Full text of The Merchants' Magazine and Commercial Review : November 1861, Vol. XLV, No. V

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MERCHANTS’ MAGAZINE
AND

COMMERCIAL
NOVEMBER,

REVIEW.
186V

OUR M E R C A N T I L E

MARINE.

T he T one of tiie Service D egenerating—Cause of this D egeneracy —E vidence of the
same —F raudulent Shipwrecks —Opinions of H amburg U nderwriters—Comparison of
P E R C E N TA G E O F D IS A S T E R S IN

E N G L IS H

S E R V IC E W IT H

OUR

O W N — C E R T IF IC A T E S OF S E R V IC E

C ompetency issued in these Countries—A similar System necessary here—A d van ­
tages of this System to Shipmasters , Ship - owners and U nderwriters—Suggestions
about TnE Collection of Statistics of D isasters, and B enefits to be derived there­
from—R ecapitulation and Conclusion.
and

A r c h b ish o p W h a t e l y says, what hardly any thinking man will now
deny, “ If oaths were abolished— leaving the penalties for false witness
(no unimportant part of our security) unaltered— I am convinced
that, on the whole, testimony would be more trustworthy than it is.” It
will be admitted that there is an amazing difference between the facility
with which oaths are broken, when there is no penalty, or an insufficient
one, attached to their forfeiture, and when the penalty for perjury is
sharp and severe. The records o f our custom-houses and our courts bear
witness to the truth o f these assertions. Many a man will run the risk
o f havii his goods confiscated, who would hesitate to perjure himself in
a witness’ box. Hence it is evident that it is the penalty, and not the
oath that most people respect. That this should be so does not, indeed,
argue well for human nature; but then we must always take men as they
are, and not as they ought to be, in providing checks against possible
misconduct. It is true that a sense o f honor has sufficient influence in
many men’s minds to keep them in the paths o f rectitude ; but the ex­
perience o f daily life too clearly proves that with most men the fear of
punishment has greater influence. A self-approving conscience is, by no
means, always sufficient. Merit must be distinguished from incompe­
tency, or men will cease aspiring to attain it. The truth of these remarks
is clearly demonstrated by the present condition o f our mercantile marine
service. It is generally admitted that the tone o f that service, both for
VOL. xlv .— no. v.
29




450

Our Mercantile Marine.

[November,

character and efficiency, has greatly degenerated from its former standard.
The reasons for this degeneracy are undoubtedly to be found in the facil­
ity with which incompetent men obtain commands, and the absence of
any distinction between good and bad masters. Competent men and
careful navigators must now be satisfied with the approval of their own
consciences ; and have, at the same time, the mortification of seeing others
totally unfit for the responsibilities they assume, or careless and even dis­
honest in the discharge o f them, entrusted with commands almost as
readily as themselves.
As the practice o f insuring ships is now universal, and as competition
among insurance companies has rendered the facilities for obtaining this
protection from the hazards of the sea very great, it will be seen that
ship-owners have not the same direct interest in the loss o f their ships
that they would have if compelled to bear the burden o f it themselves.
And, consequently, they are not so careful in the choice, or so strict in
the dismissal of their masters as they would be under a different system.
It is true that merchants do really bear the burden, for if losses are un­
necessarily increased by the acts o f inefficient or dishonest masters, insur­
ance premiums must be increased accordingly ; and, therefore, although
insurance companies seem to be the only sufferers, it must be remembered
that they in reality only distribute the losses among their customers.
It is, therefore, a matter of the highest importance, both to shipmas­
ters and ship-owners, that reforms should be adopted. Some system
should be inaugurated by which competent and worthy men should have
the preference in obtaining commands, and by which dishonesty could
be exposed and punished, thus insuring greater protection to life and
property at sea, and diminishing a serious burden upon commerce.
A ny one who will take the trouble to consult the records o f marine
losses published in our daily papers, cannot fail to be struck with the fact
of their enormous magnitude. The annual estimates for 1860 were over
twenty-eight millions of dollars, and for the year before thirty-seven and
a half millions ; and a careful perusal o f the circumstances of these losses
will make it evident that many o f them need never have happened.
Many ships have been abandoned at sea and afterwards picked up and
brought into port, and some vessels have been forsaken by their captains
and brought home by their mates.
A very graphic and forcible writer in one o f the daily papers* remarks,
that “ the dishonesty o f some masters is believed to he a prolific cause of
losses. Instances o f this kind are to be met with in all parts o f the world,
but there are some particular quarters where they seem to occur more
frequently, owing to facilities for collusion and fraudulent shipwrecks.
Those who read the columns o f our paper devoted to marine news can­
not fail to have noticed the great number o f wrecks taking place in the
vicinity o f the Bahama Islands. The navigation there is undoubtedly
beset with difficulties, but they are so well known and understood, and
so many light-houses and marks have been erected, that watchful, skillful
and honest shipmasters have passed and repassed, at all seasons o f the
year, and for many years, without disaster, unless under such extraordi­
nary adverse circumstances of wind and weather as clearly and reasonably
accounted for their misfortune, while their conduct after shipwreck has




* Courier and Enquirer, January, 1860.

1861.]

Our Mercantile Marine.

451

left no suspicion as to their integrity. But there is another side to the
picture; and we are pained to say that the instances o f shipwreck are
numerous in which the circumstances plainly show that the cause has
not been ‘ the perils of the sea,’ but a deliberate and wilful intention and
collusion to commit fraud for personal gain, abetted, connived at, screened
and shared by wreckers and disreputable persons residing on some o f the
Bahama Islands, an exorbitant salvage on the cargo being agreed upon
among themselves b y private arbitration, and the wreck subsequently
burned to prevent her recovery or to avoid investigation. A nd not­
withstanding the disposition evinced by the governor of the Bahamas,
the magistracy and many of the best citizens to suppress these disgraceful
and piratical proceedings, their efforts are very seldom successful, and the
dishonest shipmaster, whose acts have not been investigated by the con­
sular representative o f his own country, escapes unpunished to enjoy
the fruits of his fraud, throwing a heavy loss upon the merchant or
insurer, and a disgrace upon the profession of shipmaster.”
In other countries, where stricter rules for the appointment and stricter
investigations into the misconduct o f shipmasters prevail, the losses are
neither so heavy nor are fraudulent ones so frequent. Thus, it is asserted,
that in the trade between Cuba and Hamburg, although directly in the
path where some of our worst losses occur, no Hamburg ship has been
lost in twenty years.* It is notorious, that in that country shipmasters
have to undergo strict examinations as to character and capacity before
obtaining commands ; and a proof o f the care they take of their ships is
to be seen in the low rates o f insurance there. The American consul at
Hamburg makes the following remarks on this subject in his official
report, published in the “ Commercial Relations” for 1859 :
“ In reply to certain questions which, at the request o f the President
of the Atlantic Insurance Company, of New-York, I had asked o f a
Hamburg insurance broker, the following replies were received, givinginformation as to the rates and customs which obtain here in regard to
marine insurance, and the estimation in which American shipping is held
by Hamburg underwriters:
“ ‘ The premium charged on first-class, A No. 1 vessels is I-j- per cent,
per annum ; but underwriters here would refuse to take at this rate any
American (United States) vessel, because they know that there are few
hands on board who are thorough sailors, many of them never having
been to sea before, and even their captains very often knowing nothing
o f seamanship, leaving the whole command in reality to the mates.
“ 1Hamburg masters, as well as mates, have to undergo very strict
examination before they are allowed to take command. The same is
true of Denmark, Sweden and Prussia; their vessels are, consequently,
considered by Hamburg underwriters just as good risks.
“ ‘ The premium from Hamburg to New-York and home is, in the
summer season, two per cent., and rises in the winter to three and a
half.’ ”
A similar system of examining masters and mates before intrusting
them with commands prevails in England, and is attended with like
beneficial results. The British Board of Trade report for the year 1860
gives the per centage of disasters as compared with voyages, as follows :
This assertion is made upon the authority of a foreign consul at K ey West.




452

Our Mercantile Marine.

[November,

For the eight years, from 1852 to 1860, tV j. o f one per cent., or one
accident in every two hundred and thirteen voyages; and for the year
1860 alone,
o f one per cent., or one in every one hundred and eightyeight voyages. This per centage includes accidents o f every kind, great
and small, and the voyages include over-sea and coasting. On the other
hand, the proportion of accidents to American ships to the number of
voyages is, as near as can he estimated with the imperfect data at com­
mand, for the year 1860, 1Tny\ per cent., or one accident of some kind
in every seventy-five voyages.* This, it will be seen, is more than double
the per centage for English ships.
In contrast with this present degeneracy o f the service, we quote the
remark of an experienced shipmaster about the standing of American
ships in former days. He says, that in the year 1832, when he was
lying in the port o f Trieste, there were many American ships waiting
for cargoes, and not a single British ship could obtain a freight until all
these were filled, so decided was then the preference for our vessels.
Contrast this with the statement o f the Hamburg insurance broker, and
the inference is plain that the tone o f the service must have indeed
degenerated.
It would thus appear that our experience o f marine disasters contrasts
unfavorably with that of other countries, since insurances are more profit­
able in Hamburg, and British statistics show a much smaller per centage
o f accidents than ours. Both of these countries have adopted a system
o f giving certificates o f competency and service to capable and worthy
shipmasters. And in each o f them strict investigations are made in all
cases of suspicious disaster, and where the master is proved to be at
fault, he is either suspended for a time from service, or has his certificate
cancelled altogether; and when this happens he is unable to obtain a
command.
It is evident, therefore, that unless similar measures are
adopted in this country, the present degeneracy in its mercantile marine
will continue to increase, the number of fraudulent shipwrecks will be
greatly augmented, and our commerce will be so burdened by this shame­
ful waste of capital that we will be unable to compete with our rivals for
commercial supremacy.
No class o f men are, perhaps, more directly interested in a reform of
this kind than the shipmasters themselves. All men are more or less
influenced by their surroundings, and the peculiar hardships and dangers
o f a sailor’s life seem to beget peculiar characteristics. They are often
careless and reckless, but are, at the same time, particularly sensitive to
* The estimate above given is obtained in the following manner: The Commerce
and Navigation Report of the Secretary o f the Treasury for 1860 gives the number
of entries o f American vessels at the different United States ports as 12,206, and the
number of clearances of the same as 12,682. Now, as every entry and every clear­
ance represent a voyage begun or ended, we have, for the foreign trade of the year,
24,888 voyages— in round numbers say 25,000; and estimating the coasting voyages
as at least double, we have a total number of voyages of American ships during the
year o f about 75,000. The whole number o f disasters to these ships during the
same period, according to a report published b y Mr. I saac H. U pton in the M er­
chants’ M agazine for July, 1861, amounts to 839.
But as this sum does not include
the minor disasters, which are all included in the British report, we may safely set
down the casualties of all kinds as about 1,000 in number. This, compared with
the 75,000 voyages, would give the per centage of 1 33-100, as above, or one acci­
dent in every seventy-five voyages.




1861.]

Our Mercantile Marine.

