 1858
Oct., 1857

-Dividends. ___ , Amount,
1S 58.— n Apr. , April,
Oct..,
1S59.
Capital stock:. ’ 57. Apr. Oct. ’59.

$500,000
500,000
750,000
900,000
400,000
150,000
1,000,000
750,000
2,000,000
700,000
600,000
1,000,000
600,000
400,000
1,000,000
900,000
500,000
1,000,000
500,000
660,000
800,000
400,000
250,000
4,000,000
200,000
750,000
1,000,000
750,000
750,000
750,000
1,000,000
1.800,000
1,000,000
600,000
1,250,000
1,000,000
750,000
1,500,000
33,160,000
32,635,000
31,960,000
31,960,000

3
3i
4
4
4+
3+
3+
H
H
4
3i
5
4
5
4
3
4

8
4
34

4
44
3
34
34
34
4
34
5
4
4
4
3
4

3
3
4
5
!$s *$8
84 34
4
4
34 34
34
4
3
34
4
44
34
5
34
4
4
34
34

34
4
3
3
4
44
34
5
3
4
4
34
34

34 34
4
4
34 34
4
4
44 44
3
3
34 34
34 34
34 34
4
4
34 34
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
4
4
3
3
3
3
4
34
:$8 $8
34
4
4
3
3
2
34
4
34
3
3
3
3
3
3
44 44
34 34
5
5
3
3
4
4
34 34
34 4
34 34

$17,500
20.000
26.250
36,000
18,000
4,500
35,000
26,250
70,000
28,000
21,000
50,000
20,000
16,000
40,000
27,000
20,000
30,000
15,000
19,600
25,600
14.000
10,000
120,000
4,000
26,250
35,000
22,500
22,500
22,500
45,000
63,000
50,000
18,000
50,000
35,000
30,000
52,500

/—Value o f stock divided off.-N
Oct.,
,----- 1858.------, A pr,
Oct.
1859.
]857.
Apr.

95
100
95
55
106
95
95
95
83
104
85
104
102
108
104
90
108
.. .

85
76
240
80
102
75
..
90
100
90
95
95
105
63
120
85
103
102
97
90

101
106
1014
574

1084
95
1044

1044
106
1034
59
1114
98
105
1064
101
111

104
9S£
109
100
1034
116
120
108
1094
114
112
1134 114
974
98
120
116
new
100
984
96
82
80
252
262
94£
91*
106
108
991 102
new
..
974 100
111
1124
96
97
994 102
104
101
1144 1184
68
67
129
127
984
97
110
1114
1114
110
1044 107
104
1024

1034

106
1034
60
1154
98
105
1054
102
111
104
123
111
115
116
100
120
104
101
80
270
]00
114
102
97
1 00 4

111
98
101
1004

121
69
1274
99
113
1104

108
1034

$1,,185,950
1.,176,250
1,,186,000
1.,204,350

The following dividends and interest are also payable at the dates given. In
addition to these, early in April is the usual period for dividends by the Boylston,
City, Eliot, Manufacturers’, Merchants’, National, Neptune, Quincy, Warren,
* The dividend o f the Massachusetts Bank is 3 1-5 per cent, (par $250.) equal to $8 per share.




Journal o f Banking , Currency, and Finance.

595

and Washington Insurance Companies, as also the Boston Exchange Company
a quarterly dividend of probably 1J- per cent, adding, in round numbers, over
$200,000, and making the total to be paid out in April nearly $2,000,000.
Payable.
Companies.
April 1. .Boston Steam Flour Mills bonds.............................
1 .. Boston city bonds, (interest)....................................
1. .Cambridge (horse) Railroad....................................
1 .. Massachusetts State bonds, (interest).....................
1 . . Manchester and Lawrence Railroad bonds............
1. .Michigan Central Railroad bonds, (interest)..........
1 .. Michigan Central Railroad bonds, (principal). . . .
4 . .New England Glass Company.................................
1, .Northampton Bridge Company................................
1. .Ogdensburg 1st 7’s (April coupon).........................
1. .Philadelphia, Wilmington, & Baltimore Railroad.
4 . . Shoe & Leather Fire & Marine Insurance Comp .

Capital. Div. Amount,
$100,000 3
$3,000
.................
80,000
160,000 4|
7,200
.................
20,750
200,000 3
6,000
................. 175,488
.................
2,200
500,000 5
25,000
33,000 1J
578
1,500,000 3^ 52,500
5,600,000 3 168,000
100,000 5
5,000

T o t a l................................................................................................$545,716
JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES OF MASSACHUSETTS.

The Secretary of the Commonwealth has prepared the annual abstract of the
returns of joint-stock companies incorporated under the general law of 1851, and
it has been distributed to the members of the Legislature. It contains the name
and location of 156 companies organized under the general law, together with
the amount of their capital stock, number of shares taken, par value of shares,
amount of capital paid in, number of instalments, and when filed in the Secretary’s
office. The following table presents a comparison of these returns with those
made last year:—
January 1, 1858 ..........................................
January 1, 1859 ..........................................
Increase..................................................

No. of
companies.
145
156
11

Amount
of capital.
$9,159,800
9,778,600

Capital
paid in.
$6,416,083
6,908,883

$618,800

$492,800

It should be recollected that these returns are from corporations organized
under the general law only. The amount of the capital stock of the corporations
having special charters is, of course, much larger than that here stated.
TURKISH PAPER MONEY.

The cancelment of a further sum of Turkish paper money took place at Con­
stantinople on the 22d of January, to the extent of 82,058,000 piastres, which
make up a total of 145,576,750 piastres ; a further sum of 19,447,200 piastres was
to be canceled on the Saturday following, making the total amount 165,023,950
piastres, or about one-fourth of the whole paper money in circulation ; this
represents pretty nearly the amount for which the Turkish Government has
drawn on London, in addition to £650,000 remitted in bars. There are two
kinds of paper money in circulation in Turkey, viz., the large “ kaimes,” in sums
of 500 to 10,000 piastres, bearing interest at 6 per cent per annum. Of this
description there are about 360,000,000 piastres in circulation, and this is the
kind that has been canceled. There are also small “ kaimes,” o f 10 and 20
piastres, amounting to about 270,000,000 piastres. The larger kind are a kind
of treasury bond, as well as a circulating medium. It is intended by government




596

Journal o f Banking, Currency, and Finance.

to put a stop to this two-fold character ; and from the time of publishing the
“ irade,” they cease to bear interest, but the holders may convert them into a
new series of “ sehims,” or treasury bonds, bearing interest at 8 per cent; and
they who do not comply with this regulation may use them as a circulating
medium, without interest, the same as the small “ kaimes.” Until the result of
this plan is known, nothing can be done in the way of establishing a new bank.
But the consequence has been that a storm of indignation has arisen from the
fact that the government have made use of these new treasury bonds to pay for
the services of the military departments; but those who did not want money
refused to take them, and they were consequently hawked about at a discount of
20 per cent! Such appears to be the unfortunate issue of the Turkish Govern­
ment to redeem its paper currency. Whether this is the result of trickery or
ignorance remains to be shown. It appears that the loan recently contracted
for home purposes amount to about £700,000; but this is a customary plan in
anticipation of the revenue, and they are generally made for six months.

PUBLIC FUNDED DEBT OF FRANCE,
Francs.
1851___
1852___
1858___
1854___

A.t 25 f. to the £.
£218,826,492
220,647,784
223,100,180
226,786,200

Francs.
1865___
1856___
1857___
1868___

At 25 f. to the £.
248,315,112
302,321,632
321,279,696
336,888,868

This table shows that in seven years the debt of France has increased by no
less than £123,058,376, or at the rate of £17,579,768 a year. No doubt this
period includes the two years of the Russian war ; but even if we deduct
£60,000,000 for the loans applied to that purpose, we have still a balance of
increase for the. period of £63,058,376, or at the annual rate of £9,008,339.
The increase in the last year, ending the 1st of January, 1858, was £15,604,232,
and we are informed that for the year just concluded it will certainly not be less.
On the 1st of January, 1855, the annual charge of the debt is stated at
£9,457,708 ; on the 1st of January, 1858, it was £12,435,200—so that in three
years the annual interest to be provided for increased by no less a sum. in round
figures, than £3,000,000. We have thus the broad fact before us, that from
1814 to 1858, a period of forty-four years, of which forty-two were years of
peace, and only two of war, the public debt of France increased from £50,646,108
to £336,883,868 ; and the annual interest to be provided by taxes from £2,532,304
to £12,435,200. It is by this means that what is called the equilibrium of
income and expenditure has been attained ; and when it is considered that the
price of public stock depends much more upon the fact whether it is increasing,
or is stationary, or is decreasing in amount, it will be easily under-stood why
English consols, which have been rather reduced than increased in amount during
that period, should stand at 95£, while French three-per-cents are only 68J.
CONDITION OF THE STATE BANK OF IOWA,

This bank has been in operation about three months, and the first statement of
its condition possesses unusual interest, from the fact of its being an index of
the proposed course of the bank. The safety fund for the protection of the




Journal o f Banking, Currency, and Finance.

597

circulation, and the value of the charter, which is forfeited in case of suspension,
are the guaranties to the people in taking the notes of the bank :—
ABSTRACT OF THE ASSETS, LIABILITIES, AND CONDITION OF THE STATE BANK OF IO W A, FROM
THE OFFICIAL RETURNS FOR MONDAY, MARCH

Branches.
...........
D avenport................. ............
Des Moines..............................
Iowa City.....................
Keokuk........................ ...........
Mt. Pleasant................
Muscatine.................... ............
...........

Capital
paid in.
$30,000 00
26£00 00
25,000 00
26,350 00
34,000 00
25,000 00

Total................... .
Branches.
Dubuque.....................
Davenport.................
Des Moines................. ...........
Iowa City....................
Keokuk.......................
Mt. Pleasant............... ...........
Muscatine....................
Oskaloosa....................
Total................... .
Immediate liabilities.........

Specie in
bank.
27,047 65
18,256 34

Duo
depositors.
$61,048 54
51,903 30
25,331 35
26,498 45
20,486 32
20,126 62
35,514 45
21,531 12

7TH, 1859.
Circulation.
$12,000 00
17,919 00
22.450 00
23,248 00
23,371 00
15.450 00
23,923 00
21,949 00

Due
to banks.
$314
4,130
404
670
156
283

21
91
00
51
65
70

$262,420 15
Due
from banks.
$48,810 40
15,109 87
10,095 27
24,118 62
21,364 44
12,603 56
38,922 29
12,414 25

$161,210 00

$5,959 98

Loans.
$22,855 09
37,152 20
37,159 14
16,061 15
25,991 62
22,255 50
28,739 90
29,061 51

Safety fund.
$3,750 00
6,000 00
4,066 65
3,875 00
4,880 00
5,932 50
8,743 75
8,990 00

$183,438 70

$220,276 11

$429,590 13 | Immediate assets...............

$46,237 90
$418,739 67

BRITISH PROPERTY TAX AND INCOME TAX.

A Parliamentary return has been published, showing, under different columns,
the annual value of all the real property, including railways and canals, rated
under schedule A, for the year ending the 5th day of April, 1857, as well as the
amount payable for that year in each county or Parliamentary borough of the
United Kingdom, the population of each according to the census of 1851, the
present number of Parliamentary voters in, and the number of members returned
for, each. The information is first given separately for each county, borough,
&c., and is thus embodied in tables, from which we learn that in England and
Wales the annual value of property rated under schedule A is £60,501,161; the
amount payable for which for the year ending 5th April, 1857, at a rate of Is.
4d. in the pound, was £4,033,369. These two sums in the case of Scotland
were respectively £8,013.005 and £534,197 ; and in the case of Ireland £9,826,095
and £655,062, making, in the aggregate, a sum of £5,222,628 derived from this
source in the year mentioned, and showing that the annual value of property
classed under this schedule A, belonging to counties exclusively, is £78,340,267.
For boroughs and cities, in England and Wales, these sums are £42,995,086 and
£2,866,363 ; in Scotland, £4,569,744 and £304,603 ; and in Ireland, £2,089,191
and £139,259. Added to the sums above mentioned, wc get a total of
£127,994,288 as the annual value of property under schedule A in the United
Kingdom, and another total of £8,532,858 derived from it in the year ending
5th April, 1857. The proportions borne to one another by the population, the
constituencies, and the members, may be best shown in the following tabular
form. The population is in accordance with the census of 1851:—




598

Journal o f Banking, Currency, and Finance.
COUNTIES.

Population.

England and Wales.
Scotland.................
Irela n d...................
Total................

Gross amount o f property assessed
April 5, 1857, under schedules
B.
D.

Voters.

Members.

10,495,989
1,126,620
5,960,109

506,654
50,403
161,612

159
30
64

£38,126,869
5,809,932
2,491,151

£11,845,658
2,316,169
1,321,621

18,182,659

118,129

253

£41,034,552

£21,483,454

BOROUGHS AND CITIES.

England and Wales.
Scotland.................
Irelan d...................
Total................

7,443,822
1,136,122
818,430

435,604
49,668
29,313

337
23
41

£2,459,535
122,224
84,181

£55,666,269
8,192,980
3,256,241

9,458,314

514,645

401

£2,666,546

£61,115,496

COUNTIES, CITIES, AND BOROUGHS.

England and Wales.
Scotland.................
Ireland.....................

17,939,752
2,862,142
6,838,539

942,258
100,011
191,045

496
53
105

£41,186,404
5,932,156
2,582,538

£13,511,921
11,109,149
4,511,814

Total.................

21,641,033

1,233,314

654

£49,101,098

£89,198,950

IMPORT AMR EXPORT OF THE PRECIOUS METALS AT LONDON.
The London Times publishes the following statement of the import and export
of bullion at London, during the six months ending December 31,1858 :—
Gold.

£61,400
Belgium...............
France ................. 5,883,580
34,230
Hanse Towns.......
Holland................
3,600
R u ssia .................
Spain & Portugal.
121,150
130
Malta....................
Constantinople . .
653,680
Ceylon..................
2,820
1,530
Bom bay...............
Madras.................
1,410
Calcutta..............
Singapore...........
Manilla................
10,000
Penang................
Hong Kong..........
....
Shanghae.............
30,000
Alexandria...........
Cape G. Hope, &c.
1,450
60,000
Mauritius...........
United States....
South Am erica...
124,000
112,040
West Indies, &c .
18,150
Australia..............
New Zealand.......

— Exports. - ------------- \
Silver.
Total.
£1,150
£69,160
180,000 6,063,580
29,810
62,040
399,420
403,020
2,000
10,000
518,900
68,510
415,910
6,120
1,850
411,540
319,030
6,400
3,COO
21,300
15,800
18,600
14,200
9,680
400

,---------- ---- Imports.Silver.
Total.
Gold.
£402,340 £411,440
103,880
896,600
345,610
141,350
13,600
25,600
1,641,060
54,090
39,630
20,820
10,160
1,200

£9,100
192,120
204,260
48,000
1,641,060
14,460
10,660
1,200

123,150
130
653,680
12,820
520,430
10,980
415,910
5,120
10,000
1,850
411,540
319,030
16,910
36,400
4,450
68,100
11,300
15,800 1,951,860
142,600
5,300
246,240
851,400
21,830 1,260410
400 5,196,230
8.830

13,060

13,060

1,500
....

1,500
.........

810
3,250

11,180
11,350
. . . .

288,490 2,240,350
8,100
3,400
6,850
364,250
1,109420 2,369,830
1,090 5,197,320
8,830

Total............. £1,115,110 2,584,280 9,159,450 10,998,560 2,156,830 13,155,390
Previous 6 months 6,100,220 4,336,980 11,031,200
Total, 1858 . . . . 13,815,390 6,921,260 20,196,650




599

Statistics o f Trade and Commerce.

STATISTICS OF TRADE AND COMMERCE.
GRAIN RECEIVED AT BUFFALO IN TWO YEARS.

The table which we present below of the receipts by lake at Buffalo during
the year, embraces all the principal articles reported at the custom-house. It
will be seen by the comparative table that there is a handsome gain in nearly
every article of produce as compared with the receipts of 1857. This increase
is perhaps more noticeable in the total of grain and flour reduced to wheat, which
compare as follows :—

1857.

1858.

Rye................................................................

8,374,000
5,824,662
1,210,273
43,497
63,432

10,451,132
6,635,118
2,210,784
279,012
101,014

Total grain................................................
Flour reduced to wheat........ ..................

15,505,873
4,212,545

19,677,060
7,709,030

Total...............................................
Total, 1857....................................

19,718,418

27,386,090
19,718,418

Wheat . . '...................................................... bush.
Corn.........................................................................
O a ts ........................................................................
Barley.....................................................................

Increase iu favor of 1858

7,667,672

From this table it will be seen that the total receipts of grain and flour
reduced to wheat this year reaches the enormous quantity of 27,386,090 bushels.
The increase in receipts of provisions is no less marked. The receipts in 1857
and 1858 compare as follows :—

1857.
Pork............................................. bbls.
Beef.......................................................
Lard............................................. lbs.
B a cou ...................................................
Tallow..................................................
Butter....................................................

22,590
57,074
711,350
3,384,970
518,000
1,076,460

1858.

Increase.
38,128
73,033
4,430,900
2,939,197
1,024,300
1,007,493

60,718
130,107
5,142,250
6,324,167
1,542,300
2,083,943

These figures all show a very large increase in favor of 1858.
whisky also shows an increase of 15,861 barrels.

The article of

IRON EXPORTED FROM STOCKHOLM.

The quantity of iron exported from Stockholm in the past two years has been
as follows in centners, distinguishing the destination :—
England................ .
France .................
Prussia..................
Portugal...............
United States . . .
Lubec....................
D enm ark.............
H olland...............
Oldenburg ...........
Brazil.....................

1858.

1857.

165,000
97,900
82,400
76,800
47,800
46,200
45,900
32,100
20,500
20,000

326,080
93,440
94,720
105,600
66,560
62,400
85,120
49,600
13,440
24,640




1858.
East Indies........
Africa..................
Mecklenburg . . .
Hanover..............
Bremen...............
Italy....................
Australia...........
Turkey................
B elgium .............

1857.
19,840
14,400
13,120
4,480
7,040
7,680
3,840
3,520
1,600

600

Statistics o f Trade and Commerce.
THE LAKE TRADE,

GRAIN EXPO RTED FROM THE LAKE REGION IN

1856

AND

1857,

AND THE ROUTES

BT WHICH

IT W AS CARRIED.

Received at.
Cape Vincent___

Total flour and grain in
Other grain,
bushels.
1857.
1856.
bush.
370,249 8,234,082 13,605,539
14,740 2,938,229 2,801,164
869,680
49,408
920,000
38,165 5,315,552 5,811,877

Flour,
bbls.
101,363
861,578
60,472
637,052

Wheat,
bush.
5,353,028
598,523
477,375
1,708,965

Corn,
bush.
2,003,992
517,076
40,537
383,162

1,160,465
180,194
925,415
354,072

8,137,889
148,138
8,383,815
93,443

472,562 17,357,543 23,138,580
1,049,108 2,422,620
5,720,413 1,321,406 20,052,709 26,179,612
........... 1,978,455 1,750,000
114,652

1,279,487
426,801
351,011

8,477,258

5,835,065 1,321,406 22,031,164 27,829,612
2,390,188 2,736,085
1,961,848 1,480,872

777,812
3,397,958 16,763,285
350,434 2,873,000
161,868

4,352,036 4,216,957
8,779,832 2,256,944 44,789,851 57,707,769
1,552,210 856,170 7,033,550 6,431,950
............... 230,000 1,039,340 1,090,000

2,944,767

i 512,302 2,873,000 1,552,210 1,086,170 8,072,890 7,521,950
, 3,910,260 19,636,285 10,332,042 3,343,114 52,862,741 65,229,701
RECAPITULATION.

i
Ohio River, east.

1,160,465
180,194
1,279,487
777,812

8,137,889
148,138
8,477,258

Total eastw ard... 3,397,958 16,763,285
Tot. West & South 512,302 2,873,000

2,944,767

472,562 17,357,543 23,138,580
1,049,108 2,422,620
5,835,065 1,321,406 22,031,164 27,929,612
............... 462,976 4,362,036 4,216,957

8,779,832 2,256,944 44,789,851 57,707,769
1,552,210 1,086,170 8,072,890 7,521,950

Total export. . . . 3,910,260 19,636,285 10,332,042 3,343,114 52,862,741 65,229,719
TABLE SHOWING THE RECEIPTS OF PRODUCE AT BUFFALO IN

1857,

AND THE STATES FROM

W H IC H IT W A S DERIVED.

Illinois............................
Wisconsin.......................

Flour,
bbls.
122,177
250,313
136,694
55,486
147',399
133,884

Wheat,
bush.
651,191
334,590
487,998
336,719
5,227,543
1,296,238

T o t a l.....................

845,953

8,334,279

Rye,
bush.
7,390
41,236

Hogs,
No.
26,615
25,823
1,418
21,328

48,626

75,194

States.
Indiana, (Toledo)..........
Ohio................................
Michigan.........................

States.
Indiana, (Toledo)..........
Ohio................................
Michigan.........................
Canada ..........................

T o ta l.....................




Corn,
bush.
526,443
570,118
76,787

Oats,
bush.
111,927
669,936
103,204
150
329,343
200

Barley,
bush.

5,713,617

1,214,760

37,844

Sheep,
No.
17,057
14,794
11,417
1,694

Cattle,
No.
9,125
6,140
10,990
4,544

Wool,
bales.
4,143
14,373
9,916
1,016
5,324
797

44,972

29,799

35,569

4,540,269

1,930
35,334
436
144

601

Statistics o f Track dnd Commerce.

The live-stock credited Canada, reached Buffalo via Buffalo and Lake Huron
Bailroad and Great Western Bailroad, and nearly all came over at Detroit from
Western States.
The following table will show the ports from which the above wheat was
received during the year 1857 :—Chicago.. . .bush. 5,285,071
Milwaukee.......... 1,025,802
Cleveland............ 213,462
Toledo................. 703,701
D etroit............... 416,773
Sandusky...........
79,551

Huron.........bush.
Milan...................
Verm illion.........
Kenosha.............
Racine.................
Waukegan . . . . ,

35,938
2,182
1,580
65,981
138,745
56,254

TONNAGE OF THE LAKES FOR

336
17,463
206
2,963
9,093
318,908

1857.

Number.
Steamers.................................
Propellers.............................
Barks.......................................
Brigs........................................
Schooners and sloops............

Green Bay..bush.
Sheboygan..........
Port Washington.
Grand Haven. . .
Michigan C ity. . .
Canada...............

57

T o ta l.........................

Tonnage.
72,108
65,271
22,817
27,121
200,823

Value.
$3,953,800
3,537,900
707,500
628,900
6,383,900

387,640

$15,212,000

EXPORTS AND IMPORTS OF BALTIMORE,

The table given below shows that there was a considerable decrease last year
in the foreign trade of Baltimore. The exports were §1,156,253, and the imports
§4,162,584, less than in 1857, making a total decrease in the foreign trade last
year of §5,319,127. The decrease in the foreign trade of Baltimore was not,
however, proportionately greater than in the other Atlantic cities :—
VALUE OF FOREIGN IMPORTS AND EXPORTS AT THE DISTRICT OF BALTIMORE FOR THE PAST
NINETEEN TEARS.

Years.

1840..........
1841..........
1842..........
1843..........
1844..........
1845..........
1846..........
1847..........
1848..........
1849..........

Imports.

5,245,894

Exports.

$5,868,018
4,997,633
4,448,040
4,740,042
4,622,063
6,256,276
6,710,559
9,826,479
7,209,602
8,660,881

Imports.

Years.

1850..........
1851..........
1852..........
1853..........
1854..........
1855..........
1856..........
1857..........
1858..........

Exports.
$8,530,970
6,466,165
7,540,766
9,0S6,914
11,306,010
11,601,637
13,262,225
11,408,819
10,252,264

LUMBER TRADE OF ST, JOHN’ S, NEW BRUiNSWICK.

In 1858, 53 vessels were cleared, measuring 45,299 tons, valued at §2,264,950,
carrying deals valued at §321,165, and earning freights to the amount of
§330,952 ; value of vessels, cargoes, and freights, §2,917,067. It is worthy of
remark that not one of these vessels received any damage in leaving the Bay of
F u n d y :—
No. of vessels........
Tonnage....................
Value of tonnage...
Standard deals . . . .
Value o f deals . . . .
Earnings of freights.




1857.
76
64,292
$3,214,600
25,600
$430,080
425,584

1856.
91
78,644
$3,932,200
31,843
$611,212
718,915

1855.

1854.

90
85,898
$4,294,900
82,633
$665,700
549,070

59,651
$3,877,315
21,915
$580,748
540,058

66

602

Statistics o f tra d e and Commerce.

SUGAR EXPORTED FROM CUBA.
The exports of sugar from the island of Cuba to different countries, distin­
guishing the hogsheads from the boxes, have been for five years as follows
Y ears.
1854...........
1855...........
1856...........
1857...........
1858........... .