453

praise and blame. A self-approving conscience may be sufficient for
some, but public opinion has more weight with most o f them. And
when we add to the disgrace of forfeiting a certificate the certain loss of
occupation it will necessarily entail, we provide the strongest possible
safeguard for efficiency and good conduct in any class o f men, and espe­
cially in a class unfitted, both by their temperament and habits, to bear
disgrace or to change their occupation. On the other hand, by thus dis­
tinguishing between competent and worthy shipmasters, and incompe­
tent and dishonest ones, we raise the tone of the whole service, and thus
make a sailor’s life more attractive to men o f intelligence and high cha­
racter. All such men will sympathize with these reforms, and the class
who will probably disapprove o f them is the very one that makes their
establishment a necessity. B y this means a laudable ambition would be
instilled into the minds of all honest shipmasters, who, as long as they
held their certificates, would necessarily be regarded as such ; while, on
the other hand, a wholesome fear o f disgrace would be held up to those
who, without this dread o f punishment, might be dishonestly disposed.
It seems only reasonable to suppose that a sense o f honor, and a feeling
o f responsibility for the lives and property under his charge, would pre­
vent any man from taking the command o f a ship who felt himself in­
competent for the task ; or would cause one who did so to use his best
efforts for the successful accomplishment of the voyage. But the facts
prove that this is not the case. Incompetent men do notoriously obtain
commands, and many ships are lost by the carelessness or inefficiency of
their commanders. The sense o f honor is not always a sufficient safe­
guard. The fear o f punishment may be. As to the feeling o f responsi­
bility for life and property, it has been said, perhaps too harshly, but
nevertheless with much truth, that the former consideration has always
been of minor importance in comparison with the love o f gain; and as to
the loss of property, the insurance companies prevent the owner from
feeling that directly, and as the master is, of course, aware o f this, it may
not be without its influence with him, especially if the vessel be old, unseawortliy or badly out o f repair. It has been remarked, however, that
in cases o f fraudulent shipwreck the master and crew generally escape.
W hen a man sets out purposely to wreck his vessel it is natural that he
should select a safe place, or he might be disappointed in his unrighteous
plans, and find, when death stared him in the face, that what was meant
to be a fraud, had in reality become to him, at least, a misfortune.
The history o f modern science demonstrates no truth more clearly
than this, that great results are not arrived at suddenly, as it were by in­
spiration, but only come by patient and laborious investigation. Thou­
sands o f observers have watched and recorded the phenomena o f the
heavens, ingenious men have applied their observations to the science of
navigation, and generation after generation have passed their lives in col­
lecting apparently insignificant facts, before it became possible, by their
collected experience, to navigate the trackless sea. But now, by the aid
o f the compass and the sextant, and the collected experience of those
who have gone before him, the sailor finds the sea as well mapped out as
the land, and its pathways have become as definitely marked as the high­
ways of the shore. But although much has been accomplished, much
more perhaps remains to be done. The field is wide enough for all the
observers that can possibly investigate it, and the results of the labors of




454

Our Mercantile Marine.

[November,

the late superintendent o f the Washington Observatory, M a u r y , have
clearly proved to sailors both how much there is to see, and how much
can result from intelligent observations made after a uniform plan.
Thousands o f log-books have been examined by this patient man, and
the experience of all these observers collected in his wind and current
charts. All that relates to the theory of storms is still, however, hardly
more than conjecture, and in this and other directions great discoveries
yet remain to be made. How necessary, then, not only for the material
interests of commerce, but for the greater interests of science, is it that
shipmasters should be men of intelligence and capable o f appreciating the
wonders that are daily spread out before them. H ow much nobler the
ambition to extend the domain o f knowledge than to accumulate ill-got­
ten gains. To add a mite, however small, to that fund in which consists
the true riches of mankind, rather than by dishonest acts to accumulate
wealth which is only a disgrace to its possessor. Nor are these results
alone o f scientific value. Their practical importance in diminishing the
cost of carrying cargoes by shortening the time required to make
voyages, (which alone is a most essential benefit to commerce,) has thus
been ingeniously estimated by a writer in H unt ’ s M e r c h a n t s ’ M a g a z in e
for May, 1854 :
“ According to Mr. M a u r y the average freight from the United States
to Bio de Janeiro is 17.7 cents per ton per day ; to Australia, 20 cents ;
to California also about 20 cents. The mean o f this is a little over 19 cents
per ton a d a y ; but, to be within the mark, we will take it at 15, and in­
clude all the ports of South America, China and the East Indies.
“ The sailing directions have shortened the passage to California thirty
days ; to Australia, twenty days; to Eio Janeiro, ten days. The mean
of this is twenty, but we will take it at fifteen, and also include the above
named ports o f South America, China and the East Indies. W e estimate
the tonnage o f the United States engaged in trade with these places at
1,000,000 tons per annum. W ith these data, we see that there has been
effected a saving for each one o f these tons o f fifteen cents per day for a
period of fifteen days, which will give an aggregate o f $2,250,000 saved
per annum. This is on the outward voyage alone, and the tonnage trad­
ing with all other parts o f the world is also left out o f the calculation.
Take these into consideration, and also the fact that there is a vast amount
of foreign tonnage trading between these places and the United States,
it will be seen that the annual sum saved will swell to an enormous
amount.”
It need hardly be said that merchants, as a class, and especially those
connected with shipping, have a great interest at stake in promoting
these proposed reforms. For it requires but little argument to prove
that if the underwriters pay the losses directly, the merchants have to
make it up in the long run. And, therefore, when losses are unnecessa­
rily increased by the incompetency or misconduct of shipmasters, the
burden falls finally upon the shipowners. Here, as with the shipmasters,
it is the higher class of merchants that will gain by the alteration o f the
present system, and it is only the less scrupulous portion who will feel
themselves oppressed by it. Those shipowners who are careful in the
selection of their masters, and, it may be added, who are also conscien­
tious in repairing and fitting out their ships, are now taxed with high
premiums made necessary by the carelessness or cupidity o f men of an




1861 .]

Our Mercantile Marine.

455

entirely different grade. Nor is it only in the high premiums charged
that injustice is at present done to honest men, hut also in the distribu­
tion of the profits, the worthy and the unworthy get an equal share. The
merchant, whose ill-fitted out and inefficiently officered ships have, by the
claims which are the natural results o f such antecedents, considerably
diminished the profits of the insurers, still receives from them an equal
per centage of their scrip with the one, whose example generally followed,
would cause a great decrease to appear in the annual amounts o f losses
to he paid. Now, if a society were established to issue certificates to
competent masters, and if only such as held certificates were allowed to
command ships, the number o f these fraudulent claims would probably
be greatly lessened. It is not pretended that a society would have any
greater facilities for selecting competent men for shipmasters than indi­
viduals now have, if they took the pains to use th em ; but, at the same
time, it is believed that the fear o f losing a certificate through miscon­
duct, and the disgrace and loss of occupation that would result from it,
w'ould make some men less unscrupulous and more careful than they ap­
pear to be now. The society would only do as an organization what
individuals ought to do, hut fail to do privately ; and the greater publicity
of its actions, and the mass o f information concerning the character and
ability o f shipmasters that would soon accumulate on its records, would
give more importance to its selections and rejections; and would be of
great service to the merchants seeking for a fit person to take charge o f
his property, and to the underwriter in investigating suspicious losses.
When the same man’s name figures conspicuously in the disaster list, and
the ships that he commands are seen to be uniformly “ unlucky,” as it is
facetiously termed, both merchant and underwriter can take warning, the
one how lie employs and the other how he insures him. As these facts
accumulate they will serve to show where the bad losses occur, and as
these particulars are annually classified and recorded, it will soon he evi­
dent what losses are really caused by the “ perils o f the sea,” and what
by the fraudulent acts of man. W hen this knowledge is obtained a
more just division o f profits may ensue ; hut at present, while the under­
writers are almost in the dark, and while discrimination is thus impossi­
ble, the present plan must be continued.
Although these facts are so evident that every merchant will readily admit
them ; and although every intelligent shipowner is aware that a wicked
waste o f property, no matter who owns it, or who insures it, is a loss
which must finally fall upon him, in part, as a member o f the mercantile
community; although these things are undoubtedly true and are known
to all, still busy men, eager to secure their private fortunes, do not ap­
pear to heed them. And in the haste to get rich a little sooner by close
attention to individual concerns, men often refuse to act in concert even
for their own acknowledged interests.
The question o f how to diminish these needless losses comes, how­
ever, in so practical a way to the underwriters, that from them the first
steps in the proposed reform should undoubtedly emanate. They have
the advantage of organization, and, with the assistance o f prominent ship­
owners, should at once form an association to ensure the better safety of
life and property at sea. If they do not take some steps of this kind,
and allow the present evils to increase, the result must be disastrous in
the extreme to them. Their losses will increase so greatly that the pre­




456

Our Mercantile Marine.

[November,

miums must be much augmented, or the companies will inevitably fail;
and with their failure greatly embarrass commercial enterprise. Even
now foreign companies are able successfully to compete with ours for
their best risks; and this must necessarily induce many merchants to in­
sure abroad, who would find it more convenient to insure in this country,
if it were equally economical. The reason why these institutions are
able to offer better terms than ours is to be found, it is believed, in the
facilities which their regulations afford of encouraging competent and
careful masters, and o f disgracing and dismissing dishonest ones. Hav­
ing thus a large proportion o f what are technically known as “ good
risks” on their books, they can afford to insure the best o f ours at a lower
rate than we, without materially increasing their per centage o f losses,
but greatly diminishing our proportion o f profits.
Such a society, although started by the underwriters, can never become
a success, unless supported by the active aid and good will o f both ship­
owners and shipmasters. W ith these, its success is certain; without
them, its failure equally so. Its aims in the beginning would of course
be more limited than they would naturally become when their impor­
tance and usefulness are more generally understood and appreciated. A t
first, it might confine itself to the issuing o f certificates o f service and
competency to men of experience and ability. Records o f disasters
would o f course be kept, aud, when suspicious losses occurred to vessels
commanded by persons holding its certificates, investigations would
naturally be held. A s these records accumulated, they might be tabu­
lated and compared with the whole number o f voyages, and per centages obtained as a guide for insurance premiums. They might also be
arranged in various ways, and the per centages o f particular trades, of
vessels of a certain class or grade, or vessels laden with different kinds
o f cargoes, obtained.
The different kinds of disasters, the fires, the
standings, the collisions, &c., might all be classified. In a word, such
a collection of statistics might be arranged in every conceivable manner,
and in every way be of service. The experience o f all the companies,
which each individual institution might be unwilling to publish sepa­
rately for the benefit o f the rest, might, in the aggregate, be subjected
to similar classification for the general benefit. In life insurance, such
collections of statistics have been productive o f the most valuable results;
and the analogy between the two branches o f insurance, the life and the
marine, is sufficient to warrant the assertion, that if an equal number of
facts about the proportion o f loss to safety, in marine insurance, were
collected, that at present exist about the proportion of deaths to the
living, for the use o f life insurers, the same exactness would soon be
arrived at in the one business that now prevails in the other. A society
o f this kind, started in New-York, would probably be followed by simi­
lar organizations in the other seaports of the United States ; and between
these a daily meteorological record might be telegraphed, and warning
thus given o f coming storms. This experiment has been successfully
tried in France and England, and has been recommended as a desirable
thing to adopt in this country, by Professor M a u r y . The holders of
certificates in different parts o f the world, sailing over various seas and
visiting different climates, would undoubtedly take pleasure in communi­
cating to the society any interesting phenomena about storms, winds,
currents or climates that came under their notice, and such communica­




Our Mercantile Marine.

1861.]

457

tions, in the mass, might be a v ery valuable addition to a merchant’s or
an underwriter’s knowledge.
Reforms, however, to be undertaken successfully, must be undertaken
cautiously, and it is only by slow degrees, and step by step, that im­
portant changes can prudently be made. In the beginning, such an
organization as the one proposed would probably have to encounter
many prejudices, and perhaps some positive hostility ; but it is believed
that a thorough understanding of the nature of the evils which it pro­
poses to remedy, and o f the important benefits to the commercial world
which will necessarily result from its establishment, will be sufficient to
enlist for it tl’ie hearty sympathy o f shipmasters, shipowners and un­
derwriters.
Of shipmasters, because, by weeding their profession of its unworthy
members, the tone of the service will be raised, and a better class of men
will join its ranks— men who, by their faithfulness and intelligence, will
at once increase our commercial supremacy, by adding cautiousness and
honesty, to maritime adventure and enterprise; and who will play an im­
portant part in adding contributions to the science o f the seas, from
which so much has already resulted.
Of merchants, because they are at present burdened with high pre­
miums, and would be seriously embarrassed by their further increase;
and because they, as a class, love their country too well to neglect any
means that promises to prevent her present maritime supremacy from
passing from her hands.
And of underwriters, because they are merely the agents o f the mer­
chants, and their interests are consequently identical; and because
foreign competition, although at present not seriously felt, will inevitably
become injurious to them, if the present necessary augmentation o f their
rates continues. And this must inevitably be the case if the fraudulent
losses, which are the principal cause of this increase, are not prevented
by the introduction of the proposed reforms.

FIRE

INSURANCE

IN

LONDON.

the annual meeting of the shareholders o f the Royal Insurance Com­
pany, Liverpool, it was stated that a meeting o f all the officers engaged in
fire insurance in London had recently been held, consequent on the late
great ,fire, at which it was agreed to advance the rate o f premium on com­
mercial insurance to a considerable extent. Subsequent reflection, how­
ever, had shown that a modification o f the proposed rise would be suffi­
cient ; and Mr. D o v e , the manager of the Royal Company, was o f opinion
that these modified rates would be found sufficient to meet all contingencies.
He proceeded to say, that within the last seventeen years 580 new insur­
ance offices, o f all kinds, had been projected. O f these, 233 had ceased to
exist in the same period, 11 had amalgamated with other companies, 134
had transferred their business, and 42 were winding up their affairs in
chancery. O f the whole number, 95 fire offices had discontinued busi­
ness. Within the last seventeen years 48 fire offices had been established.
Of these, only 12 survive, 36 having discontinued business; and, in all,
there are only 52 fire offices now doing business.
A

t




458

The Hides o f the River Plata.

[November,

T H E H I D E S OF T H E R I V E R P L A T A .
From “ Japan, the Amoor and the Pacific.

B y H enry A rthur T illey .”

T h e y -were that day killing mares, more than five hundred o f which
pretty creatures were penned up in a corral. These corrals communicate
one with another, a portcullis door being between each two. The last is
in the shape of a pear, strongly boarded in, and surrounded by a platform.
In the narrow end is a truck, which moves from it on iron rails, up and
down a long shed. A strong bar o f wood crosses the opening where the
truck fits into the narrow end o f the corral, and on this bar is a block
through which the lasso runs, having one end fastened to the saddles of
two Gauchos, while the noose remains in the hands o f the Matador on
the platform. W hen all is ready the Gauchos ride into the farther corral,
drive the animals into the pear-shaped one, and the portcullis is dropped.
The Matador whirls his lasso, sometimes over the heads of three or four
marcs at once, gives a signal to the mounted Gauchos, who spur their
horses, and the mares are dragged on to the moving platform, with their
heads against the bar. The Matador then strikes them on the head with
a heavy iron hammer, the truck moves up the shed, and another mounted
Gaucho, with a rope, drags them off the truck on either side of the tramroad, when other men are ready to skin and cut them up.
Oxen.— The same mode is adopted with oxen, only they are killed by
the stab o f a knife in the neck, which divides the spinal marrow. The
first stab is generally sufficient; the animal ceases to feel instantaneously.
The only suffering for the poor beasts is being kept long in the corrals
without food and water, sometimes for two or three days. Barbarous
as it seems to a European to see horses thus slaughtered for their skins,
it is a painful necessity. The Gaucho will never ride on a mare, and if
a stranger were to venture to do so he would be hooted and jeered by
every urchin he met. The Gaucho is far from being like the Arab, who,
it is known, rides only mares, and treats them a little more kindly than
human beings. But the Gaucho will not only not ride mares, but treats
the horses he does ride in a most barbarous manner; his spurs have
points an inch in length, and on a journey these are applied to the
blood-stained sides of the beast till he drops exhausted. What does
that matter to the rider ? He easily finds another ; in fact, in the country
they have hardly any value at all.
The rotting carcase or the skeleton o f the horse b y the wayside is a
usual sight, even in the vicinity o f the city o f Buenos Ayres. Among
the five hundred mares above-mentioned three were saved from the fate
o f the others by an English gentleman, who had lately brought with him
from England three fine horses, and was about to try to improve the breed.
For these three mares he only paid sixteen shillings each. The five hun­
dred mares were killed and disposed o f in about six hours.
Slaughtering.— In many establishments as many as eight hundred
horses or oxen are slaughtered every day, and that nearly throughout




1861.

The Hides o f the River Plata.

459

the year. In winter only, when the animals are not fat, is there a little
relaxation. In the long shed above-mentioned the work o f dismembering
the animals is going on, and the expertness with which it is performed
may be judged of by the fact, that five minutes hardly elapse from the
time the ox leaves the corral before it is already cut up and salted. The
men employed in this work are Basques, and often children with faces
like angels are among them deep in blood, and revelling in their dis­
gusting work. W hen the hide, the principal object o f value, is removed,
the flesh is cut up in lumps off the carcase, and removed to other hands,
which slice it and throw it in brine, from which it passes to still other
hands, which pack it in stacks, with layers o f salt between. The flesh
is turned every day for a few days, until it is dried by the air, and in
that state forms the came secco, which is exported in vast quantities to
Havana, the Brazils, Chili, Peru and the African coasts.
Salting.— The hides are salted in the same manner, the superfluous
brine running from the meat to the reservoir which contains them.
Most o f the salt used is brought from Cadiz. The bones undergo a
different treatment. Those containing marrow are subjected to the
action o f steam, and the fat thus procured is likewise largely exported
to the same places as the meat, besides being much used as butter by
the natives, who are excessively fond of it. The rest of the bones,
entrails and all that contains fat are steamed in another vat for tallow.
The tongues are salted and consumed at home. The sinews, horesehair,
&c., are also utilized, but still there is an enormous waste, for everything
is performed in a very rough manner, on account o f the high price o f
labor. Formerly only the hides were taken, and the rest left to perish
on the spot. The mares are killed for their hides and hair alone. The
flesh is useless, and is either burnt or thrown away.
The proprietor pointed out to me a plot o f ground which he had
formerly caused to be excavated to raise the ground of his premises,
and the holes had been entirely filled up with mares’ flesh. Most of the
men employed keep huge and disgusting swine, which they fatten on
the flesh and blood thus obtained without stint. Thousands of sea-gulls
whiten the air and the ground, revelling on the disgusting remains.
The small quantity of fat procured from the flesh and bones o f the mares
contains but little stearine or hard fat.
Refuse.— The refuse is strained from it by hanging it in long bags,
through which a clear though dark-colored oil drips out. This is chiefly
used for burning in lamps. The furnaces are fed entirely with flesh,
bones and refuse, and the stench which is produced from the reeking
blood, the ammoniacal fumes from the scorching bones and other sub­
stances, are quite enough to sicken the strongest stomach. The residue
or bone-ash has lately become a valuable export to Europe, where it is
used as manure. Soap and candles are also made in these factories, for
home consumption.
Statistics.— In the three Partidos o f the province o f Buenos Ayres
alone, there were, according to the returns o f 1858, 3,875,742 horses,
8,672,675 oxen and 1,385,280 sheep. In the year 1838 the number of
horned cattle did not exceed four millions ; but since the pampas south
of the Salado has been cleared o f Indians, and the country in general
become more settled, the above enormous increase has taken place.
The same with the sheep, the wool of which was formerly so coarse that




460

The Oil-Seeds o f Commerce.

[November,

it was only fit for carpets ; whereas, since the improvement o f the breed
by a cross with fine-woolled sheep, it is largely exported for finer manu­
factures. The exportation for 1858 consisted o f 969,604 dry and 318,304
salted ox-hides, 68,874 dry and 120,757 salted horse-hides, wool to the
amount o f 37,423 fardos, tallow, 240,362 cwt., besides horns, oil, bones
and hair. The number o f ships in which these were exported was 404.

THE

OIL-SEEDS

OF C O M M E R C E .

I. .L inseed. II. R ape Seed. III. Ground N ut. IV. C otton-Seed Oil . V. D odder Seeds,
Sunflower Seed, Cress Seed, N iger Seed, R amtil , R adish Seed, Safflower Seed.

T he consumption of oil in the United States has increased much more rapidly
than the supply, and this, indeed, is true in all parts of the world. The oil wells,
now being dug in many parts of our country, and producing such extraordinary
results, may, for a time, relieve this want, and oils may remain at present prices,
which are materially greater than those of twenty years ago.
W e perceive, by the following article from the London Farmers' Magazine, that
the subject of oils is attracting much attention in Europe:
G r e a t as has been the extension o f commerce and the progress o f
agricultural supplies, within the last few years, they are yet far from
commensurate to the wants o f Europe. It is, therefore, a wise provision
that new discoveries ai'ise, either out o f the progress o f science or the
extension o f foreign agriculture, to meet the increased demands. When
the oils yielded by the whale fisheries declined, and, by their enhanced
price, became expensive and inadequate to the wants o f the consumer,
increased attention was given to the production and manufacture o f
vegetable oils, and enormous quantities of oil-seeds, for crushing, from
Europe and the East, and solid oils from Africa, were obtained. Even
these, however, large as have been the imports o f late, were insufficient
to meet the progressive demand ; and now additional supplies of rosin
oil and mineral oils are coming forward, obtained either from coal or
from asphalte and petroleum. The mineral oil springs in some of the
States o f America have turned out complete fortunes to the owners o f
the land, so cheap and abundant is the spontaneous supply from the
wells sunk, and so easily is it purified. The vegetable oils, however,
provide, and will long continue to do so, the bulk of the consumption.
The importation o f the oil-seeds and oil-cake is a matter in which
our readers necessarily take an interest, and therefore we may with pro­
priety draw attention to the growing trade.
Four years ago, when
writing on this subject, we gave the statistics o f the imports o f seed and
cake for a series of years; but these, by comparison now, look exceed­
ingly trivial. In 1855 our imports o f linseed were but 757,000 qrs.,
and o f rape seed 162,352 qrs. Last year the imports were 1,255,000 qrs.
o f linseed, and about 300,000 qrs. o f rape seed. So with oil-cake : the
foreign imports, which in 1855 were but 80,659 tons, rose in 1860 to
upwards o f 100,000 tons.




1861.]

The Oil-Seeds o f Commerce.

461

Besides the two principal oil-seeds already named, we imported in 1859
about 183,000 qrs. o f poppy, sesame, sursee and unenumerated oil-seeds.
The specific returns o f imports o f these for last year are not yet published
by the Board o f Trade.
W hile the consumption o f oil and oil-seeds was so much larger than
usual last year, the stocks held are exceedingly small, and prices high.
The manufacture of linseed oil in the United Kingdom, in 1860, was
estimated at 65,000 tons, of which 33,700 tons were exported. The
home production o f oil-cake was also considerably in excess of former
years. The stock of rape seed held was only about 18,000 qrs. at the
commencement o f this year, while of poppy and Niger seeds there were
none on hand. Rape and seed oils, wo are told, continue to sustain the
same prominent position in our markets they have done for years past,
and, independent o f a large home make, 9,500 tons were imported into
the kingdom last year.
A new kind o f grease, made from rape oil, is now manufactured at
Leipzic. The mass o f grease or fat is quite pure, without taste or smell,
and, according to medical certificates, contains nothing in the least in­
jurious to health. In cookery it answers fully the purposes o f butter,
with the advantage, that, instead of the usual quantity of butter, onethird in quantity o f this rape seed grease will suffice. The butter sold
in London is bad enough, in all conscience ; and we therefore trust that,
for edible purposes, the rape grease may be kept by our German friends.
The ground nut, as it is popularly termed, the subterraneous fruit o f
the arachis hypogcea, is now cultivated very extensively as an oil-seed,
especially at the Gold Coast, Gambia and Sierra Leone, on the W est
Coast of Africa. England imported, in 1859, 1,124 tons from the
Gambia, 1,116 tons from Sierra Leone, and 147 tons from the Gold
Coast. But large quantities are sent direct thence to France. Thus,
in 1857, 13,554 tons o f ground nuts were exported, o f which 11,300
tons went to France and 1,300 to the United States. From Sierra
Leone, 243,123 bushels were sent away, o f which 206,503 went to
France. The French imports from their own African possessions are
also considerable ; and it is stated that from 70,000 to 80,000 tons of
ground nuts are annually received, chiefly at Marseilles.
In the Southern States o f America its culture is much attended to, and
there, and in parts o f the W est Indies, it is called pindar and peanut. In
Brazil it is known under the name of mindoubi. In Natal and the Cape,
as well as in the Indian Presidencies, the ground nut is now extensively
grow n ; and in Spain and Algeria it is found to rank among the more
advantageous objects o f field cultivation. The price has o f late been
steady in our market for them, at £16 10s. per ton. The prepared oil,
expressed from the seed or kernel, is o f the finest quality, and fit for
some of the most delicate purposes to which oil is put. Under the
name o f gingelly and teel, quantities o f sesamum seed are imported
from India and Egypt, and occasionally from other quarters.
The
small seeds are o f all colors, varying from white to black. W hen care­
fully pressed, sesame oil is quite equal to the best olive. On the coast
of Africa, and in some parts of the W est Indies, sesame is called bennie
seed.
Cotton-seed oil is now a large article o f commerce, its seed being
abundant, and the difficulties o f removing the husk having been got




[November,

The Oil-Seeds o f Commerce.