United States.
Boxes.
II lids.
214,245
141,890
289,513
165,004
293,321
298,110
293,525
218,553
285,920
201,507

Great Britain.
Boxes.
Hhds.
24,711
479,254
331,109
19,997
800,500
16,107
307,520
21,947
432,530
30,709

Y ears.
1854...........
1855...........
1856...........
1857...........
1858...........

France.
Boxes.
134,912
164,422
89,100
105,977
73,847

nhds.
9,600
6,437
1,379
62
722

Boxes.
155,003
262,840
235,313
220,836
220,373

.. Hhds.
6,619
12,100
5,833
6,391
2,455

Boxes.
1,238,959
1,303,922
1,114,543
1,024,541
1,184,875

Years.
1854...........
1855...........
1856...........
1857...........
1858...........

Boxes.
13,812
21,843
32,132
16,215
13,275

Spain.

Hhds.
101
56
198
85
4

Tons.
235,402
247,745
211,763
194,662
225,125

North of Europe.
Boxes.
Ilhds.
165,818
5,830
179,344
5,605
123,069
5,435
131,106
5,079
96,523
6,351
South of Europe.
Boxes.
Hhds.
75,915
283
54,951
533
50,105
703
39,352
1,160
62,346
2,991
Hhds.
180,034
208,732
237,765
253,267
243,739

Tons.
116,722
128,890
146,822
156,398
150,510

The exports cf 1858 were together 375,000 tons, a quantity larger than in
any one year except 1855.
COD FISHERIES.
TONNAGE OF VESSELS ENGAGED IN THE COD FISHERIES, THE ALLOWANCES P A ID , ETO., FROM

1848
Years.
1848...............................
1849...............................
1850...............................
1851...............................
1852...............................
1853...............................
1854...............................
1855...............................
1856...............................
1857...............................

Tonnage
employed.
82,652
73,882
85,646
87,476
102,659
99,990
102,194
102,928
95,816
104,673

TO

1857.

Allowances
paid to
fishing vessels.
$243,434
287,604
286,796
328,267
304,569
323,199
374,286
346,496
134,659
601,453

Sums due as
drawbacks.
$22,811 95
21,809 66
22,307 76
25,193 08
26,855 59
24,847 41
31,261 36
32,484 07
29,319 69
29,233 61

Excess of
bounty over
drawbacks.
$220,622
265,794
264,488
303,074
277,713
298,351
343,024
313,712
105,339
572,219

Ten years...........
937,826
$266,124 18
$2,964,336
$3,230,463
Average tonnage per year for ten years...............................
93,782.6
Average allowance per year for ten years....................................
$323,046 30
Average sum due as drawback per year for ten years.................
26,612 40
Average excess of bounty over drawbacks per year for ten years.
296,433 60
TRADE OF DENMARK FOR 1857.
.----------------Import.---------------- .
Pounds.
Thalers.

Schleswig...................
Holstein.......................
Lubec..........................
D enm ark...................
Total




292,571,329
414,753,376
19,662,602
1,426,160,834

10,123,645
15,163,397
441,121
39,374,143
65,132,407

,---------------- Export.------------ —,
Pounds.
Thalers.

101,370,116
473,614,182
4,101,201
569,091,795

4,834,877
14,388,604
240,131
16,354.241
35, 286,751

603

Statistics o f Trade and Commerce.
IMPORT OF IROJV AND STEEL INTO THE UNITED STATES.

QUANTITY AND VALUE OF IRON AND STEEL IM PORTED INTO THE UNITED STATES DURING THE
FISCAL YEARS ENDING JUNE

Articles.
Bar iroD...........................
Rod iron..........................
Hoop iron....................... . .lbs.
Sheet iron.......................
Pig iron...........................
Old and scrap iron........
Railroad iron..................
Wire, cap and bonnet ..,. lbs.
Nails, spikes, and tacks.
Chain cables...................
Anchors and parts.........
Anvils and pa rts...........
Manufactures o f iron & steel
S te e l.............................. .cwt.

30, 1857

AND

,-------- 1847.-------- ,

Quantity.
1,734,041
815,735
12,070,543
36,047,576
1,035,882
165,006
3,686,107
162,914
3,550,329
9,874,762
842,828
1,173,877
292,154

Total value.........

Yalue.
$4,423,935
809,901
324,675
1,082,389
1,001,742
111,680
7,455,596
6,168
188,756
293,124
82,980
67,926
7,521,625
2,633,614

1858.

,-------- 1858.--------- >

Quantity.
1,314,628
167,709
9,519,581
29,523,002
839,717
145,153
1,514,905
174,067
1,483,697
5,246,722
190,109
800,620
214,317

$25,954,111

Yalue.
$3,318,913
426,499
273,326
945,073
739,949
87,113
2,987,576
6,906
100,481
155,408
8,072
45,275
5,360,343
1,873,111

$16,328,039

COMMERCE OF THE SANDWICH ISLANDS,*

The following are the official returns of the commerce of the Sandwich Islands,
furnished by the Collector-General of the Customs
Years.
1858.
1857.
1856.
1855.
1854.
1853.
1852.
1851.
1850.
1849.
1848.
1847.
1846.
Years.
1S58
1S57
1856
1855
1854
1853
1852
1851
1S50
1849
1848
1847
1846

Foreign
produce
exported.
$257,115 97
222.222 91
204,545 88
297,859 82
311,092 97
191,397 66
381,142 51
381,402 55
246,529 72
198,102 07
33,651 55
55,208 07
62,325 74

Total
custom-house
receipts.
$116,138 23
140,777 03
123,171 75
158,411 90
152,125 58
155,650 17
113,001 93
160,602 19
121,506 73
83,231 32
55,568 94
48,801 25
56,506 64

,-------Oil and bone transhipped.------- »
No.
Sperm,
Whale,
Bone,
National Merchant vessels.
lbs.
No.
galls.
galls.
vessels.
Tonnage,
1,614,710
222,464
2,551,382
10
115
45,875
1,295,525
10
82
176,306
2,018,027
26,817
1,074,942
121.294
1,641,579
9
123
42,213
109,308
1,436,810
872,954
13
154
51,304
1,479,678
156,484
1,683,922
16
125
47,288
175,396
3,787,:?48
2,020,264
7
211
59,451
173,490
1,182,738
3,159,951
3
235
61,065
901,604
104,362
909.379
7
446
87,920
12
469
90,304
12
180
6
90
4
71
65
17

No.
Gallons
entries spirits
whalers, consu’d.
526
14.637
*387
16,144
*366
14,779
*468
18,318
*525
17,537
*535
18,123
*519
14,150
220
9,500
237
8,252
274
5,717
254
3,443
167
3,271
6^491

Total
imports.
$1,089,660 60
1,138,165 41
1,151,422 99
1,383,189 87
1,590,837 71
1,401,975 86
759,868 54
1,823,821 68
1,035,058 70
729,830 44
605,618 73
710,138 52
598,382 24

Total
exports.
$787,082 08
645,526 10
670,824 67
572,601 49
585,122 67
472,996 83
638,395 20
691,231 49
783,052 35
477,845 81
300,370 98
264,226 63
363,750 74

Domestic
produce
exported.
$529,966 11
423,303 91
466,278 79
274,741 67
274,029 70
281,599 17
257,251 69
309,828 94
536,522 63
279,734 74
266,819 43
209,018 53
301,625 00

* These figures give the number of custom-house entries of whalers at various ports, some of
the vessels entering at three, four, and even five ports during the year. The actual number of
different whalers during 1S58, spring and fall seasons, will not exceed 230.




604

Statistics o f Trade and Commerce.

The principal articles which, as matters of export, have shown a decided
increase, are sugars, molasses, pulu, flour, sweet potatoes, salt, hides, whale oil,
and bone; while the articles that show the greatest falling off are coffee and
arrowroot. The sugars have increased 403,505 lbs.; molasses, 44,695 galls. ;
pulu, 1,005 bales ; flour, 731 bbls.; sweet potatoes, 646 bbls.; salt increased to
1,125 tons instead of 1,550 bbls.; hides, 3,366 ; whale oil, 32,627 galls.; whale­
bone, 17,303 lbs. The coffee has decreased 253,686 lbs., owing entirely to the
blight; the arrowroot has decreased 15,305 lbs.
The custom-house receipts for 1857 were $140,777 03, while for 1858 they
were $116,138 23, or $24,639 less.
Goods and spirits bonded for 1857 were $178,099 02, while for 1858 they
were $253,497 27, or $75,496 25 more.
In 1857 there arrived at Hawaiian ports 83 merchantmen, of 26,817 tons
burthen ; in 1858 they numbered 115, with a tonnage of 46,075 tons.
The consumption of spirits for 1858 show a decrease of 1,410 gallons, and
that of wines, etc., a decrease of 97 gallons.
TRADE OF HOLLAND,
The commerce of Holland for the year 1857 has been given officially as
follows:—
Florins....................................

Imports.
413,682,840

Exports.
343,332,758

Re-exports.
112,022,197

The imports show an increase for the year of 941,637 florins, and the value
gone into consumption had increased 6,320,204 florins. The export of Dutch
goods had increased 5,502,510 florins, while the transit exports had diminished
418,217 florins. The imports of rice had diminished 12,000,000 florins ; sugar,
5.000. 000 florins; coffee, 3,500,000 florins. The import of gold and silver was
8.000. 000 florins greater, and the export shared a similar increase.
RECEIPTS OF COAL AT BALTIMORE,
RECEIPTS OF COAL AT BALTIMORE FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, TO 3 1 s T DECEMBER.

Years.
1851..
1852...
1853... ...............
1854... ...............

Bituminous. Anthracite. Years.
200,000 1855...........
125,000 1856..........
406,000
183,000 1 8 5 7 .......
451,070
238,740 1858.........

Bituminous. Anthracite.
265,921
389,741
266,661
446,981
444,603
243,482
256,105
318,607

EXPORTS OF BAHIA, BRAZIL.
1849.. .
1850...
1851...
1852...
1858...

...................
...................
...................
...................
...................

Sugar,
tons.
40,960
52'400
66,660
36,000
69,040

Coffee,
sacks.
19,650
18,176
28,606
28,470
20,546

1854..........
1855........
1856..........
1857..........
1858..........

Sugar,
tons.
33,450
45,290
33,160
33,650
23,420

Coffee,
sacks.
23,663
56,176
52,880
83,958
44,651

LUMBER ON THE ALLEGHANY RIVER,
The Olean Advocate says the amount of lumber annually “ run ” down the
Alleghany River and its tributaries, is estimated at from 150,000,000 to
175,000,000 feet. This amount is to be greatly reduced the coming Spring.
We doubt if it will exceed 100,000,000 feet, including the amount now manu­
factured from the stock logs now on hand.




605

Statistics o f Trade and Commerce.
TRADE OF SWEDEN,

The following report from the London Times of the 6th instant, on the trade
of Stockholm in 1856, supplies the following information :—
The crops were generally below an average in 18 counties, and in farms of the
northern districts the crops were almost a total failure. Great distress existed
among the poorer classes in the north, and they were reduced in many cases to
grind the bark of pines and mix it with a small quantity of rye flour, as a
substitute for bread. In 1856,10,616,434 kannaof brandy (a kanna being equal
to nearly 3^ English quarts) were distilled, value 3,538,811 rix dollars banco, or
£294,000. The produce ol 18 cotton mills in different parts of Sweden is given
for 1855 at 12,401,721 pounds of cotton yarn. Within a few years cotton has
in a great measure superseded the use ol linen, as being so much cheaper and
warmer. Coals are now imported in large quantities from England, but, from
the peculiar construction of the stoves used for heating the rooms, it is impossible
to use them in private houses. The price of coals is from 18s. to 26s. per ton ;
the quantity imported in 1855 rose to 860,290 tons (Swedish) from 178,549 tons
in 1845. The war with Russia in 1854 and 1855 was very profitable to the
Stockholm merchants trading in the Gulf of Bothnia, and, in the hope that the
war would continue, they gave very extensive orders for goods for 1856. The
result of peace was, that much of the gains of the two previous years was
swallowed up in the failure of the speculation for 1856. The whole import and
export trade of Sweden twenty years ago was not more than 34,147,000 banco,
or £2,845,583 ; in 1845 it had risen to 45.650,000 banco ; and 1855 exceeded
120,000,000 banco (about £10,000,000,) being double what it was in 1852. In
1855 the value of the exports exceeded that of the imports by £611,416. The
value of grain exported in 1854 was 8,000,000 banco, or £666,666, while in 1855
it was nearly 18,000,000 banco, or £1,500,000. Tan has largely increased as an
item of the exports, while the exportation of pitch, bones, bar-iron, coffee, and
steel has fallen off; 4,536,282 pounds of white cotton yarns were imported from
Great Britain in 1855, a large increase, owing to the lowering of the duty from
4s. to 3s. per pound. A greater importation of raw sugar has also taken place
(from England) since the lowering of duties in 1853. The importation of
machinery and coals from England continues to increase. The trade and general
prosperty of Sweden have greatly increased during the last four years, partly
owing to the advance made in agriculture, and the impulse given to the carrying
trade by the beneficial change in the navigation laws.
EXPORTS FROM PORTO RICO.

Advices from this island state that the sugar crop will probably be one-third
less than last year. The following statement gives a comparative view of the
exports of the island for the last two years :—

1857.
Cotton___ lbs.
Sugar..............
Coffee..............

1858.

283,656
38,862
86,391,546 121,319,374
11,139,691
9,814,225

Hides.......... lbs.
Molasses.. galls.
Tobacco.. . . lbs.

1857.

1858.

604,666
2,745,675
5,028,491

405,882
3,729,511
4,908,444

SHIPMENT OF OIL AND BONE FROM THE SANDWICH ISLANDS,

Although the catch of the season of 1858 was small per ship, in comparison
with those of 1857 and 1856, it will be seen by the following exhibit of total in
barrels, that the quantities shipped East in 1858 considerably exceeded those of
Y cars.
1858........................... .................
1857........................... .................
1856...........................




No. of
vessels.
63
46

Sperm oil,
bbls.
10,859
9,578
8,789

Whale oil,
bbls.
125,401
108,732
176,232

Whalebone,
lbs.
1,636,636
1,472,404
2,130,712

606

Commercial Regulations.

COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS.
MINERAL

OI L.

T b e a s v e t D e p a r t m e n t , March 2,1859.
S ir :— I acknowledge the receipt of your report on the appeal of Messrs.

A. 0. Ferris & Co. from your decision subjecting to duty at the rate of 15 per
cent, under the tariff of 1857, an article described as “ mineral oil.” The im­
porters claim the mineral substance now under consideration to be “ asphaltum,”
and entitled to entry at a duty of four per cent under that designation in schedule
H of the tariff of 1857. It is a bituminous substance, and yields on analysis
75 per cent of a clear, thin, and colorless oil, leaving, as a residuum, a hard,
resinous, inodorous substance, somewhat resembling asphaltum. It is not em­
braced in the list of articles entitled to entry free of duty under the Canadian
Reciprocity Treaty; and its dutiable character must be determined under the
provisions of the tariff act of 1857. Though yielding on chemical analysis a
mineral oil adapted to use for illuminating and lubricating purposes, it cannot
be assigned to the provision made for “ oils, volatile, essential, or expressed, and
not otherwise provided for,” in schedule 0, nor to any other specific provision for
oils in the tariff of 1857. It is clear that it cannot be regarded as “ asphaltum.”
That substance, if it enters at all into its composition, is too minute in quantity
to give a character to the article. Being bituminous, if in a crude state, it may
be treated as liable to duty at the rate of 15 per cent under the classification of
“ mineral and bituminous substances, in a crude state, not otherwise provided
for,” in schedule E, or if not in a crude state, as unenumerated and liable to the
same rate of duty under the first section of the tariff act of 1857. In either
view of the case, the proper rate of duty was levied by you, and your decision is
hereby affirmed. I am, very respectfully,
G eorge P . E ddy,

HOWELL COBB, Secretary of the Treasury.
Esq., Collector, & c., Lewiston, N . Y .
LITHOGRAPHS PRINTED IN COLORS.
T r e a su r y D epartm en t,

March 25, 1859.

S ir :—I have examined your report under date of the 10th ultimo, on the

appeal of Messrs. Williams, Stevens, Williams & Co., from your decision
assessing a duty of 15 per cent on colored lithographic prints, as unenumerated
in the tariff of 1857, the appellants contending that they should be subjected to
a duty of 8 per cent under the classification in schedule G of “ engravings or
plates, bound or unbound.” This Department decided, under the tariff act of
1846, that “ colored lithographic prints” should be treated as unenumerated
articles and subject to duty as such. But, in that case, it is presumed, the colors
were added by the brush after the print had left the press, which might well
justify a change of classification, it being, in fact, neither an engraving nor a
painting merely, but partaking of the character of both. It is understood, that
the articles in question are printed in colors, and that they undergo no additional
process or labor after they are taken from the press. I f printed in ink, or in the
ordinary dark colors of engravings, it is admitted on all hands that they would
fall within the classification in schedule G, and the Department can perceive no
sufficient reason for determining the classification by the colors in which they are
printed. It is not deemed material to decide whether a lithographic “ print ” can
in strict propriety of language be called an “ engraving,” looking to the manner
in which they are, respectively, executed. The terms “ engravings or plates, bound
or unbound,” in schedule G, as popularly used, or in commercial parlance, are
believed to be broad enough to embrace both lithographic prints and engravings,
and you will permit the entry of these now in question at a duty of 8 per cent
under that classification. I am, very respectfully,
A

u g u stu s

Schell,




HOWELL COBB, Secretary of the Treasury.
Esq., Collector, &c., New York.

607

Commercial Regulations.
CASTOR SEED.
T reasury D epartm en t,

March 12, 1859.

S ir :—I acknowledge the receipt of your report on the appeal of Messrs. H. J.

Baker & Co. taken from your decision subjecting castor seed to duty at the rate
of 15 per cent, as unenumerated in aDy schedule of the tariff of 1857. The
article in question is imported, it appears, to be manufactured into castor oil, and,
to some extent, without such manufacture it is susceptible of a medicinal use.
The appellants contend that it is a “ seed,” and, as such, entitled to free entry
under the classification in schedule I of “ garden seeds, and all other seeds for
agricultural, horticultural, medicinal, and manufacturing purposes, not otherwise
provided for.” You do not, of course, deny that it is a seed in the general mean­
ing of that term, but allege that it was not so known in commerce at the passage
of the tariff act, but was known as “ castor bean,” and is therefore not embraced
in the provision made for “ seeds ” in schedule I, as claimed by the appellants,
but is to be treated as an unenumerated article, and charged with a duty of 15
per cent. There can be no doubt that in its botanical character it differs from
the bean, and though it has been called in commercial language a “ bean,” it has
also been known and described as a “ seed so that the evidence of a uniform
commercial name by which the article was known at the passage of the tariff act,
is not so clear as to justify its classification on that ground. It was evidently
the intent of Congress to regulate the classification of seeds in schedule I by the
purposes for which they are to be used. I f an article is used and is known as a
“ seed,” though it may also bear some other designation, and is to be used for
some one of the purposes specified in the classification in schedule I, and not
otherwise provided for in the tariff of 1857, it is entitled to free entry. The
article in question seems to fulfill these conditions, and you arc instructed to per­
mit entry under that classification free of duty. I am, very respectfully,
HOW ELL COBB, Secretary o f the Treasury.
A . W . A u s t in ,

Esq., Collector, & c ., Boston, Mass.

MUSTARD

SEED.
T

r ea8ory

D

epartm en t,

March 12, 1859.

S ir :—I acknowledge the receipt of your report ou the appeal of Messrs.

Iasigi, Goddard & Co. from your decision subjecting to duty at the rate of 15
per cent, as unenumerated in any schedule of the tariff of 1857, *•mustard seed,”
the appellants claiming to enter it free of duty under the classification of “ garden
seeds, and all other seeds for agricultural, horticultural, medicinal, and manu­
facturing purposes, not otherwise provided for,” in schedule I of the tariff of 1857.
Mustard seed being imported for the purpose of being manufactured into the
article known in the trade as mustard, as well as for medicinal uses, falls clearly
within the classification in schedule I as claimed by the appellants, and not being
otherwise provided for in the tariff of 1857, is entitled to entry free of duty. I
am, very respectfully,
HOW ELL COBB, Secretary o f the Treasury.
A . W. A u s t in , Esq., Collector, &c., Boston, Mass.

PROTEST AND APPEAL, UNDER FIFTH SECTION OF THE TARIFF ACT OF 1857.

To prevent, in future, misapprehension as to the time within which protests
may be made to the collector, and appeal taken to this Department, from his
decision, under the 5th section of the tariff act of the 3d March, 1857, it will bo
distinctly understood that the Department can entertain no case of appeal from
the decision of the collector as to the rate of duty on imports, in which the pro­
test shall not have been made before the expiration of ten days from and after
the final liquidation of duties, and the appeal taken within thirty days from and
after the date of the final liquidation of duties, which must be held to be the
final decision of the collector as to the rale and amount of duties to be exacted
in this case.




608

Commercial Regulations.
PERCUSSION CAPS,

T r e a s u r y D e p a r t m e n t , March 29, 1859.
S ir :—The Department has had under consideration the appeal of Messrs.

A . & E. Scheitlin irom the decision of the collector at New York, assessing
duty at the rate of 24 per cent upon an article known in commerce as “ percus­
sion caps,” under the classification in schedule 0 of the tariff of 1857, as “ manu­
factures, articles, vessels, and wares, not otherwise provided for, of brass, copper,
gold, iron, lead, pewter, platina, silver, tin, or other metal, or of which either of
those metals, or any other metal, shall be the component material of chief value.”
The importers claim io enter the articles in question at a duty of 15 per cent
under the classification of “ fulminates, or fulminating powders,” in schedule E
of the tariff of 1857. “ Percussion caps ” cannot, iu the opinion of the Depart­
ment, be properly treated as a “ manufacture of copper ” within the popular or
commercial use of these terms ; the chief utility and purpose of the articles be­
ing as a “ fulminate,” and the copper being merely used to enclose the. fulmina­
ting powder. The value of the fulminating powder is believed to exceed that of
the metallic cap, so that eopper is not the material of chief value. The article
in question, therefore, in the opinion of the Department, cannot be treated as a
manufacture of copper, or of which copper is the “ material of chief value,” un­
der schedule 0, and made liable to a duty of 24 per cent. The terms “ fulminates,
or fulminating powders,” in schedule E, would seem to include '•percussion caps.”
The percussion cap is a fulminate, and so designated in the best authorities
accessible to the Department, and should be subjected to duty at the rate of 15
per cent under that classification. I am, very respectfully,
A

ugu stu s

Schell,

IIOWELL COBB, Secretary of the Treasury.
Esq., Collector, &c., New York.
COMMI SS I ONS.

It is required by law that duties should be assessed on commissions in every
case at the usual rates. A regulation of the Department forbids the assessment
of duties on commissions at rates less than 2| per cent, without its special
authority, previously given. In cases where it is claimed that duties should be
levied on commissions at rates less than 2| per cent, and the Department has not
heretofore sanctioned the allowance, at such rates, and the collector is satisfied
that the rate claimed is the usual one, he will report at once the case to the
Department, with his opinion, with the reason therefor, and await its decision.
When rates less than
per cent have been or may be authorized by the Depart­
ment, and the collector is satisfied that there has been a change of rate, he will,
at once, report that fact, and his reasons therefor, to the Department, for its con­
sideration and action. The object of this regulation is to produce uniformity at
the several ports in this matter, and is intended to supersede and modify regula­
tion contained in article 306, of General Regulations of the 1st of February,
1857, only so far as it conflicts therewith.
PAINTINGS ON GLASS.
T r e a s u r y D e p a r t m e n t , March 29,1859.
S ir :— I acknowledge the receipt of your report on the appeal of Messrs.

Heroy, Struthers & Co. from your decision subjecting to duty at the rate of 24
per cent, under the classification in schedule C of the tariff of 1857, of “ glass,
colored, stained, or painted,” an article described by them as “ paintings on glass,”
the appellants claiming entry of the same, free of duty, under the classification,
in schedule I, of “ paintings and statuary.” The article is understood to be
painted glass to be used for windows, &c. The tariff of 1846, in schedule C,
provided for “ glass, colored, stained, or painted,” and for “ paintings on glass,”
and in schedule I for “ paintings and statuary imported in good faith as objects
of taste and not of merchandise.” It was decided under that tariff that “ paint­
ings on glass,” being specially provided for in schedule C, were to be considered




Commercial Regulations.

609

aa taken out of the general classification in schedule I, which admitted paintings
to free entry if imported as objects of taste and not for merchandise or sale. Of
course the two designations of “ glass, colored, stained, or painted,” and “ paint­
ings on glass,” in schedule C in that tariff, must have been construed as referring
to different articles. The tariff of 1857 simply provides, in schedule I, for
“ paintings and statuary,” without the qualification affixed to those terms in the
tariff of 1846 ; and it is contended that that classification, so unqualified, must
be held to embrace “ paintings on glass,” and that they are thus transferred from
schedule 0 in the tariff of 1846, to schedule I in the tariff of 1857. Supposing
such to be the legal construction, it would only transfer to schedule I “ paintings
on glass,” leaving still in schedule C “ glass, colored, stained, or painted.” The
effect of dropping in the tariff of 1857 the qualifications prescribed in the tariff of
1846, was to admit, free of duty, “ paintings and statuary ” for whatever pur­
poses imported, but it is still a question for construction as to what is to be
regarded a “ painting ” within the meaning of the law. It surely cannot be held
to be the intent of the law to admit every article painted free of duty, but the
term “ paintings” must be confined to what are usually denominated “ works of
art ” or “ objects of taste,” whether imported for sale or otherwise. The article
in question is understood not to be of that description, and is subject to the duty
of 24 per cent exacted on the entry. I am, very respectfully,
A ugu stu s S c h e ll,

HOWELL COBB, Secretary of the Treasury.
Esq., Collector, &c., New York.
UNFINISHED PEARL KNIFE HANDLES.

T r e a s u r y D e p a r t m e n t , March 31,1859.
S ib :—I acknowledge the receipt of your report, under date of the 8th instant,

in regard to the appeal of Messrs. E. Y . Haughwout & Oo. from your assess­
ment of duty at the rate of 24 per cent on an article described as “ unfinished
pearl knife handles.” The article in question is pearl sawed into the proper form
for knife handles, and partially polished. It is claimed by the appellants that
the pearl is converted into that form merely for the convenience of transporta­
tion, and should be treated as unmanufactured, and be subjected to a duty of 4
per cent under the classification of “ mother of pearl ” in schedule II. The
Department is clearly of the opinion that the material imported in this form must
be treated as a “ manufacture ” of pearl within the meaning of the law, and that
the duty was properly assessed by you at the rate of 24 per cent under the
classification of “ manufactures of bone, shell, horn, pearl, ivory, or vegetable
ivory,” in schedule C of the tariff of 1857. I am, very respectfully,
A u g u s t u s S c ii e l l ,

HOWELL COBB, Secretary of the Treasury,
Esq., Collector, &c., Now York.
BILLS OF EXCHANGE.

T r e a s u r y D e p a r t m e n t , August 10.
S ib :— I have to call your attention to the following regulations, viz.:—Bills

of exchange drawn by United States consuls are occasionally presented at this
Department for payment by holders whose rights are derived from indorsements,
not made by parties to whom such bills have been duly made payable, but by
other persons claiming to act for such parties by procuration, without producing
the power of attorney or other authority for the transfer of the property in such
bill of exchange out of its lawful owner. The accounting officers, who are bound
to see that no person receives money from the treasury but by lawful title, can­
not recognize such indorsements, unless on competent proof of their sufficiency,
which, in the absence of the power of attorney, may be made by a bond of
indemnity in double the amount of the sum claimed, executed by two sufficient
sureties. I am, very respectfully,
HOW ELL COBB, Secretary o f the Treasury.
W m. M e d i l l , EsqMFirst Controller o f the Treasury.
VOL. XL.---- NO. V .
39




610

N autical Intelligence.

NAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE.
PILOT ACT OF SEW ORLEANS.
AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAWS RELATIVE TO PILOTS FOR THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS.

S ection 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
State of Louisiana, in General Assembly convened, That the number of pilots
for the port of New Orleans shall not be less than fifty.
S ec . 2. Be it further enacted, etc., That no person shall hereafter be appointed
a pilot unless he be a lawful voter of the State of Louisiana, and be recommended
to the Governor by the Board of Examiners as being duly qualified as a branch
pilot of the port for which he applies.
S ec . 3. Be it further enacted, etc., That if any vessel inward or outward bound,
to or from the port of New Orleans, shall employ as a pilot any person who is
not a duly licensed branch pilot, when a duly licensed branch pilot offers, the
said vessel, her captain and owners, shall forfeit the sum of one hundred and
fifty dollars, with privilege on said vessel, to be recovered before any court of
competent jurisdiction in the name of the Charity Hospital of New Orleans, onehalf for the benefit of said hospital, and one-half for the use of the public schools
of the Eight District of the Parish of Plaquemines.
S ec . 4. Be it further enacted, etc., That all vessels inward or outward bound,
to or from the port of N ew Orleans, except those o f one hundred and fifty tons
or under, from Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, which shall
come in and go out free, refusing to take a branch pilot when one offers, shall be
liable to the branch pilot thus offering for half pilotage, recoverable with
privilege on said vessel before any court o f competent jurisdiction.
S ec. 5. Be it further enacted, etc., That any branch pilot piloting any vessel

safe from sea, and giving satisfaction, shall have a preference in piloting her out
to sea again ; provided he, or a pilot from the same association, be in readiness
and offers his services before the vessel gets below the boarding station at Pas3a-l’Outre, or the pilot station at the other passes; and this preference shall be
granted by the commander of the outward bound vessel, under the penalty of
one hundred dollars, recoverable with privilege on the vessel, for the benefit of
the same parties, and in the same manner as provided for by the first section of
this act.
S ec . 6. Be it further enacted, etc., That it shall be the duty of the Board of
Examiners of the port of New Orleans, to report to the Governor any neglect
of duty, drunkenness, habitual intemperance, carelessness, incompetency, or
general bad conduct on the part of any branch pilot, showing that said branch
pilot ought to be removed or suspended, and it shall be the duty of the Governor,
if, upon due inquiry, such report be well founded, to revoke or suspend the com­
mission of said branch pilot.
S ec . 7. Be it further enacted, etc., That the master of any vessel having cause
to complain of the misconduct of any pilot, whilst on duty on board of said ves­
sel, may go before the master and wardens of the port of New Orleans, and on
statement made upon oath, of the cause of his complaint, it shall be the duty of
said master and wardens to forthwith transmit a copy of the same to the Governor,
Who, if he deem it proper, shall cause a thorough investigation to be had of the
said causes of complaint by the Board of Examiners, and upon revision, approval,
or rejection of their award, the Governor may either acquit, remove, or suspend
the pilot so accused.
S ec. 8. Be it further enacted, etc., That any commissioners and members of
the Board of Examiners, neglecting or refusing to perform their duties as such
may, upon written complaint and statement signed by an absolute majority of
the duly commissioned branch pilots of their cause of complaint, be removed
from said office of commissioner or dismissed, and his place filled by the Governor.




Nautical Intelligence.

611

S ec. 9. Be it further enacted, etc., That the duly licensed branch pilots of the
port of New Orleans may, for the furtherance of their interest, form themselves
into one or more voluntary private associations.
S ec. 10. Be it further enacted, etc., That the privileges granted by this act
shall expire, unless enforced, within 30 days after the vessel having incurred any
of the penalties decreed by this act shall have returned to the port of New
Orleans, but in case the said vessel shall have been absent more than one year,
the said privileges and rights of action shall be completely extinguished.
S ec. 11. Be it further enacted, etc., That sections 7th, 11th, 13th, 15th, 16th,
19th, 20th, and 21st of an act relative to pilots, approved March 13, 1857, and
an act entitled an act relative to pilots, approved January, 1859, be and the
same are hereby repealed.
S ec. 12. Be it further enacted, etc., That upon the passage of this act the
Governor shall revise the Board of Examiners, and they shall be continued in office
at his discretion, and removable at pleasure ; the said Board of Examiners being
subject to all of the penalties, and possessed of all of the privileges, enumerated
in this act.
S ec . 13. Be it further enacted, etc., That this act shall take effect from its
passage.
Approved, March 14,1859.
SELF-REEFING SAILS.

The mode contrived by Mr. Cunningham, of reducing the area of the canvas
by rolling the sails upon the yard—the yard being fitted to turn round on the
fixtures for that purpose—is generally known. In his invention, he employs the
gravitation of the yard and its appendages to produce the necessary rotation of
the yard by the action of the chain or halyards, in the bight of which it is
suspended, and which, being hoisted upon, or enlarged—one end being a fixture
—produces a rotation of the yard, thus constituting the operation a self-acting
one. If Mr. Cunningham had not discovered this principle, the necessity of
applying manual force to the rotation of the yard would have been a serious
obstacle to the attainment of the desired object. The arrangement of Mr. Cunning­
ham’s system of self-reefing to the working of the topgallant sails, in such a man­
ner as to dispense with the use of royals, is a valuable feature. He employs a
deeper topgallant sail for that purpose, which, although not containing the
collective area of the topgallant sail and royal together, by being carried up square
at the head, and entire in its area, gives a powerful propelling sail, and is as
effective as the two sails on the old plan. This large sail can also in a moment
be reduced to a close reefed topgallant sail of the smallest size, and the weight
of the royal yard, with all its gear, is dispensed with.
TEREDO OR SHIP WORM.

The United States Nautical Magazine publishes a paper read before the
National Institute, at Washington, by James Jarvis, Esq., who has been engaged
since 1849 in a series of experiments concerning the toredo or ship worm, by
order of Commodore Smith, chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks. In order
to ascertain the best composition for resisting the attacks of the teredo upon
wood, he painted a number of blocks and boxes with various compounds—some
he left unprepared, and some partly painted—and sunk them in Elizabeth River
in the month of April. “ About the 12th June the blocks and boxes were
generally lifted and examined, but he never was able to discover any of the




612

N autical Intelligence.

animalcul® (young teredo) until about the 20th of June. A t this period of the
year he generally discovered minute holes in the wood by the use of a magnifyingglass. After this, the creature daily grows ahead, for it has no powers of
locomotion; it grows like an oyster, and has a calcareous or shelly sheathing,
which adheres to the surface of its burrow.”
In Norfolk Harbor, Yirginia, they grow from six to twelve inches in length,
and from three-eighths to half an inch in diameter. The wood excavated by one
twelve inches long, in a season, amounted to more than a cubic inch, if in a solid
piece. No signs of the teredo were discovered by him in wood deposited after.
Mr. Jarvis supposes that the teredo commences to develop about the 1st of July,
and continues until cold weather arrives ; in Charleston, South Carolina, and
further south, they develop during the whole year, whereas in the colder blasts,
such as in the harbors of New England, they do but little injury, because the
worm is feeble there, being like a fine thread ; it is believed to be a native of the
torrid seas. The teredo is not so destructive on piles sunk under water at New
York city docks as those on the opposite side of the river, on the Jersey and
Long Island shores; this is owing, Mr. Jarvis thinks, to the amount of filth
carried down in the city sewers. So much for the good offices of dirt. In Bos­
ton and Portsmouth, New Hampshire, harbor, piles will stand twenty-five years.
One open nail hole in a sheet of copper, upon a vessel’s bottom, will allow the
worm access to pursue its work of destruction. All kinds of wood used in ship­
building are attacked by it. To secure the bottoms of ships from the salt water
worm, and from coral deposits, Mr. Jarvis recommends putting three coats of
white zinc paint on the dry bottom of the vessel, then copper them; and to make
the whole invulnerable, put three more coats of white zinc paint upon the outer
surface of the copper. To preserve piles, drive them with the bark on. There
is no danger while the bark remains. The barnacle on piles does no injury.
Charring is excellent, provided the fissures are well filled with hot coal tar or zinc
paint, which will be found excellent to keep the shell fish from the wood where
piles may have the bark broken off before being driven.
THE NAVIGATION OF THE BLACK BEA.

The London Morning Chronicle remarks :—
Surprise has been expressed that vessels going direct to Sebastopol take a
smaller cargo than if they were only going to Constantinople, or that they
diminish their cargo in the latter port before entering the Black Sea. The rea­
son is this—the density of the water of different seas is more or less considerable,
and the vessels sink in the water more or less, according to their density. The
density arises from the quantity of salt contained in the water, and, consequently,
the salter the sea is, the less a vessel sinks in it. As, too, the more sail a vessel
carries, the deeper she penetrates the water, it follows that, the more salt the
water, the greater is the quantity of sail that can be carried. Now, the Black
Sea being sixteen times less salt than the Mediterranean, a vessel which leaves
Toulon or Marseilles for Sebastopol must take a smaller cargo than one that only
goes to Constantinople, and a still smaller one if it is to enter the Sea of Azoff,
which is eighteen times less salt than the Mediterranean. It is known that the
Mediterranean is twice as salt as the Atlantic, once more than the Adriatic, five
times more than the Caspian Sea, twelve more than the Ionian Sea, and seventeen
times more than the sea of Marmora. The Dead Sea contains more salt than
any other sea ; it is asserted that two tons of its water yield 589 pounds of salt
and magnesia.




Journal o f Insurance,

613

JOURNAL OF INSURANCE.
PHILADELPHIA FIRE AND MARINE INSURAiNCE COMPANIES.
Authorized Par Subscribed
When
Assets,
capital. value. capital. Jau. 1st, 1859.
organized.
Companies.
17— . .Philadelphia Contributionship.............
$789,960 03
1794. .Insurance Company of N. A m erica.. $500,000 $10 $500,000 1,159,924 87
1784. .Insurance Company of State of Penn. 200,000 200 200,000
347,446 50
1804. .Union Mutual Insurance Company . . 300,000
225,000
253,486 00
20
1804. .Phenix Mutual Insurance Com pany.. 120,000
225,000 00
1810. .American Fire Insurance Com pany.. 277,500
75 277,500
584,956 70
1812. .Philad. Life Insurance and Trust Co.. 600,000 100 500,000 2,262,027 02
1825. .Philadelphia Fire Insurance................. 200,000 100 200,000
783,941 15
1825. .American Mutual Insurance............... 250,000
12 125,000
1833. .County Fire Insurance......................... 400,000 100 200,000
1835. .Delaware Mutual Safety Insurance...
5
693,804 70
1835. .Franklin Insurance...............................
400,000 100 400,000 2,016,328 62
1835. .Spring Garden Insurance................... 200,000
50 120,000
184,979 93
1836. .Girard Life Insurance <Ss Trust C o . . . 300,000
25 300,000 1,323,363 09
1839. .Columbia Mutual Insurance................
500.000 100
1844. .Reliance Mutual Insurance................. 300.000
50 177,000
276,478 43
none.
none.
1847. .Penn Mutual Life..................................
912,168 05
1848. .Philadelphia Fire and Life..................
300,000
25 210,100
287,207 87
1848. .Globe Life and Trust Com pany.........
1850. .American Life Ins. and Trust Comp.. 500,000
50 100,000
1850. .National Safety Ins. & Trust C om p.. 250,000
50 250,000
none.
none.
1851. .Fire Association.....................................
593,066 98
250,000
25 101,550
1853. .Equitable Mutual Insurance................
171,502 30
1853. .Girard Fire and Mariue Insurance___ 300,000 100 200,000
284,789 73
50 500,000
1854. .Commonwealth Insurance................... 500,000
207,169 32
50 100,000
1854. .Anthracite Insurance...........................
400,000
10
1854. .Hope M utual........................................ 500,000
75,000
1854. .Phila. Fire and Live Stock Ins. C o ... 300.000
25 150,000
1854. .Merchants’ Insurance....................... ..
400.000
1854.. Mechanics’ Insurance............................. 100,000 100 100,000
50
1855. .Manufacturers’ Insurance................... 500.000
1855. .Exchange Mutual Insurance................ 300.000
50 150,350
182,070 97
50 100,000
1856. .Consolidated Insurance......................... 300,000
245,000 00
1856. .Fame Mutual Insurance.......................
100,000
50 100,000
61,655 81
50 100,000
1856. .Jefferson Insurance.............................. 500,000
138,488 64
50 222,300
1856. .Great Western Ins. ife Trust Com p.. . 500,000
276,253 03
1856. .Howard Insurance................................. 500.000 100
299,314 57
1 8 5 6 ..
Quaker City Insurance.................. 500.000 100 200,000
324,351 42
1857. .Neptune Insurance................................ 500,000 100 100,000
127,131 22
1857. .Kensington Insurance........................... 300,000
20
10,000
50 140,000
1867. .Corn Exchange Insurance..................... 500,000
365,148 35
50 446,950
1858. .Safeguard Insurance...........................
500,000
249,457 07
1858. .Eastern Insurance................................ 500.000 100
50,000
50,624 06
1858. .City Insurance.......................................
200.000
1858. .Central Insurance..................................
200,000
1859. .Enterprise Insurance.............................
100,000 00
1859. .Washington Fire & Marine Insurance.
TAXES PAID BY INSURANCE COMPANIES OF CINCINNATI,

The Ohio State House of Representatives passed a resolution requesting the
several County Auditors to report, as soon as practicable, “ the amount of taxable
property listed by the foreign and domestic fire and marine insurance companies
doing business in the State, and the actual amount of taxes paid by each," for




614

Journal o f Insurance.

the years 1853 to 1858, inclusive. The resolution was promptly complied with
by the Auditor of Hamilton County, and from a carefully prepared statement
made by Mr. J ohn E. B ell , Deputy Auditor, we are permitted to make the
following interesting abstract:—
TOTAL AMOUNT OF REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY RETURNED BY THE HOME COMPANIES,
AND THE T A X .

1853—

Personal property................
Real estate..................................
1854— Personal property.................
Real estate..................................
1855— Personal property.................
Real estate..................................
1856— Personal property.................
Real estate..................................
1857— Personal property.................
Real estate..................................
1858— Personal property................
Real estate, Cincinnati..............
Real estate, Spencer Township

Value.
$287,430
41,530
228,418
87,240
331,546
87,240
367,163
109,760
479,883
109,760
588,368
109,840
1,200

Tax.
$5,317 45
669 30
3,826 00
1,291 30
4,906 S3
1,461 43
4,956 70
1,481 89
7,198 24
1,646 55
9,776 90
1,823 34
10 80

The full amount of the tax assessed, as above, was paid each year by the home
companies, with the exception of the levy for 1858, one-half of which only was
paid, in compliance with the provisions of the semi-annual tax law.
TOTAL AMOUNT OF REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY RETURNED BY FOREIGN COMPANIES,
AND TH E T A X

1853—
1854—
1855—
1856—

Personal property..............................................
“
“
•................................................
“
Real estate, yEtna Company.................................
1867— Personal property..................................................
Real estate, Altna Company.................................
1858— Personal property..................................................
Real estate, Altna Company.................................

Value.
§244,380
275,004
194,046
199,444
9,700
239,663
13,700
216,850
13,700

Tax
§4,521 03
4,606 31
2,871 88
3,692 49
130 95
3,594 94
205 50
3,599 71
227 42

AM O U N T O F T A X P A I D B Y A G E N C IE S O F F O R E IG N C O M P A N IE S .

1853— Tax paid.............................................................................................
1854—
“
1865—
“
1856—
“
“
on real estate....................................................................
1857—
“
on personal property.........................................................
“
on real esta te....................................................................
1858—
“
on December instalment...................................................
“
on June instalment, 1859.................................................
“
on real estate, .'Etna Company.......................................

$4,428
2,726
2,871
2,687
130
3,304
205
1,706
865
118

38
80
88
63
95
87
50
01
56
71

BOARD OF LAKE UNDERWRITERS.

The board at its February session lowered the rate of insurance on 3d class
33| per ceDt from 2d class—1st and 2d remaining the same as last year ; rates
on vessel hulls remaining the same. Measures were taken to simplify cargo
policies and make them uniform.
The following gentlemen were unanimously elected to the office of the associa­
tion for the ensuing year :— Executive Committee—E. P. Dorr, of Buffalo ; Wm.
Seward, of Toronto, O. W .; J. A . Helfenstein, Milwaukee ; and D. P. Dobbins,
of Buffalo, Secretary.




615

Postal Department.

Among the interesting matter presented to the board, the following table,
carefully compiled, exhibits a statement covering ten years’ history of our lake
marine:—
AGGREGATE OF LOSSES ON STEAM AND SAIL VESSELS NAVIGATING THE LAKES FEOM

1858,
Total.
$404,830
341,250
544,440
730,515
990,015
854,350
TO

1848
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853

..
..
..
..
..
..

Sail.
$264,830
155,350
262,740
381,815
364,365
333,000

Steam.
$140,000
186,900
280,700
348,700
626,650
520,860

1848

INCLUSIVE.

Total.
Steam.
Sail.
1854.. $1,143,500 $1,044,825 $2,187,825
2,797,889
1,105,130
1855.. 1,692,700
1856.. 1,506,750 1,619,994 3,126,744
477,842
910,093 1,387,935
1857..
732,232
1858..
194,805
537,927

POSTAL DEPARTMENT.
FOREIGN

POSTAGES,

The report of the Postmaster-General gives the following statement of the
number of letters and papers exchanged with Europe in 1858 :—
NUMBER OF LETTERS AND NEWSPAPERS EXCHANGED BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE
UNITED KINGDOM, IN BRITISH MAILS, FOR THE FISCAL T E A R ENDING JUNE

,—Number of letters.—*
Received.
Sent.
Cunard line.. 1,326,023 1,051,895
175,851
190,362
Collins line...
Miscellan. line
37,110
96,397
Havre line...
122,051
137,231
127,724
103,980
Bremen line.
Total...........

1,765,015

1,603,609

80, 1858.

,-------Numb'er of newspapers.—— .
Total.
Total.
letters.
Received.
Sent. newspapers.
2,377,918 1,009,223 956,247 1,965,470
366.213
119,363 199,748
819,111
27,210 108,000
133,507
135,210
259,282
106,061 166.141
272,202
231,704
93,394 139,987
233,331
3,368,624

1,355,251 1,570,073

2,925,324

PRUSSIA.

Cunard line ..
Collins lin e .. .
Miscellaneous line............
Havre line . . .
Bremen line..
Total...........

/—Number of letters.—,
Received
Sent.
247,324
387,006
49,872
86,604
6,899
45,525
64,412
72,646
42,160
61,257
419,764

t—No. of newspapers.—,

633,931

Received.
15,492
4,837
663
5,526
4,814

Sent
50,840
9,478
5,675
9,481
6,275

31,332

81,749

FRANCE.

Number of letters.
Sent
437,826
63,019
32,058
61,086
45,917

By Cunard line.................
Collins line..................
Miscellaneous line... .
Havre lin e .................
Bremen line.

441,941
54,527
26,587
50,288
51,452

Total.........................

624,795

Total.
No. of newspapers.
letters. Received.
Sent.
879,767 110,155 222,510
32,958
117,546
11,869
13,378
58,645
3,184
111,374
24,548
7,454
97,369
11,480
22,753

639,906 1,264,701

144,142

316,147

Total
papers.
332,665
44,827
16,562
32,002
34,233
460,289

BREMEN.

,----- No. of letters.----- ,
By the Bremen line.

Received.

Sent.

112,734

81,766

No. of newspapers. —,
Received.
Sent.
9,038
14,113

HAMBURG.

.----- Xo. of letters.----- ,
Received.

By the Hamburg line ,




40,437

Sent

70,734

No. of newspapers. —
Received.
Sent.
6,607
16,53 8

616

Postal Department.
CANADIAN POST-OFFICE,

The limit of a single money order has been reduced from £100 to £25, the
former maximum ; stringent rules have been enforced to secure prompt transference
to the credit of the public, of the funds, as they accrue in the hands of the post­
masters ; and also to forbid a practice which it was discovered had begun to creep
in at some offices, of granting money orders upon credit, or upon uncertified
checks.
Further, the charge for a money order has been advanced from one-half to
three-quarters per cent on amounts over £7 10s.
New money-order offices have been opened at advantageous points, and a
further number will be added from time to time as the public convenience appears
to require it. Those recently selected have justified the choice by the amount of
money.
Further, a negotiation has been opened, with every assurance of a successful
issue, with the Imperial Post-office for the introduction of a system lor the
mutual exchange of Post-office money orders, for small sums, between this coun­
try and the United Kingdom ; a measure which, when perfected, will, it is hoped,
conduce materially to the public convenience, and prove a valuable source of
income towards the general maintainance of the system.
No loss, by fraud, or otherwise, has been sustained in money order operations
during the past year.
The number of money orders issued was 24,865.
The number of money orders paid was 24,853.
Amount of orders issued, 552,198,809 27.
Amount of orders paid, §2,197,679 21.
Amount of commission accrued thereon, §11,408 65.
Of which allowed to postmasters, §5,108 74.
Remainder to revenue, §6,299 91.
The cost of the maintenance of the money order branch was §8,673 91.
The number of money-order offices in operation during the year was 171.
Present number, 196.
UNITED STATES POST-OFFICE.

The revenue and expenditures of the United States Post-office for six years, un­
der the five cent and three cent rates, have been as follows :—
F IV E CENTS.

Year.
1846..........
1847..........
1848..........
1849..........
1850..........
1851_____

Revenue.
4,871,977
4,905,176
5,552,971

THREE CENTS.

Expenditure.
$4,084,297
3,979,570
4,326,850
4,479,049
5,212,953
6,278,402

Year.
1852............
1853............
1854.............
1855............
1856............
1857............

Revenue.
$6,925,971
5,940,725
6,955,586
7,342,136
7,620,822
8,053,952

Expenditure.
$7,108,459
7,982,957
8,577,424
9,968,342
10,405,286
11,508,058

POSTAGE TO DENMARK.

The single rate of letter postage between the United States and the Kingdom
of Denmark (by the Bremen or Hamburg mail) has been reduced from 25 to 15
cents— prepayment being optional as heretofore.
This reduction goes into effect immediately, and is the result of a recent red uced rate of German and Danish postage to 5 cents the single letter on American
correspondence transmitted via Hamburg or Bremen.