462

over. In cotton seed the oil is in smaller proportion, and the albumi­
nous compounds larger than even in the best linseed cake.
There are other seeds, o f less commercial importance, which are occa­
sionally used to obtain oil from, among which may be enumerated pump­
kin, melon and cucumber seed in India, and also under the name of agusi
in Western A frica; dodder seeds, or gold o f pleasure, (camelina sativa,)
in the South of Europe and Canada; sunflower seed, cress seed, Niger
seed, the small black seed o f guizotea oleifera, called “ ramtil” in India ;
radish seed and safflower seed ; (carthamus tinctorious ; ) the oil of this
makes excellent soap. Mustard seed is also pressed for oil.
W e have confined our remarks entirely to the oil-seeds properly so
called, distinct from the oils obtained from nuts and other vegetable
sources, -which furnish so large a proportion o f the supplies, as the palm,
cocoanut, olive, bassias, vegetable tallow and wax, which can scarcely be
looked upon, in an agricultural point o f view, as objects o f agriculture,
although they are o f high importance, both to the producer of the oil,
the merchant and the manufacturer.
Professor A n d e r s o n well observed, som^'tirHe ago, that the intro­
duction o f new oil-seeds into commerce is a matter which very much
depends upon the farmer; for, in the more familiar seeds, such as
linseed and rape, the value o f the cake often exceeds half that o f the
seed, and the price obtainable for it is a matter o f the utmost moment
to the manufacturer, who cannot afford to use a seed unless he can sell
the cake to the farmer. He must be guided also by the proportion of
oil the seed will yield in the press, and hence a knowledge o f the quan­
tity o f that substance contained in them is o f importance to him. A
knowledge o f the composition o f these oil-seeds is important also to the
farmer, because it is quite possible that some of them may be sufficiently
low-priced to permit them to compete advantageously with linseed, which
is occasionally used, more particularly for feeding calves, although its high
price necessarily restricts its employment.
W e may, hereafter, touch upon the composition and comparative
feeding properties o f the oil-cakes obtained from many o f these seeds,
-whether home-made or imported.

TRADE

WITH

THE

WEST

COAST

OF

AFRICA.

L ate London papers contain a despatch from the British consul at
Lagos, and a copy o f a treaty o f commerce, signed by the king and chiefs
o f Porto Novo, dated July 2d, authorizing British subjects to erect fac­
tories for collecting palm oil and other produce o f the country. Other
privileges are conceded in fulfilment o f the treaty; a payment of two
heads of cowries for every pound o f ivory exported from Porto Novo.
A similar treaty was also concluded with the chiefs o f Badagry, the
traders to pay one and a half head cowries on every 150 gallons of oil,
and two strings o f cowries on every pound o f ivory exported from Bada g ry ; the payment of one head per thirty gallons hitherto charged on
palm oil coming from Porto Novo, and all other charges and imposts on
produce, to cease.




The Seal Fishery o f Labrador.

1861.]

THE

SEAL

FISHERY

463

OF L A B R A D O R .

F rom a recent article in Harper's Magazine, entitled “ Three Months
in Labrador,” we gather the following information respecting one o f the
most important industrial pursuits o f the North country:
The seal fishery of Labrador is valued at $1,500,000 per annum, and
is wholly prosecuted by Newfoundland vessels, with the exception o f per­
haps a dozen that sail from Canada and other Provinces. The hunting
ground lies between the 49th and 52d parallels of latitude, and the sea­
son of catching extends from March to May, inclusive. The average fare
'o f successful vessels is two thousand seals, though as many as eight thou­
sand have been taken; but o f upward of four hundred vessels that yearly
engage in sealing not more than sixty make remunerative voyages, and
many suffer heavy losses. Hence the business is altogether a lottery.
Nevertheless, the chances o f large gains are so seductive that sealers’
berths, in vessels “ up for the ice,” command a premium of from $8 to
$20. The men so engaged obtain their outfit (which includes clothing,
guns, ammunition, &c.) on credit, the cost o f which is deducted from
their earnings at the end o f their voyage; and they not unfrequently
find a balance of $125 in their favor at the close of the season. Yet
they are fortunate if, after their accounts are squared, they do not find
themselves in debt to the vessel, or at least with empty pockets. The
expense o f the outfit is borne by the owners of the vessel. The captain
receives no wages, but is allowed a tare o f ten cents on every seal caught.
When this is deducted, one-half fare is divided among the crew, and the
other half falls to the owners. The average price per seal is $3 50.
Consequently, a faro o f two thousand seals, worth $7,000, yields to the
owners and crew $3,325 each, and to the captain $350.
Sealing vessels are sheathed with iron and extra planked about the
bows to protect them from the ice. On reaching the ground they are
warped into channels cut through the ice, where they lie snugly moored
until warm weather breaks it up. Then the sealers, singly and in small
parties, each man armed with a heavy iron-spiked bat, and muffled to his
eyes in furs, go forth in quest of victims. These lie quietly sunning them­
selves near their breathing holes, often a hundred together, uttering dole­
ful cries and frog-like croaks. Upon some hummock a sentinel is ever
on the alert to warn o f approaching danger. But the hunters, creeping
stealthily, and taking advantage of the wind and inequalities o f surface,
rush upon them at the first alarm, dealing death-blows right and left
among the affrighted herd, who wriggle hurriedly over the ice, and
tumble floundering into their holes. The old seals generally escape, as
their movements are wonderfully qu ick ; but many o f the young are
killed. These are now dexterously “ sculped,” stripped of their blubber
and pelts, which come off entire; the bloody carcases are left to glut
the starveling bears and arctic foxes, and the pelts rolled up and dragged
away to the vessel. After the ice breaks up the seals are shot from boats
in open water, where they are found disporting.
There are various kinds o f seals, among which are the harbor, ranger,
jar, hood, doter, bedlamer, harpe, blue and square flipper; differing as




464

The Seal Fishery o f Labrador.

[November,

greatly in size and physiognomy as members o f tbe human family. There
are canine and feline looking seals ; seals with round smooth heads crop­
ped like a prize-fighter’s, and seals with patriarchal beards and long
flowing locks; meek pensive-looking seals, and seals fierce and long
tusked; little seals three feet long, and monsters upwards o f eight feet
in length, weighing a thousand pounds. Selah! The hood seal when
attacked throws up a thick bullet-proof hood or shield before its face,
and whichever way a gun is presented this defence is always opposed,
the animal moving dexterously from side to side with every movement
o f his assailant. An effective wound must be given directly under the
ear, and it requires an expert marksman to hit him there. The h;irpe
is most esteemed, and commands a market price of 87 to 88. He is a
first-class pugilist, and always shows fight, rising on his hind flippers,
dodging the bat skilfully, and often seizing it from his assailant’s hand.
He is very tenacious o f life, and, when worsted, frequently feigns death.
A t such times the unsuspecting sealer, stooping over to “ sculp” him, is
liable to serious injury. Sometimes they have been completely disem­
bowelled.
Seals whelp in March, and suckle their young. They are in good con­
dition at all seasons, but are seldom taken after July, as they migrate to
more northern regions, returning in December. In early summer they
are caught in strong, large meshed nets. They constitute an important
article o f food to the settlers and Esquimaux, and to the latter are indis­
pensable. The blubber is exceedingly fat, and being cut into strips and
thrown into vats, a large quantity o f oil is obtained by natural drainage.
The residue is tried out by heat. It is extensively used for machinery,
both in Europe and the United States, but is sold under a different name.
Its value is about fifty cents per gallon.
The Seals o f Spitsbergen.— A full-sized Spitzbergen seal, in good con­
dition, is about nine and a half or ten feet long, by six or six and a half
feet in circumference, and weighs six hundred pounds or upwards. The
skin and fat amount to about one-half the total weight. The blubber
lies in one layer o f two or three inches thick, underneath the skin, and
yields about one-half o f its own w'eight o f fine oil. The value of a seal,
o f course, varies with the state o f the oil market all over the w-orld ; but,
at the time o f which I write, oil being unusually cheap, they only aver­
aged five or six dollars apiece ; but still, the fact o f the animals being of
some use contributed to render the chase of them much more exciting,
as nothing can be more distasteful or unsatisfactory to the feelings o f a
true sportsman than taking the life o f any thing which is to be o f no use
when dead.
From what I have heard, I am inclined to suspect that a good many
o f the shipwrecks which happen in Spitzbergen are caused wilfully, in
order to defraud the insurance offices. These vessels are principally
insured in Hamburg, and, I believe, the rate of insurance is as high as
seven per cen t.; although one would think that even that was little
enough for the unavoidable risks o f such a dangerous voyage, without
taking into consideration the impunity with which such nefarious pro­
ceedings as I have alluded to may be committed in those distant
waters.— L amont’ s “ Seasons with the Sea-Horses.”




The Cotton Culture in China.

1861.]

THE

COTTON

CULTURE

IN

465

CHINA.

W e find an extract from F ortune' s work on China, giving an interesting account
of the mode o f growing cotton in that extensive empire. That work states that the
word cotton is derived from Kho-tcn, the name of the most western district of China,
and it must have been cultivated there centuries before it was known to the western
world. W e have no means of learning how much cotton is produced there, but
probably more than is now produced in India, as its immense population is supplied
mostly from home manufacture.— Editors o f Merchants' Magazine.

T he Chinese or Nanking cotton-plant is the Gossypium herbaceum o f
botanists, and the “ M ie wha" o f the northern Chinese. It is a branch­
ing annual, growing from one to three or four feet in height, according
to the richness o f the soil, and flowering from August to October. The
flowers are of a dingy yellow color, and, like the Hibiscus or Malva,
which belong to the same tribe, remain expanded only for a few hours,
in which time they perform the part allotted to them by nature, and then
shrivel up and soon decay. A t this stage the seed-pod begins to swell
rapidly, and, when ripe, the outer coating bursts and exposes the pure
white cotton in which the seeds lie imbedded.
The yellow cotton, from which the beautiful Nanking cloth is manu­
factured, is called “ Tze mie wha” by the Chinese, and differs but slightly
in its structure and general appearance from the kind just noticed. I
have often compared them in the cotton fields where they were growing,
and although the yellow variety has a more stunted habit than the other,
it has no characters which constitute a distinct species. It is merely an
accidental variety, and although its seeds may generally produce the
same kind, they doubtless frequently yield the white variety and vice
versa. Hence, specimens o f the yellow cotton are frequently found
growing amongst the white in the immediate vicinity o f Shanghae; and
again, a few miles northward, in fields near the city o f Poushun, on the
banks of the Yang-tze-kiang, where the yellow cotton abounds, I have
often gathered specimens of the white variety.
The Nanking cotton is chiefly cultivated in the level ground around
Shanghae, where it forms the staple summer production o f the country.
The district, which is part of the great plain o f the Yang-tze-kiang, al­
though flat, is yet several feet above the level of the water in the rivers
and canals, and is consequently much better fitted for cotton cultivation than
those flat rice-districts in various parts of the country— such, for example,
as the plain of Ningpo— where the ground is either wet and marshy, or
liable at times to be completely overflowed. Some fields in this district
are, of course, low and marshy, and these are cultivated with rice instead
of cotton, and regularly flooded by the water-wheel during the period of
growth. Although the cotton land is generally flat, so much so, indeed,
that no hills can be seen from the tops o f the houses in the city o f
Shanghae, it has, nevertheless, a pleasing and undulating appearance, and,
taken as a whole, it is perhaps the most fertile and agricultural district
in the world. The soil is a strong rich loam, capable of yielding immense
crops year after year, although it receives but a small portion o f manure.
V O L . x l v .— n o .




v.

30

466

The Cotton Culture in China.

[November,

The manure applied to the cotton lands o f the Chinese is doubtless
peculiarly well fitted for this kind o f crop. It is obtained from the ca­
nals, ponds and ditches which intersect the country in every direction,
and consists of mud which has been formed partly by the decay o f long
grass, reeds and succulent water-plants, and partly by the surface soil
which has been washed down from the higher ground by the heavy
rains. Every agricultural operation in China seems to be done with the
greatest regularity, at certain stated times, which experience has proved
the b est; and in nothing is this more apparent than in the manuring of
the cotton lands. Early in April the agricultural laborers all over the
country are seen busily employed in cleaning these ponds and ditches.
The water is first o f all partly drawn off and then the mud is thrown up
on the adjoining land to dry, where it remains for a few days until all
the superfluous water is drained out o f it, and is then conveyed away
and spread over the cotton fields. Previous to this the land has been
prepared for its reception, having been either plowed up with the small
buffalo plow in common use in the country, and then broken and pul­
verized by the three-pronged hoe. In those instances where the farms
are small and cannot boast o f a buffalo and plow, it is loosened and broken
up entirely by manual labor. W hen the mud is first spread over the
land, it is, o f course, bard or cloggy, but the first showers soon mix it
with the surface soil, and the whole becomes pulverized, and it is then
ready for the reception o f the cotton seed. Iioad-scrapings and burnt
rubbish are saved up with care, and used for the same purpose and in
the same manner.
A considerable portion of the cotton lands either lie fallow during the
winter months, or are planted with those crops which are ready for
gathering prior to the sowing o f the cotton seed. Frequently, however,
two crops are found growing in the field at the same time. Wheat, for
example, which is a winter crop, is reaped in the Shanghae district gene­
rally about the end of May, while the proper time for putting in the cot­
ton seed is the beginning o f that month or the end of April. In order,
therefore, to have cotton on the wheat lands, the Chinese sow its seeds
at the usual time amongst the wheat, and when the latter is reaped, the
former is several inches above ground, and ready to grow with vigor
when it is more fully exposed to the influence of sun and air. The
Shanghae season, that is, from the late spring frosts to those in autumn,
is barely long enough for the production and ripening o f the cotton, as
it is easily injured by frosts ; and the Chinese farmer is thus obliged, in
in order to gain time and obtain two crops from his ground in one year,
to sow its seeds before the winter crop is ready to be removed from the
ground. When it is possible to have the first crop entirely removed
before the cotton is sown, it is much preferred, as the land can then be
well woi'ked and properly manured, neither o f which can otherwise be
done. The method o f sowing one crop before the preceding one is ripe
and removed from the land is very common in this part o f the country;
and even in autumn, before the cotton stalks are taken out o f the ground,
other seeds are frequently seen germinating and ready to take the place
o f the more tender crop.
In the end of April and beginning o f May— the land having been pre­
pared in the manner just described— the cotton seeds are carried in
baskets to the fields, and the sowing commences. They are generally




1861.]

The Cotton Culture in China.

467

sown broadcast, that is, scattered regularly over the surface o f the ground,
and then the laborers go over the whole surface with their feet and tread
them carefully in. This not only imbeds the seeds, but also acts like a
roller to break and pulverize the soil. Germination soon commences,
the seeds rooting first in the manure which had been scattered over the
surface o f the land. In some cases, the seed, instead o f being sown
broadcast, is sown in drills or patches, but this mode is less common
than the other. These patches are often manured with bruised oil-cake,
which is the remains o f the cotton seed after its oil has been extracted.
The rains, which always fall copiously at the change o f the monsoon,
which takes place at this season o f the year, warm and moisten the earth,
and the seeds swell, and vegetation progresses with wonderful rapidity.
Many of the operations in Chinese agriculture arc regulated by the change
of the monsoon. The farmer knows from experience that when the
winds, which have been blowing from the north and east for the last
seven months, change to the south and west, the atmosphere will be
highly charged with electric fluid, and the clouds will daily rain and re­
fresh his crops.
The cotton fields are carefully tended during the summer months. The
plants are thinned where they have been sown too thickly, the earth is
loosened amongst the roots, and the ground hoed and kept free from
weeds. If the season is favorable, immense crops are obtained, owing to
the fertility o f the s o il; but if the weather happens to be unusually dry
from June to August, the crop receives a check which it never entirely
recovers, even although the ground after that period should be moist­
ened by frequent showers. 1845 was a season o f this kind, and the crop
was a very deficient one compared with that of the previous year. The
spring w'as highly favorable, and the plants looked well up to the month
of June, when the dry weather set in, and gave them a check which they
never recovered. Abundance of rain fell later in the season, but it was
then too late, and only caused the plants to grow tall and run to leaf,
without producing those secretions which ultimately go to the formation
of flowers and seed.
The cotton plant produces its flowers in succession from August to
the end o f October, but sometimes, when the autumn is mild, blooms
are produced even up to November, when the cold nights generally nip
the buds, and prevent them from forming seed. In the autumn o f 1844
this happened on the night o f the 28th o f October, when the thermometer
sank to the freezing point, and then ice was found on the sides o f the
canals and ponds.
As the pods are bursting every day, it is necessary to have them
gathered with great regularity, otherwise they fall upon the ground
and the cotton gets dirty, which, o f course, reduces its value in the mar­
ket. Little bands o f the Chinese are now seen in the afternoon in every
field, gathering the ripe cotton, and carrying it home to the houses
of the farmers. As the farms are generally small, they are worked
almost entirely by the farmer and his family, consisting sometimes of
three or even four generations, including the old gray-haired grandfather
or great-grandfather, who has seen the crops of fourscore years gathered
into his barns. Every member o f these family groups has a certain de­
gree of interest in his employment; the harvest is their own, and the more
productive it is, the greater number o f comforts they will be able to




468

The Cotton Culture in China.

[November,

afford. O f course, there are many cotton farms of larger size, where
laborers are employed in addition to the farmer’s family, but by far the
greater number are small, and worked in the way I have just described.
It is no unusual sight to see the family goats, too, doing their share of the
work. Several o f these animals are kept on almost every farm, where
they are, o f course, great favorites with the children, and often follow
them to the cotton fields. Although the children, with their little hands,
can gather the cotton as well as their elders, they are not strong enough
to carry it about with them, and it is amusing to see their favorites, the
goats, with bags slung across their backs, receiving the deposits of .cotton,
and bearing it home to the houses, evidently aware that they too are
working for the general good.
However fine the crop may be, the Chinese are never sure o f it until
it is actually gathered in. Much depends upon a dry autumn, for, if the
weather is wet after the pods begin to burst, they drop amongst the
muddy soil, and are consequently much injured, if not completely de­
stroyed. When the cotton reaches the farmyards, it is daily spread out
on hurdles raised about four feet from the ground, and fully exposed to
the sun. As the object is to get rid o f all the moisture, it is, of course,
only put out in fine weather, and is always taken into the house or barn
in the evening. W hen perfectly dry, the process o f separating it from
the seeds commences. This is done by the well-known wheel with two
rollers, which, when turned round, draws or sucks in the cotton, and re­
jects the seeds. It is a simple and beautiful contrivance, and answers
well the end for which it is designed. The cotton is now sent to market,
and a portion o f the seeds are reserved for the next year’ s crop.
Early in the fine autumnal mornings the roads leading into Shanghae
are crowded with bands o f coolies from the cotton farms, each with his
bamboo across his shoulders, and a large sack of cotton swung from each
end. W ith these they hurry into the town, for the purpose o f disposing
o f them to the merchants, who have numerous warehouses from which
they send the cotton to the other provinces of the empire. These coolies,
or small farmers— for many o f them bring their own produce to market
themselves— are very independent in their dealings. Having reached
the first warehouse, the cotton is exposed to the view o f the merchant,
who is asked what price ho intends to give for that particular quality;
and should the sum offered be below the owner’ s expectations, he imme­
diately shoulders his load and walks away to another merchant. A t this
season it is almost impossible to get along the streets near the sides of
the river where the cotton warehouses are, owing to the large quantities
of this commodity w’hich are daily brought in from the country. It is
bought up by the large cotton merchants, who empty it out in their
warehouses, and then repack it in a neat and compact manner before it is
conveyed on board the junks.
Before the cotton is converted into thread for the purpose o f weaving
it is cleaned and freed from knots by the well-known process common
in our possessions in India. This is done by an elastic bow, the string
of which, being passed under a portion o f the cotton placed on a table,
throws it into the air by the vibration which is kept up by the workman,
and separates the fiber without at all breaking or injuring it. A t the
same time the wind, caused by the sudden vibrations, carries off the dust
and other impurities. After this process the Chinese cotton is particu­




1861.]

The Cotton Culture in China.

469

larly pure and soft, and is considered by good judges not to be surpassed
by any in the world. It is much superior to that imported to China
from Hindostan, and always commands a higher price in the Chinese
market.
Every small farmer or cottage reserves a portion of the produce o f his
fields for the wants o f his own family. This the female members clean,
spin and weave at home. In every cottage throughout this district the
traveller meets with the spinning-wheel and the small hand-loom, which
used to be common in our own country in days of yore, but which have
now given way to machinery. These looms are plied by the wives and
daughters, who are sometimes assisted by the old men or young boys,
who are unfit for the field. Where the families are numerous and indus­
trious, a much greater quantity o f cloth is woven than is required for
their own wants, and in this case the surplus is taken to Shanghae and
the adjacent towns for sale. A sort o f market is held every morning at
one of the gates of the city, where these people assemble and dispose of
their little bundles of cotton cloth. Money is in this manner realized
for the purchase of tea and other necessaries, which are not produced by
the farms in this particular district.
When the last crops are gathered from the cotton fields, the stalks are
carried home for fuel. Thus every part o f it is turned to account; the
cotton itself clothes them, and affords them the means o f supplying them­
selves with all the necessaries of life ; the surplus seeds are converted
into o i l ; the stalks boil their frugal meals, and the ashes even— the re­
mains of all— are strewed over their fields for the purpose of manure.
But even before this takes place, the system I have already noticed— of
sowing and planting fresh crops before the removal o f those which occupy
the land— is already in progress. Clover, beans and other vegetables
are frequently above ground in the cotton fields before the stalks o f the
latter are removed. Thus the Chinese in the northern provinces lengthen
by every means in their power the period of growth, and gain as much
as they possibly can from the fertility of their land. The reader must
bear in mind, however, that the soil in this district is a rich deep loam,
which is capable o f yielding many crops in succession without the aid of
a particle o f manure. Nature has showered her bounties on the inhabi­
tants of the Chinese empire with no sparing hand; the soil is not only
the most fertile in China, but the climate is capable o f rearing and bring­
ing to perfection many of the productions of the tropics as well as the
whole of those found in all the temperate regions o f the globe.— F o r t u n e ’ s
Tea Districts o f China, vol. 1, chap. xii.