Railroad, Canal, and Steamboat Statistics.
’

i

’

617

RAILROAD, CANAL, AND STEAMROAT STATISTICS.
CANALS OF NEW YORK.
The following statement exhibits the quantity of the various articles named,
arriving at tide-water by the Erie and Champlain canals during the seasons of
1857 and 1858 :—
PRODUCTS OF THE FOREST.

1857.
Furs and peltry........
Boards and scantling
Shingles......................
Tim ber.....................
Staves.......................
W o o d .........................
Ashes, pot and pearl.

...lb s .
M. feet

Total of the forest.

1858.

100 cubic feet
................... lbs.
................cords
.................bbls.

346.605.000
89,224
2,737,400
255.596.000
9,658
20,244

41,000
458,745,310
47,651
1,745,716
205,721,517
8,904
9,146

tons

798,986

817,613

11,219
13,094
2 , 120,000
4.844.000
1.718.000
654.000
1.686.000
908.000

38,790
75,848
3,166,466
10,471,404
3,967,413
4,107,494
2,879,675
421,366

9,606

30,790

835,546
5,763,400
169,465
5,515,928
39
1,727,208
2,986,312
28,016,000
19,433
773,133
170,000

1,898,904
8,325,116
461,758
6,660,917
426
3,058,432
5,180,324
51,311,701
342,448
1,634,000
435,001

550,617

895,776

.................................... M .

6,000

AGRICULTURE— PRODUCT OF ANIMALS.

Pork....................................
Beef....................................
Bacon.................................
Cheese...............................
Butter...............................
Lard, tallow, and lard oil
W ool.................................
Hides..................................

bbls.
! lbs'.

Total product of animals............................tons
VEGETABLE FOOD.

Flour..........................................................................bbls.
Wheat.......................................................................bush.
Rye.....................................................................................
Corn....................................................................................
Corn meal................................................................ bbls.
Barley.......................................................................bush.
Oats...................................................................................
Bran and ship stuffs.................................................... lbs.
Peas and beans.......................................................bush.
Potatoes............................................................................
Dried fruit................................................................... lbs.
Total vegetable food

tons

A LL O TH ER AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.

Cotton.......................................................................... lbs.
Unmanufactured tob a cco...............................................
Hemp.................................................................................
Clover and grass seed...................................................
Flax seed...........................................................................
H ops.........................................................................................
Total all other agricultural products........ tons
Total agriculture.................................................




84,000
936,000
134,000
442,000
1,254,000
492,000
1,671
561,894

374,760
1,039,852
257,275
2,839,195
362,570
1,569,458
3,22?
929,789

618

Railroad, Canal, and Steamboat Statistics.
MANUFACTURES.

Domestic spirits..................................................gallons
Oil meal and cake......................................................lbs.
Leather.............................................................................
Furniture.........................................................................
Bar and pig lead............................................................
Pig iron.............................................................................
Bloom and bar iron . .
0 asting8 and iron ware.
Domestic woolens . . . .
Domestic cottons..........
Domestic salt................
Foreign salt...................

1,768,500
12.696.000
7.246.000
108,000
836.000
56.194.000
12.081.000
8.412.000
352.000
1.224.000
2.718.000
44,000

3,333,043
17,120,193
11,285,921
1,308,699
2,273,383
61,103,940
20,903,852
1,536,224
236,786
1,917,275
2,137,598
51,000

Total manufactures......................................tons

65,611

73,981

10,000

MERCHANDISE.

Sugar........................................................................... lbs.
Molasses...........................................................................
Coffee..................................................................................
Nails, spikes, and horse-shoes...............
Iron and steel..........................................
Railroad iron...........................................
Flint, enamel, crockery, and glassware
A ll other merchandise............................

84,000
3.740.000
5.550.000
4.022.000
210,000
20,362,000

14,868
3,000
3,215
4,539,923
5,154,106
5,726,996
274,532
14,740,176

Total merchandise....................................... tons

16,987

15,233

462,000
135.670.000
3,102,000
28,160,000
13,606,000
186.418.000

3,700
93,912,128
1,418,801
29,471,998
4,862,345
165,378,203

183,709
1,617,187

147,506
1,985,142

OTHER ARTICLES.

Live cattle, hogs, and sheep...................................lbs.
Stone, lime, and clay
Gypsum.................... .
Mineral coal...............
Copper ore.................
Sundries.....................
Total other articles......................................tons
Total.....................................................................

MASSACHUSETTS RAILROAD DIVIDENDS.
The following table exhibits the capital and cost (January 1,1859,) of fourteen
Massachusetts railroads, with the rate of dividends paid since 1853
Cost.

Boston and Providence..........
Boston and Worcester.............
Boston and L o w ell.................
Taunton B ran ch .....................
Nashua and Lowell.................
New Bedford and Taunton. . .
W estern*..................................
Eastern......................................
Boston and Maine.....................
Fitchburg...................................
Old Colony and Fall Riverf...
Connecticut River....................
Providence and W orcester... .
Worcester and Nashua............

$3,524,987
4,689,098
2,422,598
313,156
654,603
544,965
10,881,281
4,590,741
4,219,326
3,540,000
3,434,164
1,801,943
1,789,476
1,328,897

Average
last
Dividends
1858,
five years,
per cent per cent

6
6

6
8
8
6
8

0
6
6
6

2
7
4

4 .8
6.6
4 .8
8.
7 .4

8.2
7.5
1.4
6.6
3.6
5 .4
3.5
6.4
3.3

* Including Albany and West Stockbridge, and Hudson and Boston railroads,
t The Old Colony Railroad (opened in 1845,) and the Fall Elver Eailroad (opened in 1837,) were
united in one corporation in 1854.




Railroad, Canal, and Steamboat Statistics.

619

RAILROADS IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

The Governor’s message remarks that the capital invested in railroads in South
Carolina may be put down at §18,000,000, of which sum the State holds shares
amounting to §2,342,300, and the extent of railway in working order at nine
hundred miles.
The Charleston and Savannah road beyond the Edisto ; the Union and
Spartanburg road beyond Unionville; the Blue Ridge road beyond Pendleton,
are all under the active agency of their skillful and efficient officers, in a course
of successful construction. I have confidence in every one, and trust to see, at
no distant day, the first linking our commercial capital with the Gulf of Mexico
arid New Orleans, the second and third with the Mississippi and Ohio.
The work last mentioned, which I visited in September, is progressing through
its barrier of granite with much order, regularity, and certainty. Nothing seems
to be wanting to its completion in the course of three years but an amply supply
of means. Twenty-two hundred feet of tunnel had been cut into Stump House
Mountain, (thirty-six hundred remaining.) Since that time the middle tunnel
has been completed so far as to admit the passage of a horse and cart. The
masonry at Twenty-six Mile Creek, Seneca River, and elsewhere, is advancing
satisfactorily, and soon the cars will be steaming up to the foot of the mountain.
The change which is going on in the region through which it passes, must be
witnessed to be realized. Indeed, it is not sufficiently realized by the inhabitants
of the vicinage generally, but the loss to them would be most sadly realized
should the work, by any possibility, be stopped. I cannot bring myself to think
of such a possibility to a work in which the pride of the State, as well as its
welfare and the inestimable value of a closer and more direct association with
our neighbors of Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, and Mississippi, is concerned.
So important do I hold this intercommunication to us, that I believe it will be
the policy of the State, as soon as the route by the Rabun Gap is completed and
in full operation, to lend her means, with the skill and energy of her engineers,
to pushing forward another route of travel to Eastern Tennessee, by either the
Greenville or the Spartanburg road. Bonds for the last instalment of the State
subscription to the Blue Ridge Railroad of §200,000 were signed by me on the
25th of October last.
OHIO CANALS.

The report of the Ohio Board of Public Works give the following original
cost of the works and the repairs on each since 1833, when the account of repairs
has been kept separate from construction :—
Ohio Canal.......................
Miami and Erie canals...
Muskingum improvem’nfc
Hocking Canal.................
Waltionding C a n a l.........
Total.........................

Length,
Original
cost.
miles.
384
84,695,203 69
271
6,808,800 29
91
1,582,459 04
56
940,359 76
25
600,727 01
767

$14,627,549 79

Repairs to
November, 1858.
$8,173,523 52
2,836,472 29
509,057 27
206,703 77
9,931 16

Receipts.
17,650,169 95
4,500,067 76
493,759 02
160,181 73
20,230 30

$6,755,688 01

$12,824,408 76

OPERATION OF THE MASSACHUSETTS RAILWAYS.

The tabular statement below, presenting in brief the operations of the Massa­
chusetts railways from 1842 to 1858, inclusive, will be found interesting. With
three exceptions, the “ net income per mile run ” for 1858 is the smallest for
seventeen years. The mileage is larger than ever before ; “ merchandise hauled
one mile,” the largest with one exception for the full term, while the number of
persons carried in the cars is smaller than for any of the preceding eight years,
showing a falling off of about three millions of passengers from the preceding




620

Railroad, Canal, and Steamboat Statistics.

twelve months. The falling off is principally in the short travel, probably the
larger proportion of it was what is called the “ commutation ” traffic. The net
income per cent on cost for the past year is over 6 per cent, a result which, it
must be regarded, is really favorable, compared with the general results of the
business of the country in a season of such universal prostration. Compared
with 1857, the “ expenses per mile run” show a decrease of 22 cents per mile,
showing an aggregate saving on the entire mileage of §1,200,000 ; the receipts
per mile run, however, show a falling off of 35 cents per mile, or an aggregate
of nearly §2,000,000. Under ordinary circumstances, the gross receipts of the
whole system would have been some §10,500,000, but the past fifteen months of
business prostration has prevented that regular increase of traffic which has been
the rule from the year 1842 until now, with one exception. The stockholders
will be gratified to know that the property is in so good a position, and that the
prospects for the future are promising and hopeful. In the following table the
“ number of miles in operation ” and the “ cost ” refer to the commencement of
each year, while the other items comprehend the full fiscal or legal year :—
OPERATIONS OF THE RAILW AY S OF MASSACHUSETTS FROM

1842

TO

1858,

INCLUSIVE----COM­

PILED FROM THE ANNUAL REPORTS TO THE LEGISLATURE.

Years.
1 8 4 2 ...
1 8 4 3 ...
1 8 4 4 ...
1 8 4 5 ...
1 8 4 6 ...
1 8 4 7 ...
1 8 4 8 ...
1 8 4 9 ...
1 8 5 0 ...
1 8 5 1 ...
1 8 5 2 ...
1853 . .
1 8 5 4 ...
1 8 5 5 ...
1 8 5 6 ...
1 8 5 7 ...
1 8 5 8 ...
Years.
1 8 4 2 ...
1 8 4 3 ...
1 8 4 4 ...
1 8 4 5 ...
1 8 4 6 ...
1 8 4 7 ...
1 8 4 8 ...
1 8 4 9 ...
1 8 5 0 ...
1 8 5 1 ...
1 8 5 2 ...
1 8 5 3 ...
1 8 5 4 ...
1 8 5 5 ...
1 8 5 6 ...
1 8 5 7 ...
1 8 5 8 ...

No. of No. of
railways miles
in ope- in operation, ration.
10
431
12
461
12
461
12
463
16
622
18
715
21
787
27
945
32 1,092
36 1,142
36 1,150
38 1,164
37 1,194
37 1,281
42 1,325
43 1,351
41 1,380

$19,241,858
19,974,593
20,396,055
21,572,820
27,034,927
32,796,393
41,392,632
45,125,768
59,959,452
52,695,888
53,076,013
54,914,506
57,095,498
60,339,391
62,261,670
62,794,422
62,178,535

From
passengers.
$1,216,866
1,236,231
1,498,026
1,612,625
2,018,163
2,509,784
2,849,722
3,033,701
3,404,948
3,625,188
3,641,790
4,171,964
4,495,836
4,600,877
4,804,288
4,424,347
8,944,803

From
freight.
$669,682
783,416
963,863
1,163,010
1,467,969
2,205,840
2,335,407
2,411,307
2,608,766
2,650,465
2,819,409
3,330,369
3,725,186
3,904,075
4,372,913
3,833,807
3,794,295

Of
Of
road bed. motive power.
$190,844
$163,830
151,964
182,580
217,454
219,290
246,878
247,033
331,562
313,798
438,088
480,040
498,556
484,009
530,949
579,840
485,762
678,673
652,666
591,360
594,144
751,701
912,586
728,301
1,233,076
1,008,041
1,367,102
886,356
938 793
1,513,313
829,086
1,391,543
737,345
1,246,202

Miscellaneous.
$605,226
666,819
670,836
786,873
1,059,604
1,434,790
1,754,419
1,679,613
1.995,619
2,083,411
2,288,296
2,674,558
8,151,117
3,395,647
3,277,487
3,040,319
2,821,925

Total.
$959,400
1,001,313
1,107,580
1,281,032
1,696,576
2,372,432
2,741,604
2,890,818
3,112,795
3,338,905
3,673,410
4,324,013
5,451,047
5,650,600
6,755,144
5,301.198
4,813,944




Cost.

From
mails, &c.
$84,239 $1,971,787
2,218,234
81,137
2,559,969
80,343
2,895,219
100,323
3,642,171
119,217
196,721
4,964,532
5,405,845
220,725
252,991
5,741,799
6,419,533
296,537
6,599,576
280,248
273,801
6,885,517
317J627
7,977,527
8,696,251
346,441
9,077,529
451,504
9,749,918
452,757
478,529
9,094,008
8,596,703
502,979
Net
income
Net
per cent
on cost.
income.
$1,012,387
5.26
5.59
1,116,971
7.12
1,459,389
7.48
1,614,188
1,945,595
7.20
7.95
2,592,079
6.51
2,666,411
2,850,980
6.32
6.49
3,306,738
6.20
3,259,671
6.05
3,212,107
6.64
3,658,514
5.68
3,245,204
5.68
3,426,929
6.42
3,994.774
6.10
3,792,819
6.08
3,782,759

621

Railroad, Canal, and Steamboat Statistics.

Years.
1842.
1843.
1844.
1845.
1846.
1847.
1848.
1849.
1850.
1851.
1852.
1853.
1854.
1855.
1856.
1857.
1858.

Years.
1846
1847
1848
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1854
1855
1856
1857
1858

-Number of miles run.------------------ *
By
By
freight
other
Total.
trains.
trains.
420,583
90,056
1,834.701
480,444
92,252
1,458,879
549,065
66,940
1,555,603
610,698
94,630
1,715,838
746,547
145,708
2,339,484
1,181,432
206,673
3,177,143
1,220,319
261,772
3,598,089
1,243,739
3,806,752
232,122
1,327,046
281,168
4,215,825
1,424,209
203,067
4,898,370
1,589,590
199,171
4,785,783
1,792,544
241,338
5,230,840
1,962,108
5,531,064
254,447
2,041,834
228,181
5,385,416
2,086,848
251,289
5,304,348
1,925,993
208,085
5,197,957
2,128,017
202,876
5,454,641

Total
Total
Net
receipts expenses income
per mile per mile per mile
run.
run.
run.
$1 48
$0 72
$0 76
0 77
1 47
0 70
0 93
1 65
0 72
0 88
1 63
0 75
1 56
0 73
0 83
0 81
1 56
0 75
1 50
0 76
0 74
0 75
1 51
0 76
0 78
1 52
0 74
1 50
0 76
0 74
1 44
0 77
0 67
.
1 52
0 82
0 70
0 59
1 57
0 98
.
0 64
1 69
1 05
0 75
1 83
1 OS
1 92
1 10
0 82
0 69
1 57
0 88
Weight in tons Weight in tons
of passenger
of freight
No of
No. of
No. of
No. of
trains, not
trains, not
tons of
tons of
including
including
passengers
passengers ]merchandise merchandise
carried
merchandise,
hauled
hauled
passengers,
carried
in tho cars.
one mile. in tho cars.
hauled 1 mile. hauled 1 mile.
one mile.
4,752,818
71,030,160
82,024,265 1,140,265
39,295,049
61,440,637
5,841,341
66,898,793
79,208,113 108,345,834
99,870,187 1,661,218
64,577,165 107,236,614 119,604,791
6,728,427 118,005,742 1,894,182
8,336,854 :136,090,369 2,025,727
66,734,812 108,141,392 124,045,927
8,751,372 :147,605,638 2,188,838
72,111,962
99,922,192 130,825,802
9,510,858 152,916,183 2,260,346
70,205,310
98,766,749 118,695,509
9,810,056 :161,694,655 2,563.387
77,638,247 101,746,153 131,077,450
11,479,232 :185,865,727 3,041,782
95,985,832 105,148,699 148,804,441
12,392,703 :194,158,802 3,757,631 104,583,043 122,063,281 171,677,254
11,339,850 185,160,127 3,062,251 103,676,163 116,689,219 165,2 60,745
11,528,417 191,756,170 3,247,210 109,183,605 113,209,667 161,397,550
11,250,189 185,733,612 3,231,674
97,821,259
8,443,789 :168,687,421 3,174,909 107,303,461
By
passenger
trains.
824,062
886,183
939,598
1,010,510
1,435,737
1,789,038
2,112,496
2,330.891
2,607,611
2,760,888
2,997,032
3,186,957
3,314,459
3,115,401
2,966,711
3,063,599
3,098,510

VIRGINIA AND TENNESSEE RAILROAD.

The following statement of the operations of this road for January and
February last, also from 1st July, 1858, to 28th February last, and compared
with the corresponding months of the year previous, shows good exhibits, and
presents encouraging prospects for future results, contrasted with the dull busi­
ness of Western roads :—
RECEIPTS FOR JANUARY AND FEBRUARY,

1858

AND

1859,

COMPARED.

1858.
Freight trains, January
Passenger trains, January..
Freight trains, February. . .
Passenger trains, February
Total........................................................................

$17,955
11,240
17,374
9,791

1859.
53
44
83
57

$56,362 31

$17,672
23,193
17,472
24,328

36
31
93
06

$82,669 66

Showing an increase of $26,307 35, equal to 46J per cent.
The increase of passenger receipts in February, 1859, was upwards of 126 per
cent.
The reduction in the rates of freight has not yet had sufficient time to increase
the tonnage to the extent caculated on ; there has, however, been a considerable
increase, as will be seen by the following comparison :—




622

Railroad, Canal, and Steamboat Statistics.

1858.

1859.

6,312,605
6,348,874

1,595,366
1,660,513

12,661,459

15,255,819

Tonnage, January .
“
February
Total.

Showing 20 4-10ths increase of tonnage.
For the eight mouths ending 28th February, 1859 and 1858 :—

1859.
The freight receipts were................
The receipts from passenger trains
Total

1858.

$231,220 47
216,500 97

$164,100 82
131,037 70

$477,721 44

$295,138 52

Being an increase of upwards of 62 per cent for the last eight months. The
freight receipts show about 40 per cent increase, whilst the increase of passenger
receipts are upwards of 88 per cent.
The receipts for year ending 30th June, 1858, were $468,190 64.
The following exhibit as to the passenger trains for the six months ending
31st December, 1858, compared with the corresponding months of the preceding
year, shows an increase of passengers of all kinds, of upwards of 30 per cent,
and an increase of mileage of each passenger of 58 per cent, and an increase
yield of each passenger of 42 per cent. The express business upwards of 300
per cent increase :—

1858.
Number of way passengers, eastward..................................
“
“
“
westward.................................
“
o f through passengers, eastw ard.........................
“
“
“
westward...........................
“
o f all kinds of passengers, eastw ard...................
“
“
“
“
westward....................
“
“
“
“
both ways, upwards
o f 30 per cent increase........................................................
Number of miles traveled by way passengers...................
“
“
“
through passengers...........
“
“
“
both kinds...........................
Average number of miles traveled by each way passenger.
“
“
“
“
“
“
and
through passenger.........................................................
Average rate per mile of passenger fare, upwards of 58
per cent increase..................................................................
Average yield o f each passenger, 42 per cent increase__
Express business......................................................................

1859.

20,220

20,233
19,974
1,708
1,371
21,941
21,346

19,726
5,766
10,657
25,986
£0,388

43,288
1,968,711
646,074
2,614,786
48 9-10

56,869
2,186,865
3,350,292
6,369,947
50 2-11

60 4-10

95

8 6-10
$2 20

3-73
$3 18
6,433 08

1,598 75

ERIE AND CHAMPLAIN CANAL DELIVERIES AT NEW YORK FOR 1858.

Product of the forest...............
“
agriculture..............
Vegetable food...........................
Other agricultural products. . .
Manufactures..............................
Merchandise................................
Other articles............................
Total....................................

♦



Arrived at New York.
Tons.
Value.
217,407
$11,847,119
24,525
8,915,569
406,142
13,573,705
2,647
516,210
23,991
3,296,248
7,709
3,417,961
46,925
2,049,585
729,846

$38,616,397

Cleared from N. York.
Tons.
Value.
$811,670
6,091
492,495
1,200
21.095
577
130,949
505
244,741
5,507
73,192
25,141,677
218,606
18,018
105,990

$27,061,038

Railroad, Canal, and Steamboat Statistics.

623

FLOUR ON THE NEW YORK CANALS.

The following shows the quantities and value of grain arrivals at tide-water
in New York. The results in the second column are arrived at by assuming
that all the flour and wheat from the Western States arrived at tide-water, and
by deducting it from the total arrival at tide-water. In turning wheat into bar­
rels the practice has been followed of calling five bushels a barrel. It is not
strictly accurate, but as it is done for the whole series, it answers for the purpose
of a comparison of years. The average price of flour each year at Albany is
also given :—
Year.
1835.....................................
1836.....................................
1837.....................................
1838.....................................
1839.....................................
1840.....................................
1841.....................................
1842.....................................
1843.....................................
1844.....................................
1845.....................................
1846.....................................
1847.....................................
1848.....................................
1849.....................................
1850.....................................
1851.....................................
1852.....................................
1853.....................................
1854.....................................
1 8 5 5 ...............................................
1 8 5 6 ...............................................
1 8 5 7 ...............................................
1 8 5 8 ...............................................
An

in t e r e s tin g

e x h ib it

Barrels from
Western States.
268,259
317,108
284,902
552,283
683,509
1,066,615
1,232,987
1,146,292
1,568,645
1,727,714
1,553,740
2,723,474
3,989,232
2,983,688
2,842,821
3,084,959
3,495,734
3,937,366
3,992,289
1,586,961
2,596,780*
3,209,741

Barrels from
this State.
868,561
775,979
747,676
637,036
425,544
1,080,084
596,657
643,064
670,532
746,939
1,288,416
929,330
791,106
770,114
886,938
905,277
495,467
877,731
957,984

Barrels arriving
at tide-water.
1,136,778
1,093,087
1,032,678
1,189,319
1,109,053
2,146,699
1,829,644
1,776,051
2,239,177
2,474,653
2,842,156
3,652,804
4,780,338
3,753,802
3,739,759
3,990,236
3,991,201
4,815,097
4,950,273

3 6 7 ,2 5 2

1 ,9 5 4 ,2 1 3
2 ,3 7 5 ,4 1 5
3 ,4 8 5 ,7 7 5
1 ,9 8 8 ,2 2 6
s Kfia a m

2 7 6 ,0 3 4

2 ,2 2 7 ,0 9 2 *
3 ,7 7 8 ,0 6 9 *
o f th e

avera ge

ton n a ge

o f th e

b oa ts,

Price.
$6 50
8 75
9 50
8 50
6 50
4 84
6 00
5 18
4 56
4 50
5 57
5 05
6 84
5 58
6 00
5 00
4 00
4 53
5 77
9
9
7
6

25
75
60
53

K KH

o f t h e t im e

necessary to make a passage, and the cost to bring a barrel of flour from Buffalo
to Albany, of the lockages at Alexander’s lock, and the total tons delivered at
tide-water from the Erie Canal, is as follows :—

Year.

1841 ..................... ...............
1844........................................
1847........................................
1848.......................
1849....................... ...............
1850........................................
1851....................... .
1852....................... .
1853........................................
1854....................... ................
1855....................... ................
1856....................... ................
1857....................... .............
1858....................... ...............

Day’s time
Toll and
Tons delivered
Average between freight on a Lockage at at tide-water
cargo of Buffalo and
barrel of Alexander’s
from Erie
boat
Albany.
flour.
lock.
Canal.