470

THE

The Manchester Cotton Supply Association.

MANCHESTER
A

COTTON

nnual

R eport

[November,

SUPPLY ASSOCIATION.
for

1 8 6 1.

T he fourth annual meeting of the Cotton Supply Association was held in the Town
Hall, Manchester, on Tuesday, the 11th June. J ohn Cheetham, Esq., President of
the Association, occupied the chair. Among the gentlemen present were E dmund
A shworth , Esq., Vice-President; M alcolm R oss, Esq., Treasurer; H ugh M ason,
Esq.; J ohn P latt , Esq., Chairman o f the Manchester Cotton Company; H enry
A shworth, E sq.; T homas E mmott, E sq .; W illiam W anklyn , E sq.; T homas Clegg,
Esq.; W right T urner, Esq.; J osiah R adcliffe, Esq.; W illiam A rmit age, E sq.;
J ohn Cheetham, Jun., E sq .; Dr. P orbes, of India; Dr. B eke, the Abyssinian trav­
eller; H enry J ordan, Esq., Commissioner from the Government of Queensland,
Australia; Rev. Mr. T ownsend, from Abbeokuta, A frica ; Rev. J ames S tewart ;
Rev. W . A rthur ; A. B inyon, E sq.; J. M. D unlop, E sq.; E dmund H owarth , E sq.;
E. C. H oward , E sq.; Charles S chuster, E sq.; Dr. R assaerts, French Consul; R.
A. B arlow , E sq .; W . H ayman, E sq . ; A. I reland, E sq. ; J. G arnett, Esq.; J oseph
L eese, E s q .; J. S mith, E sq .; J. C. O llerensiiaw , E sq.; T. I I eppell, Esq., Engineer
to the Madras Railw ay; D avid Chadwick , E sq.; Mr. G. R. H aywood , Secretary,
<Scc., <!sc.

M r . G. R. H a y w o o d , having read a portion o f the report which had
been previously circulated among the gentlemen present, the Chairman
said :
Gentlemen : It is now four years since the association, whose claims we
are this morning to advocate, appeared before the public of this town
and neighborhood. The principle upon which that association was
founded was, that it was unwise in a great manufacturing trade o f this
country, upon the continuance and extension of which so large an amount
o f population and o f varied interests were concerned— it was most
unwise that year after year this great trade should continue in almost
total dependence upon one source of supply for its raw material. It
was further said, in reference to that principle, that that great source
o f supply was connected with a mode o f employing labor which could
not (if we are believers in truth and righteousness) ultimately be contin­
ued, but might, at some moment unexpected to us all— it was fondly
hoped to be a distant period then— fail and break down, leaving us in
the direst emergency. I certainly, for one, little thought that within
four years from that time these two objects on which we formed this
association would combine together to illustrate the soundness o f our
principle and the wisdom o f our project. W e have had, after the
largest crop o f cotton which America ever produced, as sudden a col­
lapse, larger in extent and amount than ever was similarly witnessed;
and to that simple fact alone you have mainly owing the very considera­
ble advance which has taken place in the price o f the raw material. But
we have, in addition, the totally unexpected and sudden spectacle of that
country, arrayed into two hostile parties, and we look on with amaze­
ment, with regret and with terror, at the probable results which may flow




1861.]

The Manchester Cotton Supply Association.

471

from this most unfortunate struggle. I know I speak your own senti­
ments when I say that every Englishman deeply regrets this struggle
has taken place. W e may wholly and entirely abominate the continu­
ance of slavery in one section o f that country, but we at the same time
cannot hut deeply regret its citizens should meet in hostile array, and
we should see the unfortunate spectacle which that great republic now
presents.
I think the principles upon which we founded this association are not
stronger to-day than they were at first, though probably they are more exten­
sively recognised. It is, however, a matter o f regret that in the district
which is more especially interested in discussing this question of obtain­
ing a wider area for the supply of the raw material, we have so little o f
the interest and excitement found in other parts o f the country. I have
lately, with some other members of the Council, been on a deputation to
London, and we found in every circle— whether the high circles of mem­
bers of parliament and the nobility, or amongst the different merchants
in the city— the great and absorbing question asked, “ W hat are you
doing in Lancashire, and what is to he the result there of this impending
crisis in America ?” That being the case, I think you must admit the
paragraph in the report which states that now at least the trade of this
country ought to congratulate itself that this association has been formed,
and is working so successfully, is based on most satisfactory evidence.
Had you been called together unexpectedly in consequence of this great
crisis in America, you would have been without experience on this ques­
tion ; you would have had no information such as that now presented to
y o u ; and, being without any safe guide, the result probably would have
been that you woidd have had various schemes totally unsound in their
principles and objects, and which would have brought you into much
trouble and loss, without achieving any of the objects at which they at­
tained.
But your position now is this : Y ou are possessed of information from
every part of the world where cotton can be cultivated, with the exception
of one country— I allude to China. It may be, we cannot expect to have
supplies of cotton from that country, because it is an opponent o f our­
selves in the Indian market; but as we are now opening up the interior of
that country, it is thought desirable we should obtain some information
on the subject, and our foreign secretary (Lord J ohn B u ssel l ) has
kindly offered to send out instructions to our ambassadors and consuls
to make inquiries for our guidance. W e are, therefore, in a position
to show you what are the sources upon which you may rely in the
emergency on which we are now entering. Let us, however, recognise,
as we ought to do, the superior advantages which the American planter
has over any other individual in the growth o f cotton. I am afraid we
too often neglect this. W o see men lightly sitting down to write an
article, and saying cotton can be grown in this country and the other,
without seeing the formidable obstacles which are in the way.
What is the position of the American planter ? In the first place, he
has the pre-eminent advantage of being an Anglo-Saxon, endowed with
all the enterprise, skill and energy connected with that character. He
is planted in a country whose soil and climate are peculiarly adapted to
the culture of cotton— a culture which extends from the very lowest to
the very finest quality. He is, from his intelligence and position, ade­




472

The Manchester Cotton Supply Association.

[November,

quately acquainted with the wants o f the consumer ; he knows as well as
we do what we want. He lias the advantage of a country covered with
roads, railways and water navigation ; he is able, with the greatest possi­
ble economy, to convey his produce to the port, and when he gets it
there he has capital at hand to assist him in sending it on a short
and speedy voyage to the great markets o f the world. Now this is the
man we are called to contend w ith; and what are the places in the world
in a condition to contend with this individual ?
It does so happen that from the information which your association
possesses, we find that there are only two spots on the globe that pos­
sess the very first requisite for cotton cultivation, and that is labor. Y ou
have only the west coast o f Africa, and the great continent o f India, in
which you have labor to employ. Every other country possessing soil and
climate to grow a quality o f cotton equal, and in some respects superior
to that which America produces, has to contend with the want o f labor.
Take the case, first, o f our own West India colonies. There is no doubt you
have there climate and soil for the production o f a most valuable quality
o f cotton ; and, looking back forty or thirty years ago, a very considera­
ble supply was sent from those islands to this country. But since the
abolition o f slavery there has been a want o f labor.
Mr. C r o s s .— Before the abolition o f slavery.
•
T he C h a ir m a n .— Well, perhaps it w as; but since the abolition o f
slavery there has been a want of labor, and I regret that our jealousy o f
again encouraging the traffic should have been carried to the extent o f
forbidding the planters a carefully guarded immigration of foreign labor
to assist in the cultivation of the plantations. In addition to that, another
and a more formidable difficulty presents itself in the fact that the culture
of sugar and coffee are more advantageous to the planter than the culture
o f cotton ; and, therefore, while I am glad to see any parties whatever di­
recting their attention to these colonies, yet still I see, in the absence o f
labor, and in the presence o f more highly remunerative articles o f cultiva­
tion, too great difficulties to hope for any large supplies thence. The
same argument applies to Natal. I have friends in that colony who give
the best and safest information, and they say that capital and enterprise
will be directed to the cultivation o f sugar and coffee. W e shall get
small lots from thence, but we shall have nothing like a steady and abun­
dant cultivation o f cotton.
Crossing over to Australia, we have there a climate and soil— especially
in the colony o f Queensland— equal to the production of the finest and
most useful qualities, and there are no other products to disturb the
attention o f the cultivator. I have great hopes, therefore, with the immi­
gration o f Indian and Chinese coolies, that in the course of time some­
thing would be done there, and a large cultivation carried on. W e now
come to South America. Forty years ago we were very largely depen­
dent upon Brazil for the supply o f a very valuable quality o f cotton ; but
there the same element meets us as in the W est Indian Islands. You find
the cultivation o f coffee and sugar more remunerative than that o f cotton,
and the consequence has been that Brazil, which at one period furnished
us with 200,000 bales annually, now only returns 100,000 bales, and I
expect the supply from that quarter will gradually become nearly extinct.
Chili and Peru also produce cotton. W e have had a gentleman from
Peru here stating that their climate and soil are well adapted to the




1861.]

The Manchester Cotton Supply Association.

473

cultivation o f cotton, and the small quantities which have come to us
prove it. But they have no labor, and their government being opposed
to the immigration of Chinese, they came to us to obtain our interest to
procure the' services o f our own government to point out to theirs the
advantages to be derived from bringing over the Chinese. Egypt is
another cotton district. W ithin thirty years it has become a cotton
country, growing a most valuable quality, and I believe is capable o f a
very considerable increase. But though you have labor, you have a
government not alive to its own interest, and other difficulties o f a kind
which we are endeavoring to overcome.
W e have decided that our commissioner shall proceed by way of
Egypt to India, and, by the aid of our consul, show to the Pasha the great
utility and prosperity that might result from his encouraging more largely
the cultivation of cotton in his dominions. In Algiers, too, there is no
question that you have a climate and soil adequate to the growth of very
fine cotton. The French government has already been engaged in its
cultivation, and some of the cotton grown there has been purchased by
English spinners and found equal in quality to American. But, as I told
a gentleman the other day in London, who said that they were getting
up a joint-stock cotton company in Paris, they have no labor. The Arab
is not a man who can be brought to that patient industry which such a
cultivation requires; and the Emperor of the French, no doubt aware of
this, and wishing to improve the cultivation of cotton, was most anxious to
obtain that celebrated paragraph in the treaty with the Chinese which
permits the free emigration of Chinese to other countries. Then we have
Turkey. Some gentlemen in London are very anxious to turn their at­
tention to the cultivation o f cotton there. Your association has supplied
seed and gins for the cultivation o f cotton in Syria, and we have had
cotton sent us equal to the best New-Orleans samples; but here again we
are beset by the difficulties o f misgovernment, and a total neglect of the
precautions necessary to ensure the security of life and property, and
thus it is unsafe in the present state o f things for any Englishman to ven­
ture his person and capital in the undertaking.
It appears to me, then, that the energies of the trade at the present
crisis should be chiefly directed to two places. The first I would allude
to, where there is abundant labor, is the west coast of Africa, and a
quality of cotton quite satisfactory, yet you are beset by a formidable
difficulty. You are amongst a people rude, barbarous and uncivilized;
you have hostile tribes frequently, as at the present moment, at deadly
war with each oth er; and thus the efforts which my friend Mr. C l e g g
has made, and which do him so much credit, and the efforts which this
association have endeavored to make, are at the present moment in a
great degree arrested by this unfortunate hostility and warfare amongst
the tribes there. Then, again, you have the climate on the west coast
of Africa, which is so detrimental to Europeans. I was told by Mr.
C l e g g that he had lost either eleven or thirteen agents ; and this associa­
tion has lost the aid of three gentlemen to whom they had entrusted the
carrying out of their views. Now, though I do hope to see in progress
of time a considerable supply o f cotton from Africa, I despair o f its
giving us any material assistance for some years to come.
India, then, must be our chief reliance. It is calculated that the pres­
ent production o f cotton there is not less than 6,000,000 bales annually.