41
49
67
68
76
84
94
92
100
100
126

9

n
10$

9
8£
9
8*
9

9
8i
H
8i
8i
8}

71c.
60
77

58
56
58
49
63
56
52
62
60
46
84

30,320
28,219
48,957
34,911
36,918
38,444
40,396
41,572
42,967
35,981
30,873
31,223
22,182
23,474

532,520
799,816
1,431,252
1,184,337
1,266,724
1,554,675
1,508,677
1,644,699
1,851,438
1,702,693
1,420,715
1,587,130
1,117,199
1,496,687

* The arrival at tide-water in these years, being less than the quantity from 'Western States, is
proof of one o f two things—either that none o f the surplus product of this State came by the canal
In those years, or that, if it did, its place was supplied from the W est




624

Hailroad, Canal, and Steamboat Statistics.
WESTERN RAILROADS,

The Chicago Press gives the following comparative earnings of the ten trunk
railroads connecting with that city for the last 1three years :—
— Earnings. ■
Length,
1857.
' 1856.
miles.
Cost.
85 §1,700,000 §650,000 §522,731
Chicago and Milwaukee...........
Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac 138
4,250,000
137,303
429,305
Chicago and G alena.................
121 9,395,455 2,456,045 2,117,904
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy.. 210
7,468,925 1,627,029 1,399,536
Chicago and Rock Island.......... 181
6,776,118 1,751,704 1,681,101
Chicago, Alton & St. L ou is.. . .
284
9,535,011 1,000,000
998,309
Illinois Central........................... 704 23,437,669 2,469,533 2,203,964
Pittsburg, F. Wayne & Chicago. 467 14,270,704 1,478,428 1,652,727
Michigan Southern................... 242 14,742,753 3,114,756 2,186,124
Michigan Central....................... 282 12,847,238 3,128,154 2,656,471

1858.
§204,188
390,319
1,547,561
1,600,709
981,780
867,288
1,976,578
1,567,780
2,039,346
2,016,185

Total....................................2 :,714 104,423,873 17,312,956 16,428,228 13,191,736

The table shows a falling off in receipts in these ten lines of $>1,384,727 61 in
1857 from those of 1856, and §3,236,491 92 in 1858 from those of 1857. The
total decrease between the years 1856 and 1858 is §4,621,219 53. These figures
show a percentage of decrease which explains, in some measure, the cause of the
low price of railway stocks ; but in every well-managed road the expenses have,
in most cases, been reduced in a corresponding ratio, so that the actual value of
Western railway stocks should not be estimated by the falling off in their receipts
during the past year. With fair crops, and ordinary prosperity, we expect to
record a very considerable increase in the traffic of these railways at the close of
the year 1859.
STEAMBOATS ACCIDENTS.

The following is by no means a complete list of all the steamboat accidents
which occurred during the past year, but comprises all of the most serious :—
January 14, Fanny Fern exploded on the Mississippi....................................
February 4, Steamer Crossman burnt on the Mississippi................................
“
17, Magnolia exploded at Whitehall, North Carolina.....................
March
1, Baliza Rattle burnt in Alabam a...................................................
“
14, Great Western and Princess came in collision on the Ohio . .
“
23, Evansville (Memphis packet) burnt...............
April
2, Sultan burnt on the Missouri...........................................................
“
12, Fall City exploded at New Orleans............................................
“
13, Venture sunk on the O h io...........................................................
“
22, Ocean Spray and Keokuk burnt at St. Louis............................
May
12, City of Huntsville exploded.........................................................
June
13, Pennsylvania exploded near Memphis.......................................
“
13, Eclipse exploded near New Orleans..........................................
July
1, Steamer Galena.. ..........................................................................
September 8, Aurora collapsed a flue in New York Harbor..........................
October 9, Hercules exploded on St Law rence.............................................
“
18, J. H. Moore exploded at Oswego.................................................
November 6, Petrel exploded at New Y ork.....................................................
“
9, Fulton City snagged on the O h io..............................................
Total ..........................................................................................................

Lives lost.
14

30
15
39

5
3

25
8
8
8
10
160
2
7
2
18
2
3

12
864

A similar list for the previous year made the total number killed 230. But
in that year there were no disasters like the loss of the steamer Pennsylvania.




Journal o f M ining, Manufactures, and A rt.

625

JOURNAL OF MINING, MANUFACTURES, AND ART.
COAL IN THE UNITED STATES.

The Mining Register remarks in relation to the coal product of 1858 as fol­
lows :—
To ascertain the exact actual coal trade of the United States, there are no
means in existence; for, outside of Pennsylvania and Maryland, registers of coal
tonnage are not accessible ; and even in the bituminous region of Pennsylvania,
which covers more than ten thousand square miles of her surface, it is not easy
to acquire correct information of the whole number of tons mined.
However, with all these drawbacks to a perfectly satisfactory exhibit of the
coal crop of the United States for 1858, we venture, nevertheless, with the data
in our possession, and with estimates where we have no returns, to submit the
following as the approximate yield of the coal mines in the United States in the
year 1858 :—
The three anthracite fields of Pennsylvania..............................................
Broad Top, Blossburg, and Barclay coals...................................................
Alleghany & Pittsburg coals, carried on Pennsylvania Railroad...........
Monongahela Navigation Company’s coal tonnage...................................
Estimated river coal trade of Pittsburg, exclusive of Monongahela
Navigation....................................................................................................
Estimated products in other parts o f the State........................................

6,759,787
164,933
325,637
917,738

Total o f Pennsylvania.......................................................................
Cumberland region........................................................................................
For Ohio, in 1867, the coal product, partly from returns & partly by
estimate, was put down at 2,394,000, so that for 1868 it will be
safe to put it down at...............................................................................
And for the States of Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, the Carolinas,
Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michi­
gan, etc, and the territories, s a y .............................................................

8,793,095
642,725

Total coal products of the United States, 1858............................

14,685,820

125,000
500,000

2,250,000
3,000,000

The Pennsylvania Railroad carried 369,847 tons during the year, of which
97,246 tons were delivered at Philadelphia, 99,540 at Pittsburg, 92,881 at way
stations, and 80,000 used by the company. Of the Western coal carried, 4,560
tons were taken from Biairsville, 18 from Latrobe, 16,967 from Manor station,
59,278 from Irwin’s, 44,409 from Larimer's, 296 from Brinton’s, and 62.007 from
Wilkinsburg—in all, 187,535 tons, of which 73,915 tons were delivered at
Philadelphia, 99,540 at Pittsburg, and 14,078 at way stations. This does not
include the 80,000 tons used by the company, nor does the report state where
these 80,000 tons were obtained. A ton of Pittsburg coal contains 26J bushels.
During the same year, the Pittsburg and Connellsville road carried 7,902
tons—751 eastward, and 7,157 westward ; and the Alleghany Valley road 20,622
tons. Reducing the tons to bushels, the coal trade of Western Pennsylvania
may therefore be set down as follows :—
Pennsylvania Road carried east...................................................................
“
“
“
west..................................................................
“
“
used by company........................................................
Pittsburg and Connellsville Road...............................................................
Alleghany Valley R oad...............................................................................
Monongahela Navigation Company............................................................
Pittsburg, below Monongahela Navigation.................................................
Total Pittsburg coal trade.......................................................
V OL. XL.---- N O . V .




40

1,946,428
2,621,220
2,106,666
208,186
543,046
25,696,669
3,291,666
36,413,881

626

'

Journal o f M ining, Manufactures, and A rt.

Estimating this coal as worth, at this point, 5 cents per bushel, its value would
be $1,820,604. It must, however, net more than this, on a fair average, and we
may, therefore, safely set down this trade as worth two millions of dollars a year
in its present state of development.
MANUFACTURE OF CARPETS,

An examination of ordinary velvet carpets shows that the back, instead of
presenting the same pattern as the front, which the ingrain does, is apparently a
web of nothing but hemp. The process of making velvet carpets in this way is
of comparatively new invention, and has contributed more than anything else
to the great reduction in the price of such fabrics. In these carpets the wool is
all worked upon the front, and the hempen threads all thrown upon the back;
hence they can be manufactured at a greater economy than Kidderminster car­
pets, in which, though they also have a velvet surface, the thread is carried from
back to front and from front to back. The latter description of fine carpets are
necessarily made of fine wool, and consequently are much the softest, wear longer,
and do not whiten in the seams. But, on the other hand, they cost considerably
more, nor can they be made with so many colors, being woven on a Jacquared
loom. The finest European carpets are made at the Gobelins, Paris, to which
the famous manufactory of the Savounnierre has been transported. The royal
Wilton carpets are also very beautiful. In these the pile is raised higher than in
the ordinary Wilton. All Wilton, Kidderminster, and velvet carpets have the
pile cut. In the imperial Brussels the pile is raised above the ground, and the
pile of the figure cut, but the ground is uncut. In the ordinary Brussels the pile
is left uncut, both in figure and ground. The costly rugs exhibited at carpet
stores, on which the figures are delineated almost as delicately as in a painting,
are not woven; but the threads are laid horizontally, one by one, as straw in an
ostler’s cutting box, so that their ends form the pattern, and they are then pressed
tightly and the surface shaved even.
TEXAS STATE COTTON FACTORY.

The Galveston Neivs of January 29th has the following in reference to the
State penitentiary
W e learn from the State Gazette that for the eleven months ending August 31st,
1858, there was a clear net profit of $6,463 52 from the working of the cotton
and woolen factory of the penitentiary, while the deficit in other respects, and in
other departments, amounts to $12,778 89. Thus while the pursuit of the other
branches of labor has resulted in a large loss to the State, the cotton and woolen
factory has, by its profits, enabled the State to meet one-half of the loss.
The Gazette learns that with the sanction of the Governor, and approval of
the directors, General Besserhas contracted for 66 more looms, and 2,376 spindles.
When these are erected, there will then be 100 looms and 3,738 spindles; 400 of
them will be employed on wool. This increase will enable the factory to turn
out about a million and a half of yards per annum, worth $225,000. There will
be consumed in this manufacture 1,800 bales of cotton, and 150,000 pounds of
wool. This purchase will give quite an impetus to the planting and farming
interest around the factory. Some of the machinery is now afloat, and the whole
of it will, doubtless, be in operation by the meeting of the next Legislature.
From the successful experiment of cotton manufactures, can be seen what may
be accomplished in other portions of the State, under the more favorable auspices
of free and slave labor, instead of convict.




Journal o f M ining , Manufactures, and A rt.

627

ENAMELED CLOTH.

The enameled cloth of commerce enters into many uses as a substitute for
leather. It is light and pliable, and at the same time firm and durable. It has
all the appearance of leather, with nearly its durability. Its most important use
is that of covering for carriage tops, for traveling bags, and trunks. It is
extensively employed in tbe manufacture of cushions, and upholstering of similar
nature, and is to a small extent worked up into rain-pro®f garments, answering
all the purposes of India rubber cloth. The method of md^ing the different colors
is essentially the same, the black being the foundation, and the colors afterwards
applied by hand.
The foundation of this article is cotton cloth of the best quality, and is manu­
factured of various texture and width, according to the kind of goods for which
it is intended. The cloth ts taken from the bale, and wound upon a large iron
cylinder. It is then slowly passed through the machine, across and between the
huge cylinders, from the smaller of which, at the top, it receives its first coating
of composition—a black looking substance, composed of oil, lamp-black, rosin,
and other ingredients, boiled together till of about the consistency of tar in its
melted state. From between the cylinders, dressed in its black cloak, the cloth
is carried to the story above, through an aperture in the floor, and wound upon
a huge wooden frame. By an arrangement of spokes upon the arms of this huge
wheel, each layer of cloth is kept separate, so that no two portions of the cloth
will come in contact.
The frame, with its contents when filled, is passed into what is called the heater,
an apartment kept at a high temperature for the purpose of drying in the coat­
ing of composition. After remaining in the heater a sufficient length of time to
complete the drying process, it is removed to the lower story, where it is laid on
long tables, and alternately sprinkled with water and rubbed with pumice stone,
till the whole surface is made perfectly smooth. The cloth is then wound upon
the cylinder again, as at first, and passed through the machine into the upper
story, upon the huge reels, and into the heater, and again under the pumice stone.
The cloth is passed through the machine five times, or till the required thickness
is laid on. After the last scrubbing down, the fabric is taken to another depart­
ment, and thoroughly varnished, affld again passed through the heater. It is now
a piece of cotton cloth, with a thick shining coat of black, very much resembling
patent leather. It is, in this condition, passed through the enamel machine, which
consists of another set of huge rollers, one of which covers its surface with
irregular indentations, resembling the grain of a feather. This finishes the
various processes.
AN INVENTION FOR SPINNING COTTON WITHOUT GINNING.

Mr. George G. Henry, of Mobile, has invented a machine for spinning cotton
yarn from the seed staple, saving the delay and expense of ginning, and the in­
jury to the fiber incidental to that process. Sand, dirt, and other foreign mat­
ters are separated from the cotton without crushing. In the new machine the
fiber passes immediately from the top of the hermaphrodite continuously to the
cards. A t the late fair, at Jackson, Mississippi, the yarn spun upon the machine
received the premium. Mr. Henry's original estimate of the saving by the use
of his machine, has been greatly exceeded, according to the testimony of the
planters who have used it.




628

Journal o f M ining , Manufactures, and A rt.
SHADDY

CLOTH.

Almost every parlor center-table is covered in winter by a woolen table-cover.
Piano-fortes are often protected by beautiful, soft, highly-colored printed woolen
covers. Do our female readers know whence comes these beautiful articles, on
which fair hancls are often laid for contrast, and over which bright eyes linger
lovingly ? They are made of old woolen rags, the veriest refuse of old wool, and
the fragments of old greasy, filthy, beggar’s rags, which have refused to hang
together on a tramper’s limbs, and would, a few years back, have been cast out
to rot on a manure heap. But skill has advanced, until now, these woolen rags,
saturated with small-pox, miasma, or burrowed in by the propagators of
cutaneous annoyance, as they often are, are carefully collected from all parts of
the world, and conveyed to proper factories of shaddy cloth, as it is called, and
there, after being subjected to various processes, and torn by powerful machinery
into the original condition of wool, are again respun, sometimes with a mixture
of fresh wool, and sometimes without, and made into shaddy cloth. Formerly
shaddy was used only for padding; but now it is used for pilot and petersham
overcoats, piano covers, &c. The army and navy of Her Majesty of England are
clothed principally in this shaddy—or, in other words, in beggar’s rags respun.
There are few of us who have not at this moment, more or less of these respun
rags on our persons. Let us hope that the steam was hot, and the chemical
powerful, by which the rags were purged of their former iniquities. The shaddy
trade is closely analogous to the paper manufacture. It is one of the greatest
triumph of modern art, and betokens the advance of civilization. The utilizar
tion of refuse, as in China and Japan, is one of the most salient features of an
economical, refined, and thoughtful race, as contrasted with the spendthrift habits
of a North American Indian, for instance. "We trust our fair readers will not
be repelled by our disclosures of the origin of some of the articles they daily
handle ; the shaddy trade is a great one already, and is yearly advancing in im­
portance. The manufacture is very active in summer, preparing for the winter
sales; but is almost dormant through the winter, as summer is a bad time to
dispose of shaddy.
OHIO DISTILLERIES AND DRISKING HOUSES.

The Ohio Statistical Bureau gives for the first time the approximate statistics
of distillation and drinking for 1858. The commissioner has, however, confined
himself to the original liquor, and not the modifications of it, which pass under
various names. He says :—In Cincinnati and other large towns, there are many
stores which retail liquor incidentally, but are not properly within the limits of
this table. The following are the general aggregates of the table :—
Reports from counties.....................................................................................
Counties with no distilleries............................................................................
Counties with distilleries..................................................................................
Number of distilleries in 66 counties.............................................................
Corn distilled......................................................................................... bushels
Whisky made.........................................................................................gallons
"Whisky in barrels..................................................................................barrels

87
31
66
160
11,714,985
39,029,694
780,591

We are informed that a very large amount of whisky, in some form, is used in
the arts and manufactures ; but it is not, at the present time, exactly ascertainable.




629

Journal o f M ining, Manufactures, and A rt.
MANUFACTURES OF SWITZERLAND.

The manufactories of Switzerland employ 250,000 people, in 1,600 factories,
and very numerous workshops. They are classed as follows :—
No. estab- No. opelishments. ratives.

Machine spinners . . . .
Hand weavers............
Bleachers.....................
Colored goods.............
Other g o o d s ...............
Dye w o rk s .................
Embroideries.............

200
1001
100 1
60 f
260 J

No. estab- No. opelisbments. rativea.

20,000 S ilk ............................
38,000 Spimieries..................
Piece w eavin g.........
Hand w eaving.........
7,000
W a tch es...................
Musical boxes............
8,000 Jewelry......................

40
13
25

.

600
4,500
30,000
10,000
36,000
500
3,000

,,

These three trades employ together 160,000 work-people, or about two-thirds
of the whole number of operatives. The cotton and silk industries are mostly
in the German cantons of Basle, Zurich, and St. Gall; while the watch making
is in the French cantons of Geneva and Neufchatel. The other industries are
as follows
Factories. Operat's.
3,0C0
3,000
60
150)
2,000
120 J
1,500
50
1,500
12
14
1,500

Factories. Operate.
..
70,000 Hinges....................
..
8,000 Tobacco.................
Book printers..........
6,000 Lithographers.........
16 f
Paper mills.............
67 )
..
5,000 Glass w ork s...........
6,000 W ood carvers.......
*'
4,000

Straw braids.
Linen..............
Woolen goods.
Woolen yarns.
Woolen cloth
Metals............
Machines........
N ails.............

COTTON FACTORIES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

The following is a comparative statement showing the number of cotton
factories in the United Kingdom of Great Britain, the number of spindles and
power looms, and the persons of each sex employed therein, in 1850 and 1856 :—
England and
Wales.

i 1850
1 1856
| 1850
Spindles.................................•<
i 1856
1 1850
Looms..................................... -j
1 1856
i 1850
Males employed.................... j
l 1856
1850
Females employed................ -j
1856
Factories................................. J

1,753
2,046
19,173,969
25,818,516
223,626
275,590
131,610
148,354
160,052
192,816

Scotland.

Ireland.

168
152
1,683,093
2,041,129
23,564
21,624
8,797
7,609
27,528
27,089

11
12
119,955
150,512
2,437
1,633
1,094
1,223
1,843
2,122

Total.

1,932
2,210
20,977,017
28,010,217
249,627
298,847
141,501
157,186
189,423
222,027

MINERALS AND METALS PRODUCED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM,
STATEMENT SHOWING THE QUANTITIES AND VALUES OF THE PRINCIPAL MINERALS AND METALS
PRODUCED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM IN THE YEARS

/-------------Quantities produced.-------------s

1854.

1855.

1856.

1854, 1855,

AND

1856.

,----------------- Estimated value.------------------ *

1854.

1855.

1856.

Coal....tons 64,661,401 61,463,079 66,445,460 880,826,750 880,566,336 883,319,310
C o p p e r ...
19,899
21,294
24,267 12,486,875 15,214,386 14,918,055
Iron........... 3,069,838 3,218,154 3,586,377 61,396,625 64,363,080 71,727,540
Lead..........
64,005
65,529
73,129
7,4S8,585
7,684,980 8,775,480
Tin.............
5,974
6,000
6,177
3,450,000
3,600,000 4,107,703
Silver .ozs.
558,659
661,906
614,180
703,320
702,380
767,350
Total value of mineral and metalic products.. 166,302,165 171,331,160 183,615,440




630

Journal o f M ining, Manufactures, and A rt.
BAY STATE MILLS.

The operations of the Bay State Mills, Massachusetts, for the year to October,
1858, are given as follows by the agent at Lawrence, S. V . Fox, Esq. :—
Amount of goods manufactured by his estimate during that time
at within the prices at which they have been sold, first deducting
from the amount interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum, or
4 per cent for 8 months.......................................................................
Amount of rents received.......................................................................

$432,944 85
1,596 31

Total................................................................................................

$434,541 16

DEDDOT.

Amount o f wool used estimated at prices actually
paid during the eame period, for the same wools,
by the Middlesex m ills............................................
Cotton and cotton warps u sed ....................................
Dye stuffs, oils, and small wares used, and expense.
Coal used.........................................................................
Pay rolls.........................................................................
T a x e s ..............................................................................
Insurance.........................................................................
AVater rent.....................................................................
Commission 5 per cent on $432,944 85.....................

$149,267
8,188
45,029
17,891
108,689
11,340
4,575
3,300
21,647

21
66
63
85
80
00
00
00
24

$369,929 29
Total...............................................................................................

369,929 29
$64,611 87

Leaving an actual profit for the year of §68,611 87 upon an amount of pro­
duction (in working up materials on hand,) equal to less than one-fifth of our
capacity.
MAJVUFACTURES UV DUBLIN.

Among the many articles which Dublin manufactures as well as any other city
in the world, tabarets hold a foremost place. Tabinets are made to clothe the
ladies ; tabarets to cover the furniture on which they sit down. There is only
the difference of two letters in the words, but the articles themselves exhibit a
material difference. Curtains made of tabaret drape the magnificent saloon
termed St. Patrick’s Hall, in Dublin Castle, and the sofas, lounges, and chairs
are covered with tabaret. Tabaret is not merely splendid in appearance; it wears
well—nothing wears better. In 1841 the furniture in the drawing-rooms in the
vice regal lodge were covered with tabaret. “ It was not,” says my informant,
“ a bit the worse on last Saturday.” Yet, as the Queen received visitors on two
occasions in the drawing-rooms, the tabaret coverings must have got some rough
usage. The quantity manufactured in 1841, to cover the vice regal furniture,
was 800 yards. If Americans would give it a trial, it might be supplied, as I
understand, in any quantity, and certainly a few American orders would give
great life to Dublin. You must not suppose that the present prosperity of the
tabinet manufacture (for it is at present prosperous) is at all owing to vice regal
patronage. The lady lieutenant, in the course of twelve months, may spend
£150 in tabinets, but this is said to be the only benefit which the lord-lieutenancy
confers on the trade.




Journal o f M ining, Manufactures, and A rt.

631

COTTON CONSUMPTION OF EUROPE,

The increase of the use of cotton for human clothing is observable in the
following table of the average quantity taken by each country of Europe per
week for several years:—
AVERAGE W EE K L Y CONSUMPTION OF COTTON IN EUROPE.

1850. 1851. 1851 1851 1854. 1855. 1856. 1857. 1858.
France................
Belgium.............
Holland..............
Germany............
Trieste...............
Genoa & Naples.
Spain..................
Russia & Norw’y

7,077
1,184
1,038
1,653
2,288
558
1,481
2,923

7,173 10,575
1,115 1,634
1,038 1,365
2,115 2,442
2,211 2,596
596
942
1,768 1,826
2,923 5,057

9,018
1,538
1,173
2,769
1,081
980
1,634
4,000

8,500
1,346
1,653
3,981
1,788
807
1,788
2,577

9,211 10,115
1,211 1,538
1,711 1,903
4,067 4,750
1,653 1,855
1,096 2,115
2,192 2,346
2,404 4,423

8,596
1,096
1,883
4,142
1,442
1,730
1,730
3,846

9,442
1,019
1,942
5,096
1,558
1,734
2,154
4,423

On the continent 18,152 18,939
Great Britain . . 29,125 31,988

25,437 23,093 22,440 23,535 29,055 24,465 27,368
35,790 36,613 37,829 40,403 41,985 39,065 41,333

T o ta l............. 47,277 50,927

61,227 59,706 60,269 63,938 71,042 63,530 69.188

The rise was rapid on the continent, as well as in England, in 1850, 1851, and
1852, under the stimulus of gold and fine crops. The rise was 30 per cent in
those years, nearly equal to 730,000 bales per annum. This figure underwent a
slight reaction on the continent, under the rise in food in the following year, and
in France during the Russian war, accompanied as it was by dear food, but the
quantity taken again increased, and reached a high figure in 1856, when the
aggregate quantity taken was 71,042 bales per week, or, in round numbers,
3,700,000 bales per annum, being 10.000 bales, or 17 per cent, per week more
than the maximum of 1852. A t that rate the demand for cotton doubles every
six years, but that was an exceptional year. The panic of 1857 carried the
figures back to those of 1855. From 1852 to 1857 the circumstances of dear
food and war expenditure seemed to interfere with the use of cotton. Those
circumstances are now removed, and the quantity of cotton taken by England in
1858 was nearly as large as that taken by her in 1856. Should peace now be
preserved on the continent, the use of cotton will be carried more rapidly to high
figures than ever before, particularly in Germany and Holland. Of the quantity
taken by Great Britain a large portion returns to the countries whence it came.
India, in her best days, never sells so much cotton as she buys, and will never be
able to make her production of the raw material keep pace with her demand for
goods, and the same fact is true of all producing countries except the United
States, whence alone the countries of Europe can draw a supply to meet their
growing wants.
THE BLEACHING OF WAX,

There are two kinds of wax found in commerce, yellow or unbleached, and
white, or purified and bleached. The bleaching of wax is effected by exposing
it in thin laminae to the action of the light and air, by which it becomes per­
fectly white, scentless, harder, and less greasy to the touch. To accomplish this,
it is first broken into small pieces, and melted in a copper cauldron, with water
just sufficient to prevent the wax from burning. The cauldron has a pipe at the
bottom, through which the wax, when melted, is run off into a large tub filled




632

Journal o f M ining, Manufactures, and A rt.

with water, and covered with a thick cloth, to preserve the heat till the im­
purities are settled. From this tub the clear, melted wax flows into a vessel
having the bottom full of small holes, through which it runs in streams upon a
cylinder, kept constantly revolving over water, into which it occasionally dips ;
by this the wax is cooled, and at the same time drawn out into thin sheets, shreds,
or ribands by the continual rotation of the cylinder, which distributes them
through the tub. The wax, thus granulated or flatted, is exposed to the air on
linen cloths, stretched on large frames, about a foot or two above the ground, in
which situation it remains for several days and nights, exposed to the air and
sun, being occasionally watered and turned ; by this process the yellow color
nearly disappears. In this half-bleached state, it is heaped up in a solid mass
and remains for a month or six weeks ; after which it is re-melted, ribanded, and
bleached as before— in some cases several times—till it wholly loses its color and
smell. It i3 then again melted for the last time, and cast with a ladle upon a
table covered over with little round cavities, into the form of discs or cakes of
about five inches diameter. The moulds are first wetted with cold water, that
the wax may be the more easily got out, and the cakes are laid out in the air
for two days and two nights to render them more transparent and dry.
MANUFACTURE OF COMBS.