474

The Manchester Cotton Supply Association.

[November,

The country, too, is under our own government, so that we have that
advantage which we do not possess in many others, and it has, also, an
abundance o f free labor. W e have no question o f slavery to battle or
grapple with, but at the same time there are most formidable difficulties
there as compared with the position of the planter in America. In the
first place, the cultivation is not in the hands o f the Anglo-Saxon; there
is no such man scarcely in the cotton districts as an Englishman. The
cultivator is the ryot, a small farmer holding a few acres o f land, and so
poor that his seed has to be furnished by a banker, and when the crop
arrives at maturity it is taken by this banker almost at his own price,
which very seldom exceeds l j d . or l|-d. per pound. It is cleaned in a
very imperfect way, and sold by the banker to a dealer. The dealer
falsely mixes it and packs it for the purpose o f increasing his profit.
Then, again, it is transferred from him to another dealer, undergoing a
similar operation. When it reaches the hands o f the native dealer at
Bombay, it is pressed in large presses and sold to the English merchant.
There is, therefore, the absence o f European superintendence; and
scarcely any produce whatever of the soil o f India arrives at any satisfac­
tory degree of cultivation without European superintendence ; while you
have no roads to the seaboard, no water communication, no railways,
although there is a probability that shortly some will be put to our use.
These are the disadvantages under which you labor as compared with
the American planter.
There is another serious obstacle, and that, strange to say, under our
own government. It was the understood and never-deviating principle
of the Board o f Control that no land should ever be sold to a European.
Y ou have, further, the jealousy o f the civil service against any intrusion
on the part of the European trader, who was and is denounced as an in­
terloper. It is not at all surprising that under these disadvantages the
cotton which you get from India is the worst grown in the whole world,
that it fetches at all times the lowest prices, and when we come to talk
to a great number o f consumers, and ask them to look to India for a sup­
ply o f cotton, they smile with incredulity, and say, if you direct your
sympathies to any other part o f the globe, they may agree with you.
Now we have, from the inquiries wdiich we have made, ascertained the
possibility not only o f increasing the quantity o f cotton exported from
India (which to my mind is quite a secondary consideration,) but also of
realizing the other object which we have in view, and that is, elevating
the quality to the standard o f American cotton ; so that in the event of
a failure there, you have another country on which to rely. That is the
great object we have in hand ; and unless that can be obtained, I should
despair of India.
W e are charged, however, with not giving a sufficiently remunerative
price to the Indian ryot. This has been the old stock-song for the last
twenty years with everybody— from the Indian secretary down to his
most humble subordinate. Now, one would have thought that practical
men of the world would have seen, in the quaint language o f H o d i b r a s ,
“ the value o f a thing is what it will b r i n g a n d if Indian cotton
will not bring a fair price, it is because the planter does not grow
that which the consumer wants. Y ou know last year there was a
very abundant crop o f cotton in America— especially o f the inferior
qualities; that the prices were comparatively lo w ; and that the very




1861 .J

The Manchester Cotton Supply Association.

475

lowest of the American cotton, when clean, is far more suitable to the
wants of the English spinner than Indian cotton. The consequence was,
whilst last year the Indian export of cotton to Great Britain was 600,000
bales, the consumption here only reached to some 1'IS,000 bales ; so that
had not the Russian, Germans and Swedes come in to take this cotton
away, you would have had more than 400,000 bales piled up in the ware­
houses o f Liverpool, indicative o f its unsuitableness to the great propor­
tion of our own consumers.
And this is not the case with last year o n ly ; but since 1855 we have
received into the ports o f this country from India 2,974,000 bales, or an
average annual import o f 496,000 bales, while our average annual con­
sumption during this time has only been 266,000 bales; so that you
have had an excess o f imports over consumption annually o f 230,000
bales o f Indian cotton during this period. This excess has been carried
away to the Continent; and so I find, while our annual consumption for
the last six years has been 266,000 bales o f Indian cotton, that o f
the Continent has been 286,000 bales. India, however, is capable o f
producing a much larger quantity for exportation than 600,000 bales
annually. The exports o f cotton from Bombay in the first four months
o f the present year are double in amount o f those in the corresponding
period of last year ; and if this is continued throughout the year, proba­
bly 1,200,000 bales may be shipped from thence. I think we may fairly
calculate to receive in this country 900,000 or 1,000,000 bales from India
during the year ; and I am happy to say there is a much larger propor­
tion o f it good cotton than has ever been received before. The associa­
tion is, therefore, turning its attention to India, but not to it exclusively.
W e are ready to aid every other country which seems prepared to take
up the cultivation o f cotton ; and it is singular that in the fourth year o f
our existence our correspondence is increasing, our connections extending,
and our labors increasing also.
W e have already been enabled to devote the development o f this supe­
rior cotton cultivation in India, into the hands o f a limited cotton com­
pany, the chairman o f the executive of which is my friend, Mr. J ohn
P l a t t , of Oldham, and I have no doubt there will be no want of energy
in carrying out its operations. To facilitate these, it has been decided
to send our secretary, Mr. H a y w o o d , to India, in the character o f a com­
missioner, and Sir C h a r l e s W ood has very kindly placed the services of
Dr. F o rbes — who, I believe, is on the platform at this moment— at our
disposal, and who will accompany Mr. H a y w o o d on his mission. Their
object will be to establish first at Dharwar, where the cultivation o f NewOrleans seed is progressing, and afterwards in such other parts o f India
as may appear suitable, a number o f English agents, probably those inti­
mately acquainted with the habits o f the natives and their language, to
promote the cultivation of the higher classes o f cotton. I f we distri­
bute samples of these seeds, and offer for their cultivation a much higher
remuneration to the ryots, we are told they will be quite as alive to the
workings o f self-interest as any class o f people. Your association have
thought it necessary to bring under the notice o f government the difficul­
ties which will impede the operation of the Cotton Company in India,
and a deputation accordingly went a few days ago to London.
W e have drawn the attention o f government to, and have petitioned
both houses o f parliament upon three points, one o f which is, that if




476

The Manchester Cotton Supply Association.

[November,

Englishmen are to go into the interior o f India, and he connected in any­
way with the soil, we want an alteration in the existing law o f tenure.
The soil o f India is invested really in the hands o f the goverment. It
has been their policy, as I have stated, that no independent Englishman
should ever he allowed to hold a fee simple in India. Well, we are try­
ing to break that down. W e find the old civilian notion still existing,
but we are backed up by practical men who have resided in India, and
it is gratifying to find men long acquainted with Indian habits and views
strengthening us in the great work we are undertaking.
W e ask, in the next place, that our agents shall be protected, in mak­
ing advances to the natives, by a simple and effective law for the enforce­
ment o f contracts. A t present there is not sufficient protection to pro­
perty or security for advances to the ryot. But the government say—
“ W e are considering that question ; we will do all we can to aid you in
that object.” And Sir C h a r l e s W ood has lately laid on the tables of
the House of Commons a bill for improving the law courts o f India,
more especially having a view to the introduction in the interior of
English barristers as magistrates. I believe that this, if carried out, will
be of very great assistance to us. Then, we propose to government a
practical object in our present emergency. There is a portion of Central
India, called Berar, very little known to Europeans. It is a large and
widely-extended cotton-growing district. The cotton is chiefly consumed
in the interior, but small quantities occasionally go to Calcutta for ship­
ment to China. The river Godavery flows through this district 600
miles to the sea; Its navigation is, however, impeded at several points
by rocks, to remove which obstacles an outlay o f £400,000 or £500,000
would be requisite. W ere this effected, cotton might be brought from
Berar to Coringa (the port of shipment) at a cost of one-eighth of a penny
per pound. W e have, therefore, pressed this subject upon the govern­
ment, and our views have been supported by Sir C h a r l e s T r e v e l y a n ,
the late governor of Madras, and Sir W il l ia m D e n is o n , the present
governor.
The great Peninsular Bailway Company are constructing a line to
Nagpore, in Berar, a distance o f 560 miles from Bombay. B y this line
cotton may be laid down in Bombay at a cost o f one-third o f a penny
per pound (for freight;) so that in two directions this part o f Central
India may be opened for the transmission o f produce for export. Sir
C h a r l e s W o o d , whilst concurring with us as to the advantages to be
derived from the opening o f the Godavery, feels himself committed to
the completion of the railways now in progress in India, and has prom­
ised to use every effort for the completion o f this Berar line within the
next two years. But already we find this and other railways are giv­
ing considerable aid in the transport of cotton, and that the native
dealers readily avail themselves of their use ; and as they gradually ap­
proach completion, we may look for much greater facilities for the trans­
mission of cotton from the interior. I will only add, in conclusion, that
in all the departments o f government with which we have been brought
into connection, we have found the warmest interest existing as to the
promotion of the objects of the association ; and when assistance can be
rendered, we may rely upon its being done.




The Commerce and N avy o f Belgium.

1861.]

THE

COMMERCE

4Y7

A N D N A V Y OF B E L G I U M .

I. T he F lemings in tiie N inth Century. II. M aritime L a w of the E leventh Century.
III. F lax and H emp C ultivation in the T welfth Century. III. T rade of E ngland,
Scotland

and

I reland

with the

F lemings.

W e are indebted to the London Athenmum, o f September, for a criti­
cism on the work o f V a n B r u y s s e l , on the Commerce and Navy o f Bel­
gium. The writer says that for the last half-century history has dwelt
chiefly on the efforts that have been made by European nations for the
advancement of their material prosperity, commercial and industrial.
Never before was so much activity displayed in furtherance o f this object.
Electricity and steam have given an impetus to the efforts of the people,
and the result must be a revision o f the laws o f commerce and a reform
of the tariff. The division of labor, which has only been applied hitherto
to individuals, must from henceforth be made applicable to nations. But
in order to understand what objects are more especially adapted for the
purposes o f trade and commerce, we ought first to acquaint ourselves
with the past traffic and navigation of each nation.
This is what M. V a n B r u y s se l has attempted to do with regard to
Belgium, from the time o f C aesar to the downfall o f the Low Countries
in 1830. He has shown how much a small population, gifted with perse­
verance and energy, may effect in a few centuries. He begins by de­
scribing the knowledge possessed by the Morini, Menapii and others on
the coast, in working iron, making cloth, coloring wood, and in manu­
facturing different varieties o f tissue. The inhabitants o f these countries
were also good sailors, and at a very early period established Belgium
colonies in England. When the Romans came they found many o f these
colonies in Kent, Sussex, Surrey and elsewhere; the Venta Belgarium,
which became the modern Winchester, was the centre and chief o f these
establishments. Mr. W r ig h t , in his history, has shown that the Menapii
went even to Ireland for commercial purposes at that remote period.
The conquest of Gaul by C . e s a r put an end to this commercial activi­
ty, and it was not until long afterwards that the Belgians were again
permitted to pursue their industrial occupations. The law prohibited
the importation of certain products into Belgium, such as wine, oil and
iron. The author here gives a detailed account of the different articles
furnished by the Low Countries to Rome under the emperors.
A t the decline of the Roman empire there was a long period during
which commerce and literature were at a complete standstill in the north
of Europe. Under C h a r l e m a g n e n ew regulations gave a fresh impulse
and vigor to trade. It was then that, for the first time, was established
the uniformity of weights and measures. Under his son, Louis I., we
find Ostend mentioned as a small seaport. Ships of various kinds were al­
ready made use of for commercial as well as for warlike purposes, all of
which are carefully described in the work before us.
In the ninth century, says S ig e b e r t de G e m b l o u x , Antwerp had al­
ready attained a certain importance as a place of traffic. A n d e r s o n , in
his “ History of Commerce,” shows that the Flemings had, from the year
836, held an interchange of products with Scotland, which the Scots




478

The Commerce and N avy o f Belgium.