It is said that the greatest comb manufactory in the world is in Aberdeen,
Scotland. There are thirty-six furnaces for preparing horns and tortoise shell
for the combs, and no less than one hundred and twenty iron screw presses are
continually going in stamping them. Steam power is employed to cut the combs.
The coarse combs are stamped or cut out—two being cut in one piece at a time.
The fine dressing combs are cut by fine circular saw’s, some so fine as to cut forty
teeth in the space of one inch, and they revolve five thousand times in the space
of one minute. There are some 2,000 varieties of combs made, and the aggregate
number produced, of all these different kinds, is about 9,000,000 annually—a
quantity that, if laid together lengthwise, would extend about seven hundred
miles. The annual consumption of ox horns is about 730,000, and the annual
consumption of hoof's amounts to 4,000,000 ; the consumption of tortoise shell
and buffalo horn, although not so large, is correspondingly valuable. A hoof
undergoes eleven distinct operations before it becomes a finished comb.
MINES OF MEXICO.

The total amount of the gold and silver coinage in 1855. is stated thus
Gold.

Culiacan................................................
$144,208
Chihuahua-............................................
17,536
DuraDgo..................................................
73,647
Mexico....................................................
155,263
Guanajuanto..........................................
555,200
Guacalajara..........................................
10,368
San Luis Potosi.........................................................
Zacatecas.. ................................................................

Silver.

$737,968
475,500
609,171
4,013,859
4,698,800
632,662

Total.

$882,176
493,036
682,818
4,168.622
5,254,000
644,030
1,849,7951,849,795
3,619,0003,619,000

If we add to this sum six or six-anda-half millions of dollars, which, accordto the best authority, is annually assayed, and which is exported in bars by the
coast of the Pacific—either with the knowledge of the government, or fraudulently
— it will appear that the produce of the gold and silver mines in Mexico amount to
$ 24,000,000 annually.




Statistics o f Agriculture, etc.

633

STATISTICS OF AGRICULTURE, &c.
BUTTER ?

According to common acceptation, butter is the oily part of cream, and the
best is that obtained from sweet cream.
Among the ancient ltomans, butter was only used as a medicine, never as
food, while the ancient Egyptians prepared it for burning in their lamps ; and
in the first ages of Christianity, butter was the “ lamp oil” of common use.
Etymologically, “ butter” is derived from two Greek words, signifying ox and
anything coagulated. The ancient chemists gave the name butter to many
metallic substances, particularly the chlorides ; and the same term is also ap­
plied to several vegetable substances. The butter of Bansbeck is obtained from
a species of almond, which grows in the vicinity of Senegal, and is deemed
useful in neuralgia and rheumatism. The butter of Cacao is an agreeable fatty
substance obtained from the Theobroma, or chocolate nut. The butter of Cocoa
is a concrete substance which separates from the milk of the cocoa nut; it is
sweet and agreeable. In some parts of Africa a vegetable butter is made from
the fruit of the Shea tree, which is said to be of very rich taste, much resembling
the finest quality made from sweet cream.
The butter of milk, or to speak more correctly, of cream, consists of oleine,
stearine, and lutyrine, these principles have such an affinity for each other as to
be separated and coagulated into a new compound by the process of churning.
Fresh butter, if well and quickly washed on congealing, contains about ten
per cent of water, and may be preserved and flavored by from one-half to one-anda-half per cent of salt; and when butter is found to contain more water or
more salt than these rates, it is badly made or adulterated.
The sooner butter is salted, after churning and washing, the better it will
keep, and for this purpose rock-salt should always be used, as sea or spring salt
contains sulphate of magnesia, (or epsom salts,) which imparts a bitter taste,
and chloride of lime, which has too strong an affinity for moisture.
Dishonest butter-makers are in the habit of working butter for a long time in
an excess of water, and many are the “ artists” in this trade who profess to im­
prove their country receipts by additional working, washing, and salting.
When butter is worked for a considerable length of time in an excess of water,
it may be made to incorporate nearly one-third additional weight, and when salt
is added during this process it may be dissolved to the amount of ten per cent)
so that the “ well-worked” butter of the city factor is more than one-third water
and salt! But although so rich in salt, such butter will not “ keep” long.
Yet buyers who are “ not up to the trade” are often surprised at the high price
at which it is held, even during hot weather, when it rapidly grows worse.
When thus situated, however, large quantities are often mysteriously disposed
of at this season of the year to give room to the bright new kegs of “ Orange
County,” even weeks before this prolific region has made its first shipment to
well accredited buyers ; and many are the large butter houses in New York
which daily ship tons of “ Orange County” butter to distant regions, whilst never
a keg of the genuine article has passed their portals.




/

634

Statistics o j Agriculture, etc.

Thus, the stock of old “ worked” butter, no longer showable, is first softened
by gentle warmth, and then emptied into large vats or tubs provided for the pur­
pose, where it is washed in water till reduced to the requisite degree of softness
for “ fresh butter,” then it is washed in swill milk.
This being done, a little sugar, and, if necessary to give it color, annatto is
also added, after which it is packed and put in a cool place to harden and rise.
The butter milk is sold to the milk dealer to be dealt out to the dainty at a
shilling a quart!
The easiest way of detecting these frauds is to put a portion of the suspected
butter in a clear, glass phial, and melt it. The water and salt will settle to the
bottom, on account of their greater specific gravity.
OHIO AGRICULTURE,

W e have before alluded to the official report of E. D. Mansfield, Esq.,
Commissioner of Statistics in Ohio. We proceed from extracts from that report.
Ohio is the only State which has organized this valuable class of statistics, but
its usefulness will no doubt prompt other States to follow the example.
The following table shows what Ohio exported in 1852 and 1858, the articles
being the products of the soil, or immediately manufactured from them :—
Value of exports, Value of exports,
Flour and wheat..........................................................
Other grains.................................................................
Beef and ca ttle ...........................................................
Pork, lard, lard oil, and hogs.....................................
Butter, cheese, tallow, and grease............................
W hisky..........................................................................
T ob a cco.......................................................................
W o o l............................................................................
Miscellaneous articles such as apples, beans, eggs,
oil cake, Ac., A c.......................................................
Articles manufactured from products o f agricul­
ture, such as candles, soap, (fee., Ac.......................
Aggregate valu es..........................................

1852.

1858.

815,738,216
3.272.000
2,394,750
7,994,290
750,000
2.850.000
1,617,480
1.100.000

$11,111,518
1,750,000
6,165,551
13,886,302
1,734,382
6,109,953
2,197,125
2,649,466

500,000

800,000

3,000,000

3,000,000

$40,216,736

$48,403,297

T o this add the following :—
7,400 horses.................................................................
220,000 sheep.............................................................
Coal, (8,700,000 bushels)............................................

..............................

$748,000
400.000

This makes 2,000,000 more, which added to the aggregate brings the exports
(independent of manufactures and the arts) to $50,350,000.
Notwithstanding the short crop of grain last year our exports of the above
commodities, it will be seen, exceeded the value of $50,000,000 in the grand
aggregate. In flour and wheat, and other grains, our exports diminished last
year, as compared with 1852, above $6,000,000. In beef and cattle, however,
they more than doubled, the increase being nearly 4,000,000 ; and in pork, lard,
lard oil, and hogs the increase of exports was nearly 6,000,000.
The wheat crop reached its greatest decline in 1854 ; it is now increasing.
The crop of 1857 was 25,397,614 bushels. The crop of last year is estimated
at a fourth less. The great wheat-growing counties have fallen back in their
wheat crops, with the exception of Stark. “ Old Molly ” holds her own. The




685

Statistics o f Agriculture, etc.

deficiency in the wheat region is more than made up by the increase in the Scioto
and Miami districts, which were formerly more devoted to the corn crop. The
following tables show the increase in wheat since 1850, the year of the greatest
wheat crop ever reaped, in eleven of the corn counties; and the decrease in
eleven counties of the former great wheat regions :—
W HEAT COUNTIES.

CORN COUNTIES.

Brown........
B u tler----Clermont...
Darke.........
Hamilton..
Highland. .
Franklin....
Pickaway. .
Preble........
Ross...........
W arren... .

185ft.

1855.

1857.

360,093
529,390

317,400
447,818
378,928
370,408
159,133
444,172
265,760
356,764
409,681
438,440
338,574

479,882
7S9.569
557,757
495,212
380,224
756,571
443,641
631,442
670,484
666,000
603,956

495,392
294,162
338,829
471,605
359,046
447,042

Aggregate. 3,304,559 3,947,143 6,373,877

1855.

1857.

555,548
184,367
40.3,808
203,613
280,300
482,042
224,610
132,161
923,102
489,238
426,746

403,566
182,552
582,137
176,483
205,987
324,011
100,666
309,300
997,790
390,435
650,280

1850.
Belmont...
667,311
Coshocton.
862,809
Fairfield...
690,099
Guernsey.
564,785
J efferson..
616,180
Muskingum 1,003,096
Harrison...
532,778
640,459
H olm es...
Stark........ 1,071,177
Tuscarawas 883,071
W ayn e.. .

Aggregate. 7,531,757 4,395,633 4,413,207

It is to be hoped and expected that the increased production in the counties
that are advancing will go on, and that those once so famous for that crop will
again attain their former quantity.
The crop of corn reported to the Auditor in 1857 was 82,555,186 bushels.
This is an enormous yield. It is the largest ever raised in the State save in 1855.
The quality of the corn was not good in 1857. Mr. Mansfield, the Commissioner,
thinks that the corn crop of our State is heavy and light year by year in regular
succession. The following tables for the eight years prior to 1858 seem to verify
the theory, as follows :—
1850.......................bushels
1852....................................
1854...................................
1856...................................
Aggregate.

56,619,608
58,165,517
51,171,551
57,802,515
224,759,191

1 8 5 1 ..................... bushels
1853...................................
1855............................
1857.............
Aggregate.

61,171,282
73,436,090
87,587,434
82,555,186
304,749,992

Last year the crop was short, in accordance with this rotation; and this year,
beiDg in the odd numbers, we may look for an abundant yield. The general
yearly average per acre in the eight years was 31.02 bushels in the one class, and
38.25 bushels in the other. The average production of the whole State per acre,
and of ten of the great corn-arrowing counties, in 1857, is shown by the follow­
ing table :—
Whole State, (1857).
Pickaway County...
Ross
“
...
Butler
“
Franklin
“ ...
Fayette
“ ...
Highland
“ ...
Licking
“ ...
Fairfield
“ ...
Warren
“ ....
Miami
“ ...




Acres.
2,254,424
72,188
74,114
66,383
62,934
48,611
63,554
48,156
49,630
43,206
42,117

Production.
82,655,186
3,409,177
3,897,188
2,696,597
2,665,661
2,257,752
2,022,213
1,084,390
1,858,865
1,834,777
1,631,331

Average
bushels.
36.6
47.3
45.
48.
43.
47.
38.1
40.5
39.9
42.6
38.8

636

Statistics o f Agriculture, etc.

The next table exhibits the number of acres planted in corn and wheat, in
these counties, and the aggregate yields of both in 1855 and 1857 :—
Acres planted.

1855,

1857,

Brown.............................................
69,818 73,887
Butler..............................................
93,238 98,779
68,271 73,307
Clerm ont.......................................
Darke...............................................
57,900 69,467
Franklin...........................................
75,779 90,959
Hamilton.........................................
42,945 57,886
Highland.................................
85,803
108,089
Pickaway.......................................
99,383 106,307
Preble..............................................
63,946 81,844
Ross............................................
106,608
116,214
Warren............................................
69,866 67,941
Aggregate....................

823,466

948,630

Corn and wheat produced

1855,

1857,

1,899,500
8,692,999
1,684,301
1,386,180
2,889,916
1,762,386
2,635,986
3,966,529
2,019,252
4,316,150
2,581,397

1,830,651
8,486,166
2,083,297
1,669,580
3,109,802
1,553,053
2,778,734
3,940,689
2,091,315
3,835,628
2,437,872

29,134,587

28,716,337

It will be perceived that Clermont, Darke, Highland, Preble, and Franklin
gave an increase in 1857 over 1855, the other five counties fell off a little. The
greatest increase was in Darke and Franklin, it being over 200,000 bushels in
each.
THE NORTH CHINA SUGAR CANE, AND THE SOUTH AFRICAN IMPHEE.

The Sorghum Sacharatum is no longer a doubtful contribution to our American
agriculture ; its success is what the French call a fixed fact. Although it per­
fects its seeds better in the States south of Ohio, its perfect growth in saccharine
stalk is gained wherever Indian corn attains its maximum growth. And in proof
that the Chinese variety may be very profitably grown for syrup in the colder
North, a letter from Waupacca County, North Wisconsin, details the successful
experiment in growing sorghum there the past season—several barrels of excel­
lent syrup were made from the same by the aid of a very home-made wooden mill
or crusher, at very little expense. The writer says that the seeds were not
planted until after the 1st of June, owing to the cold and wet undrained soil, and
that its early growth was slow and unpromising ; but, although the seed failed
to ripen, the yield of syrup was large—one gallon to seven of juice. The mill
was a joint-stock affair. Some made two barrels of syrup, others less ; but the
sensation which even this little sweetening made in that new and poor neighbor­
hood can only be understood by those who have been there. In Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois, &c., the business of making syrup from sorghum has successfully increased ;
hence this plant, to a certain extent, at least, is to take its place among our
Western farm crops.
As a foraging crop for soiling milk cows, cattle, or horses, it cannot be beat;
but when kept for winter use, the ascetous fermentation takes place and the stalk
becomes worthless. Joseph Wright, of this place, has placed stocks of sorghum
and those of the large dent corn side by side in the field ; the corn-stalks are now
sweet, but the sorghum is sour. He has kept fifty horses iu fine condition this
winter on large corn stalks cut up with an improved machine, and then sprinkled
with meal and shorts, without hay.
The editor of the Ohio Cultivator, at Columbus, says that the sorghum im­
ported from Kentucky gave a much better growth of cane than the Ohio-grown




637

Statistics o f Agriculture, etc.

shrunken seed ; but as it takes less than two quarts of seed to plant an acre, and
Southern seed can be had at the shops for two dollars a bushel, it is within the
reach of every farmer.
The African Imphee, or, as the Bulletin d’ Acclimatation has it, Sorgho des
Caffres, does not grow as tall as the Chinese sorgho sucre, but it is a much more
bountiful cereal grass. It appears, from the same journal, that it is grown in
Martinique for its seed and forage, its seed being not only profuse, but very rich
in starch. It is made a substitute for rice by the Chinese Coolies of that island.
I have never planted the Imphee, but from experiment I can say that the China
cane is of much slower growth on the start than the Indian corn plant, but it is
much more hardy, is not injured by light, late frosts, and bears transplanting well.
AFRICAN COTTON,

It is stated that the nature of the soil, and the regularity of the seasons, enable
this valuable staple to be prosecuted with the greatest success along the whole
seaboard of Guinea ; in the neighborhood of Sierra Leone; the Bepublic of
Liberia; throughout the Bight of Benin, and inland of the Bight of Biafra—
the latter including the mouths of the Bonny, Niger, Old Calabar, and Cam­
eroon rivers.
The following statement shows the amount of raw cotton from Africa received
in England since 1851. Each bag or bale weighs about one hundred and twenty
pounds:—

1851. 1851. 1854. 1855.
Bags or bales.......................
Pounds..................................

9
87
7
1,810 4,617 1,588

14
1,651

1856.

1857.

108
283
11,492 35,419

1858.
1,819
220,099

The cost of production is stated not to exceed “ one half-penny a pound in the
end, while it can be laid down in England at about 4id. a pound, and sells at 7d.
to 9d.”
___________________
ZANTE CURRANTS.

The Patent-office is in receipt of a lengthy and interesting communication
from Samuel B. Parsons, an experienced nurseryman, of Flushing, New York,
who is now traveling in Europe, concerning the Zante currants. During his
tour, he visited the Ionian Islands, and acquainted himself with the mode of cul­
tivation, climatic necessities, and the method of drying and packing this fruit,
as well as the diseases incidental to the plants, and the profits arising from its
cultivation, of all which he informs the Patent-office in detail. He also urges
the importance of attempting the introduction of the fruit into, this country.
The agricultural department of the Patent-office did, however, introduce a great
quantity of the vines last year, which were widely distributed in the Southern
States and in California, and from which the happiest results are anticipated.
CROPS OF DUTCH JAVA,

1857.
1858.
f
V f----------Private. 1Government. Total.
Private. Government.. Total.
88,173
886,647
974,820 981,082
81,559
1,062,141
Coffee........... piculs
874,400 246,000 1,120,000 838,040 290,587 1,128,633
S u g a r.....................
T ea..............pounds 1,672,747
1,672,747 1,892,697
1,892,697
285,191
285,191
221,802
1,250
223,653
Cinnamon...............
29.500
67,890
......................
Indigo631,760 437,000 1,065,760 676,416 452,000 1,128,416
The sugar crop is slightly larger than last year.




638

Statistics o f Agriculture, etc.
BELGIAN FLAX CULTURE AND MANUFACTURE.

W e extract from a Belgian journal, the Precurseur, the following observations
on this leading branch of Belgian industry :—
“ The culture of flax is, for the cultivators of a great part of our country, one
of the best of their resources, and after some misapprehensions, it has been at
length admitted, on all hands, that the general interests of the kingdom could in
no wise be injured by permitting Belgian agriculture to profit by resources which
the demand existing in foreign'markets for this article offered. Our export of
raw flax has reached, of late years, a very great amount. In 1852, the value of
flax exported was 19,826,000 francs (£793,040 ;) in 1853, it was 21,925,000 francs
(£877,000,) being an increase on the year of more than 10 per cent.
“ Our flax-spinning factories, established on a respectable scale, manufacture
certain numbers of yarn, on a condition favorable enough to permit a competi­
tion with those of other countries, in some foreign markets. Without reaching
any very considerable amount, our exports, in so far as concerns these manu­
factures, are gaining importance, and the year 1852 again presents, in this re­
spect, an improvement upon the preceding year. This affords a proof that, with
a little more enterprise and boldness, we shall attain, in spinning all kinds of
yarn, to a very sensible development of the manufacture, first, for the home mar­
ket, and second, for exportation. The latter, which in 1852 was 4,769,000 francs,
(£190,760,) reached, in 1853, 5,370,000 francs, (£214,800,) or an increase of 12
per cent.
“ Doubtless, our exports of linen cloth have not of late reached the figure at
which they stood many years ago. Nevertheless, from year to year, since the
terrible crisis through which Flanders has passed, we have made a progress worthy
of note. On this point an important observation should not be lost sight of, viz.,
the partial transformation which the manner of manufacturing linens has happily
passed through. More and more, especially for export goods, weaving in the
cottages of individuals has been replaced by weaving in spacious factories, un­
der the eye of the employer. By this system, the first preparations are made
with more care and with greater uniformity, the weaving is done with greater
precision, the quality of the fabrics is more looked to, and consequently they are
more satisfactory to our foreign customers. The good effects of this real im­
provement may be slowly felt, but they will be decided and permanent.
“ Our export of linen fabrics, of all kinds, were, during the year 1852, to the
value of 9,612,000 francs (£384,480,) and rose in 1853, to 11,214,000 francs,
(£448,560,) an increase of above 16 per cent.
“ Taking, therefore, for a base, the value of the products exported in 1853, at
the same appraisement as that of 1852, we find the following to be the increase
on the year :— Flax, 2,099,000 francs; yarn, 601,000 francs; linen fabrics,
1,602,000 francs ; total increase, 4,302,000 francs, (£172,080.”)
THE COMING WHEAT CROP.

Colonel Johnston, of the New York State Agricultural Society, has made the
following estimate of the comparative yield of the wheat crop of 1858 and
1859, in the United States :—
Estimated product for
New Y o r k .............
Pennsylvania.........
Virginia...................
Kentucky................
Ohio.........................
Indiana....................
Illinois...................
Other States...........
Total...........




1858.

1859.

22, 000,000

20, 000,000

20,000,000
20, 000,000
10, 000,000
25.000.
000
15.000.
000
18.000.
000
50,000,000

20, 000,000
18,600,000
8,600,000
22,000,000
13.000.000
14,500,000
42.000.
000

180,000,000

158,500,000

639

Statistics o f Population, etc.

STATISTICS OF POPULATION, &c.
GROWTH OF NEW YORK CITY,

This city had, at the last census, a population of 629,904. Its growth for the
last sixty years has been at the rate of 4.6 per cent annually. The grounds for
this growth and extension have become stronger within the last twenty years
than at any former period, so that we may assume an equal ratio of increase for
the next thirty or forty years. The island is much better adapted to a large
population now than it was in the years 1810-40. The introduction of Croton
water has added much to the ability of the island to sustain a large population.
The foreign and domestic trade of the city has kept pace with the increase of
population ; or, in other words, the enlargement of the first absolutely required
a larger population to carry it on. This increase of business at decennial periods
is shown in the following figures :—
Years.
1821.....................................
1831.....................................
1841.....................................
1851.....................................
1858.....................................

Foreign exports. Foreign imports.
$18,160,000
$28,629,000
26,335,000
6*7,077,000
33,139,000
75,713,000
86,007,000
141,545,000
108,000,000
178,000,000

Tonnage. Population.
248,000
130,000
300,000
200,000
485,000
325,000
1,040,000
525,000
2,100,000
750,000

It is estimated that the city will have, in the year 1875, a population of a
million and a half, a foreign export trade of two hundred millions, an import
trade of three hundred millions, and a coasting trade of still greater value. The
railroad system of the State is now completed, its canals may be made to
contribute four-fold what they now do, by the extensive use of steam, and the
whole contribute more largely than heretofore to the vast and certain growth of
the metropolis. The great interests of the interior and of the city are so closely
identified, each depending upon the other, that whatever affects one, favorably
or otherwise, will soon react upon the other.
The canals and railroads of the State already pour their hundred of millions
of property into the city annually, enriching the interior largely, and the city in
a smaller ratio, in finding foreign and domestic channels of consumption for our
products.
We have prepared a summary showing the population of the city, of other
portions of the State, and of the whole State, at each taking of the census, from
1790 to 1855. To this we now add an estimate, based upon the growth of the
past sixty years, as to the growth for forty years to come
Years.
1 7 9 0 ...
1 8 0 0 ...
1 8 1 0 ...
1 8 1 4 ...
1 8 2 0 ...
1 8 2 5 ...

Total.
Years.
City. Other portions
306,989
340,120 1 8 3 0 ...
33,131
688,703 1 8 3 5 ...
528,114
60,489
865,515
961,888 1 8 4 0 ...
96,373
940,391 1,035,910 1 8 4 5 ...
95,519
123,706 1,249,106 1,372,812 1 8 5 0 ...
166,086 1,448,370 1,614,456 1 8 5 5 ...

City. Other portions. Total.
197,112 1,716,019 1,913,131
270,089 1,904,428 2,174,517
312,710 2,116,211 2,428,921
371,223 2,233,272 2,604,495
615,547 2,581,847 3,097,394
629,904 2,836,308 3,466,212

The average annual increase of the city has been 4.6 per cent, and of the
interior 3.2 per cent. Assuming these for the future, the growth of New York
will be as follows:—




640
Years.
1856..
1857..
1858..
1859..
1860..
1861..
1862..
1863..
1864..

Statistics o f Population, etc.
N. Y. city.
668,880
689,188
720,890
754,051
788,737
825,018
862,968
902,664
944,186

Interior.
2,927,070
3,020,756
3,117,399
3,217,156
3,320,105
3,426,345
3,535,988
3,649,140
3,765,912

State.
3,585,950
3,709,924
8,838,289
3,971,207
4,108,822
4,251,363
4,498,956
4,551,804
4,710,068

Years.
1865..
1870..
1875..
1880..
1885..
1890..
1895..
1900..

N. Y. city.
Interior.
State.
987,618 3,885,316 4,872,934
1,236,648 4,547,671 5,784,409
1,648,471 5,323,154 6,871,625
1,938,920 6,230,751 8,169.671
2,427,822 7,293,094 9,720,916
3,040,002 8,536,566 11,576,568
3,806,542 9,992,051 13,798,693
4,766,369 11,695,696 16,462,065

MORTALITY OF MEW YORK CITY AMD COUNTY, 1855.

The following table is from the State census taken in 1855, and gives some
interesting results
,------Deaths.------*
City
State
Wards. Population. Inspector. Census.
13,486
632
180
i...
2...
3,249
96
43
3...
7,909
169
105
4...
22,895
844
305
288
6. . .
21,617
944
341
25,562
1,142
6...
459
34,422
1.189
7...
34,052
989
8...
455
89,982
1,064
533
9...
712
852
26,378
10...
1,735
52,979
707
11...
1,844
236
17,656
12...

Excess
of loss.
452
53
64
539
656
801
730
534
521
360
1,028
1,608

/----- -Deaths.------*
City
State
Wards. Population. Inspector. Census.
13...
973
355
26,597
14...
24,754
776
380
15...
24,046
320
678
16...
39,823
1,153
631
59,548
17...
1,850
793
18...
39,509
1,374
527
19...
17,866
1,008
239
20...
47,065
1,682
627
21...
27,914
372
1,295
22...
22,e05
939
301

Excess
of loss.
618
446
358
622
1,057
847
769
1,055
923
638
—

Total 629,810 23,078 8,399 14,679
This table shows that in the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 17th, 18th,
19th, 20th, 21st, and 22d wards, the mortality was three hundred per cent more
than it ought to have been. The 12th ward includes Randall and Ward’s Islands,
and the mortality is eight times its proper ratio. The 19th ward includes
Blackwell’s Island, and the ratio of its mortality is over four times the average
of the State. The 21st ward includes Bellevue Hospital, and the ratio of
mortality is nearly four times the average. In this ward there is one block in
which exist (not live, if there is a meaning to the word,) four thousand persons
—and in which block, it is said, there is a greater mortality than in any place of
equal extent in the world. If we consider the mortalities of Surry, in England,
and London, of which we have accurate statistics, and compare them with that
of New York, we find that they are healthy compared with New York. In
Surry 10 children in every 86, under the age of one year, die ; in London 1 in
every 5 ; in New York 10 in every 26, or in New York the mortality is double
that in London for children under one year old. In the years from 1 to 5 the
deaths in Surry were 1 in 33 : in London 1 in 20; in New York 1 in 12, and
so on through childhood. In fact, the child in this city has to run risks unknown
in any civilized city in the world, and which make him a thing of wonder if he
escape all. The statistics are almost as unfavorable to New York when we take
all ages. If we first consider the United States and New York State and city,
the mortality is shown as follows, proving New York State to be the most
healthy:—
United States...............................................................
New York State............................................................
New York city..............................................................




15
in 1,000
13. Si n 1,000
36.5 in 1,000

Statistics o f Population, etc.

641

If we compare New York with other cities we find the mortality as follows :—
New Y o r k .................................. . . .
“
..........................................
((
it
it
<(
((
««
((

1 person in 46.49 o f the population in 1810
1
“
87.19
“
1820
((
((
1830
88.97
(1
it
1840
39.74
ft
U
1850
33.52
fl
it
1854
22.05
It
it
1855
27.33
ft
it
1856
28.67
it
tt
27.15
1857
t(
tt
44.05
1856
M
a
65.07
1857
a
a
40.00
1858
tt
a
53.20
1841
u
tt
41.20
1841
tt
tt
45.00
1858
a
40.09
1856
it
a
39.00
1856
tt
u
1856
35.70
tt
«
...
32.30
(C
tt
30.00
a
u
27.70
....

Philadelphia........................
Providence .........................
Boston..................................
Surry....................................
London ................................
it
Berlin....................................
Turin....................................
Paris....................................
G enoa..................................
L y o n s ..................................
Hamburg..............................

It can be jDroven that the mortality in New York in 1854 was greater than
in any city and at any period where life was valuable enough to be numbered.
In 1857 it was greater than in Hamburg, the great emigrant shipping port of
Europe. On the other hand, it is shown that the United States is the healthiest
country in the world, and New York State the healthiest part of the United
States. The mortality in the different countries is as follows:—
New York State, exclusive of
New York city.........iu 1,000
United States............................
England.......................................
Denm ark.............................
F rance........................................

8
15
28
23
23

Holland................................in 1,000
Sweden.............................................
Prussia...............................................
Austria..............................................
Russia................................................

With New York State having the least mortality of any State or country of
its size in the world, we find that New York city has the greatest of any city,
large or small. The deaths in New York State, exclusive of New York city,
in 1855, were 23,255, with a population of 2,836,400 ; the deaths in New York
city in the same year were 23,042, with a population of 629,800. An almost
equal number of deaths with one-fourth of the population. Finally, we have
this forced upon us from an analysis of the first table—that with the single
exception of the 3d ward, the mortality in every ward in New York city is
greater than the average mortality for the city of London, showing that the
consequences of disease and uncleanliness in one part of the city affect all the
other parts, and that no quarter is exempt.
GROWTH OF LONDON,

By the report of the Registra-General for 1858, we learn that London has a
population of 2,876,000, and it is now the largest city by far in the whole world.
In 1801, its population was only 958,000, so that its increase has been very
rapid for an old European city. It affords evidence of the robust health of
Uncle John, and the tendency which he has to spread himself, equally with hi3
smart descendant, Brother Jonathan. The city of London covers a space of 121
V O L . XL.---- N O. V .
41




642

Statistics o f Population, etc.

square miles, and it has more houses to its inhabitants than New Y ork ; as a
consequence, it is more healthy, and life is of longer duration. In olden times
all the cities were crowded into much less space than those of our day, and they
were generally surrounded with high walls; the average duration of life was
then much shorter than it now is. A great increase of building space in cities
has walked hand in hand with modern civilization.
BUILDINGS IN SACRAMENTO,

The Sacramento Union presents a tabular view of the number of brick and
frame buildings within the city limits, (as ascertained from actual count,) on or
about the 1st of January of the years mentioned :—

1855.

1856.

1857.

1858.

1859.

Brick.....................................................
F ra m e .................................................

393
1,836

628
2,111

740
2,202

943
2,302

1,022
2,388

T o t a l..........................................

2,229

2,639

2,942

3,245

3,410

The increase during the past year has been, it will be perceived, in brick
buildings, 79 ; in frame structures, 86—a total of 165 buildings.
POPULATION OF MEXICO,

The following is from a late work containing the population of each of the
States of Mexico :—

States and Territories.
Auguas Calientes....................................
Chiapas.....................................................
Chihuahua................................................
Coahuila..................................................
D urango..................................................
Guanajuate...............................................
Guerrero....................................................
Jalisco............................................... .......
Mexico......................................................
Michoacan....................... ........................
Nuevo-Leon............................................
Oajaca......................................................
Puebla......................................................
Queretaro..................................................
San Luis Potosi................ « ....................
Sm aola....................................................
Sonora....................... ...............................
Tabasco....................................................
Tamaulipas............................................
Vera C ru z..............................................
Y ucatan..................................................
Zacatecas................................................
Distrito de Mexico (sin Tlapan)...........
Territorio de Tlaxcala...........................
Id. de Colima..........................................
Id. de la Beja California.......................
Id. de Tehuantepec................................
Id. de la lala del Carmen.....................
Id. de la Sierra C ord a ..........................
Total................................................




Population.
85,837
161,914
147,600
66,228
137,593
672,809
270,000
774,461
1,002,014
491,679
141,846
489,969
683,725
147,119
390,860
160,000
147,133
63,580
108,514
274,686
668,623
280,078
250,000
88,171
61,242
12,000
82,395
12,590
65,358

Superfices
in square
leagues.
381
2,698
11,615
7,868
6,744
1,585
4,451
6,758
2,737*
3,198
2,321
3,288
1,285
262
3,914
4,690
13,940
1,719
4,219
3,813
6,801
3,862
12*
276
420
8,437
1,742
1,015
435

7,859,564

140,317

Number of
inhabitants
to each
square
league.
225
62
13
8
20
425
61
115
370
154
48
149
554
561
100
34
11
37
26
72
98
73
17,600
290
146
1
47
12
127

643

Statistics o f Population, etc.

T A B L E O F T H E C A P IT A L C IT IE S O F E A C H STATE A N D T E R R I T O R Y , T H E N U M B E R O F IN H A B IT A N T S
O F E A C H , A N D IT S D ISTA N C E F R O M T H E C IT Y OF M E X IC O .

Capitals of the States & Territ.
Auguas Calientes..............
Sail Cristobal...................
Chihuahua..........................
Saltillo [a] Leona Yicaria
D urango............................
Guanajuato.........................
Tixtla (Ciudad Cuerrero).
Guadalajera.....................
Toluca.......................... .
M orelia.......................
Monterey............................
Oajaca..........................
Puebla.........................
Queretaro...................
San Luis P o to s i.........
Cohacan.......................

Miles
dis­
tant
from
MexNo. of in- ico of
habitants each
in each, capit’l. Capitals of tho States & Territ.

39,699
7,649
12,004
8,105
14,000
36,921
6,501
68,000
12,000
22,000
17,399
25,000
70,000
27,456
19,678
9,646

140
289
338
209
203
94
70
161
16
69
234
108
28
57
114
403

Miles
dis­
tant
from
MexNo. o f in- ico o f
habitants each
in each, capit’l.

Urea....................................
San Juan Baptista...........
Ciudad Victoria...............
Vera Cruz..........................
Merida................................
Zacatecas.........................
Mexico...............................
T laxcala...........................
Colima................................
La P a z ..............................
Minatitlan..........................
Villa del Carmen..............
San L uis de la P a z .........

6,000
5,500
4,621
9,647
23,575
15,427
185,000
3,463
31,774
1,254
339
3,068
4,411

Total...........................

690,044

582
239
195
98
386
ISO
28
172
416
168
309
95

FOREIGNERS RESIDING IN THE REPUBLIC.

The number of those who took out their permits for residence, or letters of
security, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the year 1855, was as
follows :—
5,141 Americans...
Old Spaniards.
444
2,048 Other nations
French..............
405
615
581

English...........
Germ ans.........

Total ,

9,234

POPULATION OF CHILI BY PROVINCES, 1854.
Provinces.
Atacama...............................
Coquim bo...........................
A coneagua.........................
Santiago.............................
V alparaiso.........................
Colchagua............................
Talca................................... .
Maule....................................
Nuble....................................
Concepcion.........................
Arauco.................................
V a ld ivia .............................
C hiloe..................................
Llanquihue, (colony)..........
Magallanes, (co lo n y ).........

Males.
30,826
53,997
64,152
133,614
57,976
92,395
38,534
75,291
50,048
54,930
22,235
15,617
31,176
2,053
88

Females.
19,864
56,592
67,352
138,885
58,067
100,309
40,905
86,954
50,744
55,361
21,231
13,676
33,410
1,773
65

Total.
50,690
110,689
111,504
272,499
116,043
192,704
79,439
156,245
100,792
110,291
43,4 66
29,293
61,586
3,826
153

Total.........................
Population in 1848..
“
1832.

712,932

726,188

1,439,120
1,119,802
1,010,386

POPULATION OF DETROIT.

The present population of Detroit is 82,450.
it was 9,102 ; in 1850 it was 21,025.




In 1830 it was 2,222 ; in 1840

644

Mercantile Miscellanies.

MERCANTILE MISCELLANIES.
COMMERCIAL MORALITY.

We copy the following remarks upon the too evident tendency of “ business
pressure ” from the Baltimore Price Current:—
We have met frequently with editorial disquisitions upon this subject, and
seen it discussed as a question of casuistry; but really it can be treated from
this point of view with as little certainty as theology can determine what pleas­
ures are sinful or otherwise. It will be conceded that a lofty integrity and strict
morality are demanded in commercial pursuits ; for although we have legal re­
sources for the adjudication of all the unpleasant issues of law and equity, yet
it is the main strength of the commercial character of any community that the
vast proportion of its transactions are completed without resort to law or arbi­
tration. This is the result, partly, of the social influences exerted within com­
mercial circles ; in a great measure, let us infer, from the integrity and morality
of the parties themselves ; and certainly, in no inconsiderable degree, from the
preponderating necessities of commercial character.
We assume, and believe that our readers will agree with us very generally,
that almost all the difficulties—all the contention and strife—and the ruptures
which have distracted the commercial world, have originated in the credit sys­
tem. We do not propose, in this connection, to discuss the credit system, nor
especially that delusive question—the necessity for it. We may, some day or
other, present for consideration views, opinions, and illustrations relative to it,
and invite those of others. But just now, let us suffer it to pass. I f we assume
correctly, that the credit system is the prolific source of the principal, if not the
whole, of the disturbing effects in commercial life, we may infer as correctly that
the issues pertaining to integrity and morality are identified with it. Therefore,
it is in relation to the intercourse of credit, and the intermutual relations which
grow out of it, that we gather our experiences of commercial morality.
There are multitudes of men in the “ learned professions ” who never ought to
be there. There are divines, larvyers, and doctors who wTould have done better
in the counting-room, at the board of brokers, or upon the stage; and not a few
who would have acquitted themselves much more respectably everyway in me­
chanical employments. On the other hand, there are men in mercantile life who
would have acquired distinction in almost any other occupation. And there are,
moreover, in every department of life, many who are governed solely by the cir­
cumstances which surround them in the practice of those principles of integrity
and morality which they seem to adorn. Now it is from this class of men in
commercial pursuits that these essential principles suffer violence. Men who are
not fit for the station in which they are occupied, in consequence of the want of
capacity, taste, or appreciation of it, perform its duties as an irksome task; and
they will, moreover, resort to all sorts of expedients to give zest and flavor to
that from which they cannot derive satisfaction in itself. It is from this pecu­
liarity that mercantile pursuits derive that gambling phase which too often char­
acterizes them. The risks, ventures, and speculations which so often distort the
career of the nominal merckaut, and prostrate him helplessly and disreputably
in bankruptcy, are characteristics of men of this class. They do not mean to
do wrong. They conceive plans, and with a sanguine temperament which would
have stood them in good stead in some other avocation, they undertake experi­
ments which they dignify with the name of enterprises, but from which the
shrewd, experienced man of judgment would turn with utter distrust, and pres­
ently they are involved in perplexity, and harassed by complications they had
never anticipated.
Now comes the period of trial, and the inherent probity of the man is brought
to the test. He must submit to exposure, or contend at fearful odds for what at




645

Mercantile Miscellanies.

best seems only a temporary success. He determines to fight it out, and his
course directly becomes uncertain and tortuous. He is compelled to devise ways
and means which his judgment does not approve, and the judgment abused
speedily involves the conscience. Integrity and morality yield by degrees to his
necessities, and through the unimpaired confidence of those with whom he is in
business intercourse he is able to prosecute his purposes ultimately to the injury
of others as well as to his own ruin. Thus commercial morality is dishonored,
but the standard is by uo means changed. A t the same time, it is not possible
to determine what was the act of the man, or the thought of his mind, which
constituted the diverging point from the path of commercial rectitude.
There is also engaged in mercantile pursuits that other class of men, who exist
in every station of life, from the highest to the lowest. Of these we take brief
notice here, as they must serve for future remark. We allude to those who are
governed by the circumstances in which they are placed, with respect to the ex­
ercise of the essential principles of commercial life. That is, men who are honest
by policy, by the necessity of their position, and because it is their interest to be
so. It is from this class of men that commerce, and every other vocation of life,
suffers the greater proportion of the reproach which arises from parties incom­
patible with integrity and morality. We reserve a few remarks on this subject
till another occasion.
INDIA

RUBBER,

We make the following extract from a letter from a highly respectable firm in
Batavia, Java, dated November 23,1858, to their correspondent in New York :—
“ We find the exports of this article, from 1st January to date, amount to
5,826 piculs, of which 1,030 piculs have gone to the United States. The high
price paid for the article in 1853 and 1854 gave an impulse to the production,
the consequence of which has nearly been the extinction in this part of the world
of the tree from which this gum is derived ; but the following statistics speak for
themselves:—
JA V A E X PO R TS .

1851.

1852.

Piculs.........
6,872
9,287
Value.........$148,416 $211,551

1851.

1854.

1855.

1856.

1857.

15,195
26,718
11,621
5,284
6,039
$455,928 $985,926 $428,424 $159,125 $234,181

“ The produce, therefore, or exports in each of the three years, 1856,1857, and
1858, are less than one-fourth of the exports of 1854. Years, it is said, will be
required to replace the trees that have been extirpated, and restore the produc­
tion, which in the meantime may average 5 a 6,000 piculs per annum. We
believe the forests in Borneo, whence the market of Singapore was principally
supplied, are much in the same condition as the forests in Sumatra and in our
own more immediate neighborhood. Your friends in the India rubber trade will,
therefore, have to look elsewhere for their principal supplies of this article.”
Another letter to the same house from Singapore, November 20th, says :—
“ The Dutch having again sent troops into the Palambang district, the collec­
tion will be interfered with
and under date December 7, says :— “ We fear we
shall get but little rubber for you.”
These facts, and the knowledge of the small stocks in Europe and here, have
induced speculators to buy up all the East Iudia rubber here and to arrive, be­
sides, as we understand, having secured the principal part in Europe, and are now
asking 30 cents, at which some 30,000 pounds have been sold.
We would further state that the quantity of India rubber of all kinds in the
London docks on January 1 st, 1859, was 110 tons ; in 1858, 408 ; and in 1857,
586.
The estimated quantity in first hands in Boston and New York, January 1,
1858, was 1,000,000 pounds, and in 1859 was 150,000 pounds East India, while
the trade and speculators held about 200,000 pounds ; arrivals since, and con­
sumption, leaves a stock of less than 400,000 pounds, all held by speculators and
the trade.




646

Mercantile Miscellanies.
SILVER IN SEA-WATER.

The existence of silver in sea-water was first made known by MM. Malaguti
and Darocheri. These chemists suspected the existence of the metal from the
extensive diffusion of silver in the mineral kingdom, the conversion of the sulphide
into chloride by the prolonged action of soluble bodies containing chlorine, and
the solubility of chlorate of silver in chloride of sodium. The method pursued
was by passing sulphuretted hydrogen through large quantities of water, and
also by fusing the salts obtained by evaporation with litharge.
As a solution of chloride of silver in chloride of sodium is instantly decomposed
by metallic copper, chloride of copper being formed and silver precipitated, it
was supposed to be highly probable that the copper and yellow metal used in
sheathing the hulls of vessels must, after long exposure to sea-water, contain more
silver than they did before they were exposed to its action, by decomposing
chloride of silver in their passage through the sea, and depositing the metal on
their surfaces.
A large vessel being under repair, which had been cruising for seven years in
the Pacific Ocean, a few ounces of her sheathing were procured, which was so
decomposed and brittle that it could easily be broken between the fingers. Five
thousand grains were dissolved in pure nitric acid, and the solution was diluted.
A few drops of hydrochloric acid were then added, and the precipitate was
allowed to subside for three days. A large quantity of white insoluble'matter
had collected by that time at the bottom of the vessel. This was filtered off, dried,
and fused with one hundred grains of pure litharge, and suitable proportions of
bitartrate of potash and carbonate of soda, the ashes of the filter being also
added. The result was 2.01 grains of silver, or one pound, one ounce, two penny­
weights, fifteen grains per ton. This very large quantity could hardly be supposed
to have existed in the original metal, as in that case it would have been well
worth extracting.
DISCHARGE OF SMALL DEBTS.

The Baltimore Patriot closes some remarks upon this subject as follows :—
W e know it is difficult, when times are hard, business dull, and financial affairs
disarranged, for persons to pay promptly, small amounts of indebtedness We
once heard a very shrewd, prosperous business man remark, that he never con­
sidered money on hand his own if he was owing anything to other people ; and
therefore, he held his surplus of cash merely in trust until it could be paid over
to those who had been kind enough to give him credit. The sooner accounts
could be adjusted, the more certain was he of being relieved from the responsibility
of keeping safely other people’s property. If robbed of it, banks broke, or any
misfortune intervened, the loss fell upon himself, and he was obliged to replace
the amount with new earnings.
It must, we think, also be obvious to every man of thought and feeling, that
the prompt payment of minor debts would go far towards mitigating the severe
pressure caused by the panic, by enabling receivers, in their turn, to liquidate
their own liabilities, and thus to promote a more active circulation of money,
which could not fail to result in the general benefit of the community. The liquida­
tion of twenty or thirty small accounts owing by any individual in a condition
to pay, might possibly prove the means of ultimately employing and providing
with bread several poor and industrious men, to say little of the inward satisfac­
tion that will ever be felt by those who regard honesty and liberality as safe and
agreeable rules of conduct.




Mercantile Miscellanies.
A NEW HYDRO-CARBON.

647
'

Paragraphs have been floating the rounds of the press for a year or two past,
in regard to a peculiar bituminous mineral said to be found in great abundance
in some parts of South America.
Mr. P. H. Southworth, of Bio Janeiro, has recently sent us a sample of this
mineral by the hands of W . N. Ely, of Stratford, Connecticut. In color it is a
light brown, breaks with clear lines of fracture as if formed by successive deposits,
and has the appearance of lime saturated with crude oil, and submitted to a
moderate pressure. It burns readily when held to a jet of lighted gas, and gives
off a smoky flame, and emits an odor resembling bituminous coal, leaving a
residue principally of lime. Mr. Southworth informs us, that it has been known
to exist for five years past on the banks of the navigable river Acarahy, about
40 miles south of Bahia. He applied it for the first time to the manufacture of
gas, in April, 1858, and it produces about seven cubic feet to the pound—a
greater amount than is obtained from any cannel coal known to us. It contains,
however, too much of free carbon to burn with a clear flame, but in making gas
by the “ Aubiu system ” in Eio, Mr. Southworth introduces minute jets of steam
into the retort, the oxygen of which unites with the fixed residue, and liberates
sufficient hydrogen to m^ke a clear and smokeless light. He has been awarded
by the emperor a large mining grant for several years, and millions of tons can
be obtained with very little trouble. He believes it will yet be employed largely
for distilliug coal oil, and that it will also become a substance of large export to
various countries for fuel.
It is undoubtedly a rich bituminous substance, but it is far more bulky than
cannel coal, and never can be exported so cheaply in our judgment. As a cleanly
material for burning in parlor grates, we have never seen any asphalt to equal it.
THE CHRONOMETER COMPASS.

By means of this instrument, which is a combination of universal dial and
chronometer, it is claimed that any horizontal bearing may be taken, in any
latitude, at any time of the day, by bringing the shadow of the gnomon to its
proper place. The gnomon revolves by means of the chronometer, so as to per­
form one revolution in twenty-four hours ; and when the instrument is leveled
and elevated to true latitude, and adjusted at the meridian, the gnomon points
steadily to the sun, which it follows in its course. And conversely, if the instru­
ment be leveled and elevated to the latitude of the place, and turned horizontally
till the gnomon points to the sun. or till the shadow falls on the proper point, it
will be adjusted to the meridian, and an angle or bearing may be laid off by a
horizontal gradual motion. It will also solve practically all the problems which
can be solved by any armillary sphere, or by spherical trigonometry, so far as its
circles and its motions extend. Thus, the declination and the time given, it will
show the altitude and the latitude at any hour and at any place. The instrument
is constructed on correct mathematical principles, and will, it is believed, be use­
ful in high latitudes where the needle traverses badly. Its accuracy depends on
the correctness of the chronometer, by which the index or gnomon is moved, and
also, as must necessarily be the case, upon its adjustment to the meridian of the
place.




648

Mercantile Miscellanies.
IMPROVEMENT IN STARCH GUM AND GRAPE SUGAR MANUFACTURE,

Mr. Hoffmann, a chemist in Beardstown, Illinois, has invented an improved
method of converting starch, corn, or other grain into dextrin gum, or grape
sugar. He uses steam, diluted acid, and water, at a much higher temperature
than the boiling point of water, in an enclosed and steam tight mash tub. To
every bushel of grain about twelve gallons of boiling water are used, and an
additional quantity in proportion to the pressure of the steam ; one or two per
cent of the weight of corn of weak sulphuric acid is also employed. These are
gradually added together, and mashed under steam pressure for two or three hours,
the starch of the corn is converted into dextrin, and by the addition of chalk or
marble dust to neutralize the acid while at the atmospheric pressure, and when
all the acid has been neutralized and the whole has stood for an hour or so, the
starch gum can be obtained by evaporation ; by continuing the steaming process
for a longer period grape sugar is obtained. This process considerably cheapens
the manufacture of alcohol, and for the benefit of such as may be interested, we
give the claim of the patent:—
“ What I claim as my improvement is the combination of steam and acids for
converting starch, corn, or other cereals into dextrin, gum, or sugar, when said
grain is subjected to the action of diluted acids, and the temperature of the mass
is elevated to 225° or 300°.”
THE RUGGERS OF AUSBURY,

These wealthy bankers were the Rothschilds of the 16th century, and seem to
have been very liberal towards crowned heads. It is related of them, that when
they entertained the Emperor Charles Y ., they warmed his room with a brasier
heated with cinnamon, and placed in the flames imperial obligations for a large
amount, at a time when the gouty and gluttonous emperor would have had
difficulty in paying them by other means. The obligations were contracted for
a military expedition to Tunis. This firm, which was Anthony Fuggers and
nephews, moved to Antwerp about 1546, and then lent to Henry V III. £152,180
Flemish, which was repaid them, and they also lent to Edward Y I. 129,750
florins on security of the city of London. They used to send, by license of the
king of Portugal, a factor in each ship that sailed for India, and owned a portion
of every cargo of pepper imported. Guiccirardin, in his notice of Antwerp,
styles Fuggers “ the prince of merchants,” and states that he died worth 6,000,000
crowns. In that age complacence to the rulers was a sort of toll or tribute for
protection from violence and extortion.
CURIOUS CALCULATION,

A coal miner in Lancashire has made the following calculation. The quantity
of coal raised annually in Great Britain is 68,000,000 tons; if this were excar
vated from a mine six feet high and twelve feet wide, the excavation would be
5,128 miles, 1,090 yards in length. Or, if formed into a solid globe the diameter
would be 1,549 feet. Or, if piled into a square pyramid, whose base was forty
acres, the height would be 3,356,914 feet.
This calculation is based simply on the fact that a cubic yard is a ton, and
cubic yards may be calculated into any fantastic shape that will impart the idea
of quantity to the general reader.




Mercantile Miscellanies.

649

WEALTH OF A BOSTON MERCHANT.

The estate of the late Ebenezer Francis, of Boston, was according to the sworn
appraisers as follows :—
CASH ON HAND.

Deposited in Hamilton Bank....................................................................
“
“ State Bank...........................................................................
“
“ Massachusetts Bank............................................................
“
“ Merchants’ Bank.................................................................
“
“ Union Bank.........................................................................
“
“ New England Bank.............................................................
“
“ Boston Bank............................................... .....................
Cash deposited in the name of executors in New England B ank.. . .
Deposited in the Eagle Bank in name of an executor........................

1347,787
284,774
303,457
439,954
278,162
266,260
268,726
13,800
5,434

84
57
15
12
93
37
93
22
85

Total amount of cash on h an d....................................................
Manufacturing stocks.................................................................................
Bank stocks.................................................................................................
Insurance stocks..........................................................................................
Railroad stocks and bonds.........................................................................
Mortgage on real estate.............................................................................
Loan on stock..............................................................................................
Miscellaneous...............................................................................................
Real estate ..................................................................................................

$2,208,358
353,555
160,966
91,450
141,429
24,600
9,355
8,595
485,600

98
00
00
00
00
00
41
00
00

Total.................................................................................................

$3,483,909 39

CHARACTER BETTER THAN CREDIT.

W e often hear young men who have no means dolefully contrasting their lot
with that of rich men’s sons. Tet the longer we live, the more we are convinced
that the old merchant was right, who said to us when we began to live, “ industry,
my lad, is better than ingots of gold, and character more valuable than credit.”
We could furnish, if need were, from a score of illustrations to prove the truth
of his remarks. In all branches of business, in all avocations, character, in the
long run, is the best capital. Says poor Richard :—“ The sound of your hammer
at five in the morning, or nine at night, heard by a creditor, makes him easy for
six months longer; but if he sees you at a gambling table, or hears your voice
at a tavern, when you should be at work, he sends for his money the next day.”
What is true of the young mechanic, is true also of. the young merchant or young
lawyer. Old and sagacious firms will not long continue to give credit for
thousands of dollars, when they see the purchaser, if a young man, driving fast
horses, or lounging in drinking saloons. Clients will not entrust their cases to
advocates, however brilliant, who frequent the card-table, the wine party, or the
race course. It is better in beginning life, to secure a reputation for industry and
probity, than to own houses and lands, if with them you have no character.
TAX ON MERCHANDISE,

The following is an extract from the Tennessee Code, showing how taxes on
merchandise are assessed in that State:—
“ On sales of merchandise by merchants, half a cent on the dollar on its invoice
cost at the place were purchased, unless the tax upon the same has once before
been paid to the State; in which event no additional tax shall be paid.”




650

Mercantile Miscellanies.
ACCEPTANCE OF BILLS OF EXCHANGE.
St . L ouis , April 4th, 1859.

E d ito r H un t's Merchants' Magazine, New York :—
P le a s e g iv e

the

f o l l o w i n g q u e s t i o n a n i n s e r t io n

in y o u r v a lu a b le jo u r n a l, w ith

r e q u e s t t o p a r t ie s c o m p e t e n t t o a n s w e r t o d e c i d e t h e s a m e in t h e D e x t n u m b e r .

Can the acceptor of a bill of exchange, drawn in first and second, if he accepts
both, under any circumstances be held to pay both ?
In Europe it is customary to accept only one of a set of bills of exchange;
in the West I find that often both first and second are accepted. My opinion is
that the acceptor is liable for both, if they are in the hands of two different
innocent holders, who gave value for it and may have bought them on the strength
of the acceptance.
I h o p e fo r a re p ly th ro u g h y o u r p a g e s .

a

.

m

.

The statute of the State of New York provides that, if an acceptance be
written upon “ a paper other than the bill, it shall not bind the acceptor, except
in favor of a person to whom such acceptance shall have been shown, and who,
on the faith thereof, shall have received the bill for a valuable consideration.”
Two acceptances of the same set of exchange, passed into the hands of different
holders, would have a suspicious aspect.
WISCONSIN EXCHANGING WITH CHINA.

The Madison (Wisconsin) Journal makes the following remarks upon a new
article of traffic :—
It is well known that in some portions of the northern part of this State the
cranberry crop, growing spontaneously upon the marshes, forms a large and re­
munerative business. In the counties of Adams and Juneau, last year, this was
the principal surplus crop upon which the people depended for money, and so
important has it become that the late Legislature enacted a law against gather­
ing and selling the berries before they are ripe. But we have recently heard of
another spontaneous production of some portions of the State, which is becom­
ing an important article of export, that is wholly new to us. This is the ginseng
root. Mr. Dixon, member of the late Legislature from Bichland County, in­
formed us that between §30,000 and 810,000 worth of this root was gathered
and exported from that county last year. The wheat in that section was a fail­
ure last season, and but for the money derived from this source, Mr. D. informed
us, many families would have been reduced to actual suffering. This root pos­
sesses some medicinal qualities as a tonic and restorative, but is now exported
exclusively to China, being regarded by the Chinese as a specific for all classes
of disease.
SUGAR.

The sugar market at New York is much depressed, and one of the dealers,
who is satisfied that no money is to be made out of it this year, has taken to
poetry. The stock at New York proves to be unexpectedly large. It is found
to be 30,081 hhds. and 11,478 boxes, against 13,764 hhds. and 3,001 boxes at
this time last year :—
Sugar, sugar is my them e;
Brokers’ boards with samples teem—
Losing sellers on the ground—
Anxious buyers all around.
Snowy white to golden hues—
Pity that such sugar lose.
Watch the crystals, how they glitter,




Greedy grocers, how they titter—
Bargains here and bargains there,
Bargains all and everywhere.
Learn a lesson, O Importer!
Learn to make your prices shorter;
You have had erroneous notions
Of our traders and their motions.

Mercantile Miscellanies.

651

WINE TREASURES OF BREMEN.

No city in the world can boast of possessing a greater or more costly treasure
in the form of wine than Bremen. The Bremen Town Hall cellar is famous all
over the world, were it only by the light that HaufFs imagination has thrown
over the subterranean premises. The traveler whose route leads to Bremen will
seldom fail to visit it, for it contains the oldest Rhenish wine extant—and here
the Twelve Apostles, with Judas Iscariot strangely placed at their head, have,
for more than two centuries, dealt out the choicest of Hock and Johannisberg.
The patriarch among the contents of the capacious cellar, where in former days
the East India captains used to lay their accounts before their shipowners, is the
Rose wine. As a sign of its value and superior dignity, it is kept apart in a
separate cabinet, surmounted by a rose, and the door of the enclosure can be
opened only by official authority.
In the year 1624, six pipes of Johannisberg, and an equal quantity of Hock,
were placed here by the magistrates, with directions that the Burgomaster should
yearly distribute a small quantity, either in presents, or for the use of the
sick, by order of a physician ; the supply being gratuitous to the poor, and at
the cost of five thalers (of seventy-eight cents) a bottle to those able to pay.
To the citizens of Bremen alone, is reserved the privilege of introducing a dis­
tinguished stranger into this sanctum, and after special permission, personally
granted, he may (at the proper cost) entertain his guest with a bottle of the
precious beverage. What is thus lost by annual consumption, is replaced from
casks of the vintage next in date.
The value of the wine consists chiefly in its age. A pipe of it in 1624 cost
300 thalers, estimating the interest of the capital at 5 per cent, and the neces­
sary current expenses at an additional 5 per cent, the capital at compound in­
terest would double itself in seven years, and thus in the year 1858 each pipe of
the Rose wine represented a value of 1,714,980,441,413 thalers, and allowing
1,320 bottles to a pipe, each bottle is worth 1,299,227,607 thalers. A bottle
contains eight glasses, each one of which costs 162,403,450 thalers, and the drop
which is spilled or left in the glass, computing it to hold a thousand, costs
162,403^ thalers.
The people of Bremen are proud of their treasure, and it was a high mark of
their esteem when the magistrates, at the suggestion of their counsellor, Dr.
Meyer, presented Goethe with several bottles, on his birthday in 1823, after his
recovery from a severe illness. Goethe knew how to appreciate the honor and
the value of the gift; he delayed the enjoyment of it, postponing it until Octo­
ber, when the Diet met at Frankfort-on-the-Mayne, and his old friend, Count
Reinhard, the French ambassador, helped him to empty the first bottle.

PUNCH AS A DIGGER.

The Digger Indians of the Northwest get their name from the fact that they
dig roots for subsistence. There is no account of their digging for the root to
which the London Punch refers as follows :—
“ Money is the root of all evil. Nevertheless, it is an eminently esculent root,
and I vote that we dig for it, O friends 1”




652

Mercantile Miscellanies.
HABITS OF BUSINESS,

Man, says Paley, “ is a bundle of habits.” Habit, according to the proverb,
is “ a second nature,” which, we all know, is sometimes so powerful as utterly to
extirpate the first. The power of habit is strikingly exemplified in the fact that
it renders pleasant things which at first were intensely painful or disagreeable.
When Franklin was superintending the erection of some forts on the frontier as
a defence against the Indians, he slept at night in a blanket on the hard floor,
and on his first return to civilized life, could hardly sleep in a bed. Captain Boss
and his crew, having been accustomed during their Polar wanderings to lie on
the frozen snow or the bare rock, afterwards found the accommodations of a
whaler too luxurious for them, and he himself was obliged to exchange his ham­
mock for a chair. The same principle, in another form, is yet more strikingly
illustrated in the case of individuals born blind, or early deprived of sight, who,
acquiring a habit of nice observation through the sense of feeling, astonish us by
their accurate descriptions of things which they have examined by means of their
exquisitely delicate touch.
Such being the power of habit, can any one doubt that upon the early forma­
tion of good or bad habits hinges the question of success in life ? Above all,
can any one doubt that habits of patient and accurate observation, such as the
blind man evinces, would be of incalculable value, if brought to bear upon the
thousand and one details of business life ? Or is there a question that the opposite
habits of negligence and inattention must lead to ruin or disaster ? What was
the secret of JNTapoleon’s military successes? Was it not his habits of patient
observation and attention to details? While other generals trusted to their
subordinates, he gave his personal attention to the marching of his troops, the
commissariat, and other laborious and small affairs. It was this practice which
enabled him to concentrate his forces in such overwhelming numbers on a given
point— for his close scrutiny into details produced exactness and punctuality
among his sub-officers, and hence the various detachments of his army were always
where he wished at the very hour. So in trade. He is but a half-merchant who
knows only how to sell a great or a small stock of goods in a year. He should
watch vigilantly all the changes of the market; study the laws of demand and
supply; and know the means of his customers, the probability of getting pay­
ment, the amount of trade his capital will warrant, the probability of a financial
crisis, and the means of weathering an impending storm.
When a merchant has acquired the habit of watching the markets, the details
of everything that relates to his business, it becomes a pleasurable excitement,
instead of a tiresome effort. Indeed, habits of nice order and observation, which
require the most painstaking to form, often become a hobby at last which one
delights to ride as much as a child his rocking-horse.
After all, what is all business but habit, the soul of which is regularity ? Like
the flywheel upon a steam engine, it is this last which keeps the motion of life
steady and unbroken, distributing the force equally over all the work to be per­
formed. But such habits as we have commended are not formed in a day, nor by
a few faint resolutions. Not by accident, not by fits and starts-—being one
moment in a paroxysm of attention, and the next falling into the sleep of indiffer­
ence—are they to be attained ; but by steady, persistent effort. Once attained,
they are a fortune of themselves ; for, as one has well said, their possessor has




Mercantile Miscellanies.

653

disposed thereby of the heavy end of the load of life—all that remains he can
carry easily and pleasantly.
On the other haud, bad habits, once formed, will hang forever on the wheels of
enterprise, and in the end will assert their supremacy, to the ruin and shame of
their victim.
QUICKSILVER.

Owing, says the Baltimore Price Current, to the increased consumption of
this article in the arts, and the stoppage by injunction of the great New Almaden
mines, at San Jose, about sixty miles from San Francisco, in California, which
produced about 30,000 iron flasks of 76^ lbs. each annually, the price of this
article has greatly advanced throughout the world. In New York, four or five
months ago, there were abundant supplies to be had at 48 cents per pound.
Now it is difficult to obtain, and small lots only can be had at 80 a 85 cents per
pound. The largest consumption of the article in the United States is in Cali­
fornia, where it is indispensable in separating the gold from the pounded quartz
rock; the consumption in that State is estimated at 3,000 flasks per annum,
which is about equal to the present production of the Santa Clara mines, which
adjoin the New Almaden mines, and have been vigorously worked for about two
years by a Baltimore company. This mine is increasing in richness, and it is
expected will be soon able to double its production. The cinnibar, or ore of
mercury, is reduced at the Santa Clara mine in cast-iron retorts, which experi­
ence has demonstrated to be better adapted to the purpose than the old-fashioned
brick furnaces, where a large part of the mercury was lost by absorption and
evaporation. Until the New Almaden mines are reworked, the supply of quick­
silver must be less than the demand, and higher prices will no doubt continue for
the article.
TH E

SPRING.

The spring has been described as backward, and is so undoubtedly in many
sections. But the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher has found it, and thus refers to
the season in his contribution to a late number of the Independent :—
“ But I am whirling along the Hudson, a river that never wears out any more
than it runs out. If any other land has a more glorious river, I am glad of i t !
The ground is all disrobed of snow. Willows are yellowing the edges of low
woods. Buds are making the forests look purplish. Grass is everywhere start­
ing, and in lavored spots it has lifted up that green which all summer long shall
not wear out. The plow has already been at work. Farmers are all astir. Barn
yards are vocal with hens celebrating the earliest achievements in the egg specu­
lations of another season. Calves and lambs are come. Ah, you do not know,
poor creatures that live in cities—you do not know that spring has come! But
the signs of the year are for the country. Now the peony is pushing up its
ruddy knuckles, honeysuckles are leering out, flags are drawing their swords, the
swamps are full of blackbirds, wild ducks are on the ponds, trout are ready for
the angler, long wedge lines of wild geese stream northward, trumpeting as
evening comes on, and they are wing weary. Brook-willows are downy with
their velvet catlins—mosses in the damp woods are green. Streams are full and
turbid, little ones are racing down into bigger ones, and these are pouriug into
other streams, and everything seem3 hurrying and hastening as if a universal ac­
tivity had inspired the year 1”




654:

The Boole Trade.

THE BOOK TRADE.
1. — The Prince of the House of David; or, Three Years in the Holy City, and
The Pillar of F ire; or, Israel in Bondage. By Rev. J. H. I n g r a h a m . Each
volume illustrated. 12mo., pp. 472, 000. New York : Pudney & Russell.
The idea had in view in both these allegories is to present, in a new and
original aspect, certain interesting portions of the Scriptures, thereby to draw
the attention of those who do not study the Bible, or those who, if they read it
at all, read it carelessly. Thus, iu the first volume, “ The Prince of the House of
David,” we have a Jewish maiden, who is supposed to witness many of the
most remarkable scenes in the human life of the 'Teacher of Galilee, and to give
an account of them in a series of letters addressed to her father in Egypt, and
the result is we have most of the scenes of the life of Jesus during the last four
years of his stay on earth, as recorded in the Bible, here narrated as if by an
eye-witness. In the second, “ The Pillar of Fire,” a young prince of Phoenicia
is made the medium of communication between the author and the reader. The
scene is laid in Egypt, and the drama of the story turns on the bondage and
deliverance of the children of Israel. Adhering to the truth and coloring of the
Scripture narrative, Mr. Ingraham has fused in his pictures of that age a great
variety of illustrative matter, derived from the mythology, chronology, and his­
tory of ancient Egypt. In treating these subjects the author is well aware of
having trodden delicate ground, and hence, to use his own expressions, he has
gone carefully, “ with his shoes off his feet,” lest it bring down on him the charge
of irreverence ; but although an allegory in which secondary parties take the
place of primaries, yet still we think the charge of irreverence can scarcely be
made good against one who seeks to prove the divinity of our Lord through his
humanity, or in his endeavors to show how, in his dealing with Pharaoh, as he
did, He was striking at Egypt’s gods, and asserting His own Divinity as the only
Living and True God, any more than can the Biblical illustrations, drawn from
the manners and customs, the scenes and scenery of the Holy Land, by Dr.
Thomson, or the works of Henry L. Osborn, or Lyman Coleman, claiming a
perpetual witness for the Bible, be proper subjects for such a charge.
2. — Petersons’ Illustrated Uniform, Edition of Humorous American Works, com­
prising “ Major Thorpe’s Scenes in Arkansas,” “ Big Bear’s Adventures and
Travels,” and the “ Swamp Doctor’sAdventures in the Southwest.” Signifi­
cantly illustrated. Philadelphia : T. B. Peterson & Brothers.
Here we have something for the amusement and gratification of the million,
made up from a choice selection of such laughter and fun provoking spirits as
Kendall, Thorpe, Hooper, Field, and a host of others, who were wont from time
to time to render piquant the columns of the Spirit of the Times with their
inimitable sketches of Western life— as skillful pens as ever “ pointed a moral,
or adorned a tale.” They are rich of their kind, and no mistake, and are well
calculated for the amusement and gratification of the idle, or alleviating the
dullness and ennui of the weary hour.
3.

-— The Life of John H. W.
H a w k i n s . 12mo., pp. 432.

Haickins. Compiled b y his son, Rev. W
Boston : J. P. Jewett & Co.

m.

G eorge

The zeal evinced by Mr. Hawkins in the cause of temperance, during the first
great movement in that reform in 1840, won for him the appellation of the Great
Apostle, or Major-general of Teetotalism, and he became extensively known
throughout the entire Atlantic border as one of the most efficient advocates of
the cause in all its stages of development. The present volume is chiefly made
up of a compilation of his correspondence and other documents, which are given
to illustrate his character, and the nature of the services rendered in the common
cause of humanity.




The Booh Trade.

655

4. —Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856. From Gales
and Seaton’s Annals of Congress, from their Register of Debates, and from
the official reported debates b y John C. Rives. B y T h o m a s IT . B e n t o n .
Volume X., 1828 to 1830. Royal 8vo., pp. 756. New York : D. Appleton
& Co.
Having heretofore reviewed these volumes as they appeared, we can say nothing
further by way of recommendation, more than though their original compiler is
dead, the good work begun by him shows no symptoms of deterioration under
the hands of its new revisor. The present volume embraces the debates of the
session of 1828, closing up the administration of John Quincy Adams, and em­
bracing the first two years of the presidency of Andrew Jackson, terminating
with the session of 1830, and includes many of the highly interesting topics
which were then agitating our public councils, such as the United States Bank,
Tennessee Land Claims, Nullification, Tariff Bill, etc., etc. This must evidently
become the text-book of the future politician and statesman.
5. — Sixty Years’ Gleanings from Life’s Harvest. A Genuine Autobiography.
By J o h n B e o w n , proprietor of the University Billiard Rooms, Cambridge.
12mo., pp. 392. New York : D. Appleton & Co.
In this volume we have the pen-and-ink sketches of a lay member of the world,
who has figured somewhat extensively in the stirring scenes enacted in its high­
ways and byways. It possessses but few distinctive features, although many of
the incidents narrated possess a natural interest, as well on account of the great
amount of wordly knowledge, as for the egotism and egregious sophistry they
display on the part of the author. Mr. Brown, according to his own narrative,
has tried his hand at a little of everything—first a shoemaker’s apprentice, then
an army recruit, next a disciple of the sock and buckskin, and anon we find him
a jolly jack tar, drinking his grog, and receiving his full compliment of lashes
from the cat-o’-nine-tails for his free and easy propensities, as becometh a man ;
and again in the prize-ring for fistic honors, where he tells of letting fly his left
on his antagonist’s probocis, and finally (as a matter of course with such a man
as Mr. Brown) succeeding, by his stunning hits, in doubling him up, to use his
own phraseology, like a dog in a coal box ; ending finally in his acquiring the
proprietorship of a billiard establishment, second only to one in London. This
is the goal of sixty years’ gleanings, reader, and into all this the author designs
to inculcate a “ definite moral,” one which, if rightly read, may be properly ad­
dressed in turn to friendless youth, to struggling manhood, and to prosperous old
age. This may be called sound doctrine by some, but Mr. John Brown we care
not to have your sophisms inculcated into anything pertaining to ours, without
it were possible to inoculate a house dog with some of your tangible morals and
points ot etiquette. To us it seems very much like flaming vice set up in a bush,
with the devil throwing stones at it.
6.

—Home Memories; or, Echoes of a Mother’s Voice. B y Mrs. C a r e t B r o c k ,
author of “ Children at Home,” “ Working and Waiting,” etc., etc. 12mo.,
pp. 328. New York : D. Appleton & Co.

There are no ties which attach themselves so strongly as do the early associa­
tions of home, and none which follow us so long down the track of years. These
recollections often act with a wholesome influence over the wayward, and we
doubt not that many an erring son and daughter have been found at times ask­
ing themselves, if not this identical question, at least the substance of it—■
“ How kept thy faith with the faithful dead,
Whose place of rest is nigh,
With the father’s blessing o’er thee shed ?
With the mother’s trusting eye ?”
This neat little volume is filled with voices like these, which the author has
woven into a fine thread of story, really interesting and wholesome for the minds
of the young.




v

656
7.

The Book Trade.

— The Avenger, a n d other Papers. By T h o m a s
“ Confessions of an English Opium Eater,” etc., etc.
327. Boston : Tieknor & Fields.

D

e

Q

author of
12mo., pp.

u in c e y ,

1 volume.

All, we suppose, have read more or less of the writings of De Quincey, whose
classic style of dealing with the terrible has no equal. In this volume, which is
kind of supplementary to his other productions, we have “ The Avenger,” “ Ad­
ditions to the Confessions of an English Opium Eater,” “ Aelius Lamia,” “ China,
and Traditions of the Babbins,” ending with a supplementary paper on “ The
Epenes,” which, taken in all, comprises a budget of as much grim horror, we
believe, as was ever written. That De Quincey realized somewhat his “ confes­
sions,” we are forced to believe, otherwise we imagine it would be impossible
to bear all its specific details in the memory if they had not been, as it were,
classically arranged there by experience. As to the incidents connected with
the Avenger, throwing aside the skill displayed in weaving them together, we
can but regard them as a relation not contained in the real existence of things,
but the. extraneous production of a fevered imagination, superinduced by the
fumes of opium, or some other equally hallucinating influence.
8. — Letters of a Traveler. By W m. Cellen
pp. 277. New York : D. Appleton & Co.

B

ryant.

Second Series.

8 vo.,

This volume comprises a series of letters originally published in the columns
of the New York Evening Post, during the author’s visit to Europe in 1857-58,
and were each penned on the spot from whence they are addressed, covering a
space of some sixteen months, hailing from various places, and describing dif­
ferent countries, but principally from Spain. Mr. Bryant is a master of prose
as well as verse. The geographical features of the country, its picture-galleries,
or whatever else pertains to art and civilization, are here thrown open to us,
while the social life and condition of the Spanish people are sketched in such a
chaste yet graphic style, as to render his little book eminently interesting.
9. — The Lady of the Isle. A Romance from Real Life. By Mrs. E m m a D. E.
N. S o u t h w o r t h , author of “ Retribution,” “ Deserted Wife,” “ Missing
Bride,” “ Lost Heiress,” etc., etc. 12mo., pp. 598. Philadelphia: T. B.
Peterson & Brother.
Is another exciting novel from the prolific pen of Mrs. Southworth, which she
makes no hesitation in saying is the most singular, if not the best, she has ever
written. This we apprehend is quite sufficient to commend it to general perusal,
although we opine those who are in the habit of reading her stories, for origin­
ality of thought, embracing a deeper meaning, as well as for deliberations of
human character, will not accord to it the talent displayed in a former work of
hers, “ The Two Sisters,” when considered as a mere creation of imagination.
10. — Honey Blossoms for Little Bees.

New York : M. W . Dodd.

This is a well illustrated little book, adapted to the understanding of children
just beginning to read, and turning the playthings of the little folk to good ac­
count, by making them elucidate new food for thought in the progress of mental
development. It recognizes the importance of playthings to children, by making
them cultivate practical patience and loving kindness, as the surest foundation
for a wholesome education.

11. — Internal Relations of the Cities, Towns, Villages, Counties, and States of the
Union; or, the Municipalist. Second Edition. 12mo.,pp. 302. New York:
Ross & Tousey, Dexter & Brother, and Wm. Radde.
A highly useful book to voters, tax-payers, statesmen, politicians, and fam­
ilies.