[November,

found very advantageous, especially for the sale of their salt fish. The
inhabitants o f Aldenbourg were, even at that time, in the habit o f going
regularly into Wales on fishing excursions, hilling their fish with lances
and arrows. About a century later, B a l d w in III., Count o f Flanders,
instituted regular annual fairs in all the principal towns, which attracted
a great many foreigners, and were instrumental in making Bruges, Courtrai, Calais and Thourout very prosperous cities.
To prove the prosperity produced in Flanders by commerce, it suffices
to show that twelve or fourteen rich Flemings helped W il l ia m o f Nor­
mandy in his conquest o f England, by supplying him with soldiers, ships
and money. Among other names cited we find G il b e r t o f Ghent,
P h il ip and H u m p h r e y o f Courtrai, B er tr a n d o f Melle, R ic h a r d of
Bruges, and many more. M. T h ie r r y is wrong in saying, in his “ His­
tory o f the Conquest of England,” that the Count of Flanders refused all
assistance to W il l ia m . The latter even promised to pay his father-inlaw an annual rent of 300 marks in silver as the price o f his supplies.
This is stated by the English historian, M a l m e s b u r y , and the Flemish
chroniclers, M e y e r , O n d e g h e rs t and D e s p a r s . Twenty ships "were
equipped by Flanders for this expedition. After the conquest many
Saxons o f noble birth took refuge in the Low Countries, and among
others, the mother and the sister of H a r o l d . It is to be regretted that
M. V an B r u y s s e l has not alluded to the latter, as her tomb, with an
inscription giving the details o f her sorrows, was found some years ago
among the ruins of the church of St. D o n a t , in Bruges. This circum­
stance was well worth mentioning.
In such warlike times there were no laws for the regulation o f com­
merce. The first appears in the eleventh century after the conquest of
Jerusalem b y G o d f r e y , o f Bouillon. He established what are called
the assizes o f the kingdom o f Jerusalem, the second part of which relates
entirely to the rights and duties o f maritime transactions.
Under H e n r y I., of England, a considerable number o f Flemish manu­
facturers and tradesmen settled in Pembrokeshire, where they constructed
a road of great extent, called Flemings' Way, to facilitate traffic. Their
cleverness in weaving wool and flax was so remarkable, that G e r v a s iu s ,
in his chronicle, says that it was in them an inborn gift o f nature. T y t l e r , in his history o f Scotland, tells us, also, that the influx o f Flemish
merchants at the end o f the twelfth century was one of the great causes
o f wealth in that country; and M a c p h e r s o n , in his “ Annals o f Com­
merce,” states that they were the first who introduced the cultivation of
flax and hemp into England, as is mentioned in a charter of Westminster,
in 1175.
A little later we find that some o f the cities o f Flanders possessed the
largest emporiums o f merchandise to be found in all Europe. W il l ia m ,
the Breton, thus describes in his poem of the “ Philippidos” the amount
of wealth in the harbor of Damme, when P h il ip A u g u stu s , king of
France, came to attack Flanders -with 1,700 ships. He speaks of the
port of Calais :
“ The merchandise brought there by foreign vessels exceeds all belief.
Masses of bullion, heaps o f oriental wools, wax, cloths, Hungarian furs,
grain, wines from Gascony, iron and other metals, and a number of other
products from England, which were collected at Damme preparatory to
exportation into other countries, bringing large profits to speculators.”




M r. B a z l e y ’ s Views o f Cotton.

1861.]

479

M. V a n B r u y s s e l gives interesting details on tlie forms o f the differ­
ent vessels o f the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, and on the com­
mercial relations between Belgium and Europe during the same period.
England, Scotland and Ireland traded with the Flemings in woods, lea­
thers, lead, coals, cheese and salt. They received from Norway various
sorts of b ird s; from Denmark, horses; from Russia, furs; Bohemia,
Hungary and Poland, sent wax and gold and silver in gots; from Aragon
came saffron, rice, almonds, & c .; from Germany, wine, corn and iron.
Fez, Tunis and Morocco traded in furs and sugar; Constantinople, in
alum and fruits; Egypt, in spices; and from Palestine, Armenia and
other parts, came silks and gold and silver cloths.
The researches made by the author are very considerable. His long
residence in London enabled him to examine the repositories o f ancient
documents; and the reader will be rewarded for perusing this book,
more amusing in parts than many works of fiction, and replete with in­
formation hitherto but little known to the public.

THE
A

COTTOS

GLANCE

AT

THE

QUESTION.
COTTON

TRADE.

By T. B azley , o f Manchester.

W e reprint the extended remarks made by Mr. T h o m as B a z l e y , (M.
P. for Manchester,) at the recent meeting of the British Association.
The facts communicated by Mr. B a z l e y are valuable in themselves, but
his ignorance of the political features o f the United States is somewhat
curious, and no doubt leads some persons astray in their estimates of the
workings o f commerce and legislation in this country. Mr. B a z l e y , for
instance, says “ the North has robbed the South by unjust exactions
for
which he has no ground in fact. He alludes to the operation o f the
tariff. Now it is well known that the South has not been forced to buy
northern goods when it preferred foreign. The duties paid by the South
amount, perhaps, to fifteen millions of dollars annually on foreign goods
consumed by them, or about two dollars per head. It is the North,
mainly, that pay the duties on iron, woollens, liquors, &c. The South
has the same advantages, and even greater, in the establishment o f do­
mestic manufactures, and could (in a time o f peace) produce their own
cotton goods as well as the North, if they thought proper. In fact, the
South could manufacture cotton without the expense o f double freight,
double commissions, double insurance and loss o f time, now involved in
sending their raw cotton to remote parts, all which expenses are paid by
the northern and European manufacturer on goods consumed in the
southern States.
“ A protective system has been fostered in the North, founded very exten­
sively upon the pirated inventions o f this country,” (England.) Here Mr.
B a z l e y is equally at fault. I f he will recur to the history o f England for
the past hundred years, he will find that it was by the protective system that
England has built up her credit, wealth and greatness; and to this day




480

A Glance at the Cotton Trade.

[November,

maintains a tariff more severe than the “ odious” M o r r il l tariff, which
is so loudly abused by English politicians and their press. Great Britain
last year levied custom-house duties amounting to twenty-two millions
sterling, or about $110,000,000. The United States, with a population
two millions larger than that of Great Britain, has levied in no one year
over sixty-four millions o f dollars. The ten years, from 1850— 1859, the
aggregate custom-house duties levied by the United States were
$531,000,000, or an average o f fifty-three millions of dollars; whereas
Great Britain levied during the same period two hundred and fourteen
millions sterling, or $1,070,000,000, or about double the former.
Upon the single article o f tobacco, mainly exported from this country,
Great Britain has levied, in ten years, duties to the amount of two hun­
dred and twenty millions o f dollars 1 This is far more than the duties
levied by the United States upon all the goods imported from Great Brit­
ain. Indeed, England has no ground o f complaint against us as to the
tariff. Let her reduce her custom-house duties to a level with our own and
we will be content. Mr. B a z l e y ’ s remarks were as follow :— Ed. M. M.
A century ago the population o f Manchester was below 30,000, whilst
now 350,000 persons reside in and occupy it. Population and wealth
have wonderfully increased and ramified to other places ; but now, in the
zenith of prosperity, a mysterious hand has written upon our walls the
words of caution and o f admonition. During the last fifty years upwards
of 20,000,000,000 pounds weight of cotton from all sources have been
consumed in Great Britain, and the value would probably be not less
than £750,000,000 sterling, or might equal a sum of the amount o f our
national debt, the chief supply having been obtained from the United
States of America, Upon a fair computation, the import o f that mate­
rial, which has so largely employed the capital and labor o f this country,
has yielded a profit of not less than £1,000,000,000 sterling to the people
of the United Kingdom within that period. The wonder is that so large
a supply of cotton could be procured from that one source, the United
States ; and when we reflect that this country possesses a monopoly of
the vast extent of territory found in the whole world capable of producing
this raw material, the inference is most palpable, that there has been de­
veloped the most successful agricultural industry in the States o f America,
which has been either ever contemplated or realized ; whilst in British
colonies and dependencies apathy and neglect have prevailed. If the
legislature had little sympathy with the great industry o f Lancashire, the
interests o f our foreign possessions might have induced our rulers to
stimulate productions in them, which would have found compensating
markets at home.
The advocates o f large and o f independent supplies o f raw cotton, from
all possible sources, have never desired governmental favors, their object
having been to promote the removal o f repressing obstacles, and to pro­
cure, by the aid o f a sound colonial policy, at least a fair share, in pro­
portion to the extent o f our foreign possessions, of not only cotton, but
o f every other product which they might more abundantly have yielded.
During the last year the consumption of cotton in Great Britain was 85
per cent, from the United States, 8 per cent, from other foreign sources,
and 7 per cent, from British territory.
The present position of the trade is most precarious and dangerous.
Existing stocks and prospective supplies o f cotton may enable the mills




1861. ]

M r. B a z l e y ’ s Views o f Cotton.

481

to be worked into the spring o f next year, at moderately full time ; but
afterwards, unless supplies be received from the United States, independent
sources can only furnish the means o f keeping the mills at work little
more than one day in the week. W ith the growth of this industry
5,000,000 of our population have become, directly and indirectly, de­
pendent upon it for their subsistence; and the productiveness o f their
capital and labor, including the raw material, was, for the last year, nearly
eighty million pounds sterling. O f this large value twenty-five millions
of cotton manufactures were absorbed in the consumption of the people
of the United Kingdom, and there remained for exportation fifty-five
millions.
The estimated capital engaged in its fixed and floating investments is
two hundred million pounds. Now, when we contemplate the vast in­
terests involved in this surprising trade, seeing that the people employed
and connected with it exceed the population o f the kingdom of Belgium,
of Holland and of Portugal; that the national treasury receives from it
an amazing sum in aid of the expenses o f the State; that a commercial
marine of unparalleled magnitude derives support from i t ; that the com­
fort and happiness o f the laborers employed in it are imperilled by any
indications which threaten to disturb its existence and prosperity ; and
that its suspension, or serious curtailment, would even endanger the gen­
eral w eal; we may well inquire what efforts have been made to sustain
the usefulness, prosperity and permanency o f this source o f national
riches.
That the cotton trade should have rested chiefly upon the one supply
of the States of America for its very means of existence, every good and
every wise man has deplored; but that to produce that supply the por­
tion of the human family which is most defenceless should be held in
the degradation of slavery is abhorrent to the feelings of the righteous,
of the humane and of the benevolent.
Most effectually to suppress
slavery will be to supersede the necessity for the labor o f the slave, and if
the chiefs of Africa could be induced to cultivate sugar, cotton and to­
bacco upon their own soil, they need not expel and degrade their la­
borers.
O f the commercial policy o f the United States o f America censures
can scarcely be too severe. In the Northern States protection has pre­
vailed, and the people o f the South have been compelled to pay extrava­
gant and monopolist prices for the manufactures produced by their own
agricultural labor, and which, in the form o f cotton, has been received in
this country free from every tax. The North has robbed the South by
unjust exactions, and the South has robbed the negro of life and liberty !
W hy the British manufacturer has tamely submitted to an import tax of
30 per cent, upon cotton goods entering the States of America, whilst
the raw cotton, the growth o f those States, has been received here free
from tax or impost, without making an effort to procure supplies of
his raw material from free labor, with the right to send free exports in ex­
change, can only be accounted for by the anxiety to possess an apparent
immediate benefit at the cost of advantages more enduring, but which
could only be regarded as of prospective or future possession.
Partial and unjust government has at length reaped the fruit of con­
vulsion, and for which unjust policy had sown the seed. The North has
taxed for its own protection and advantage the people o f the South and
YOL. XLV.-----NO. V.




31

482

A Glance at the Cotton Trade.

[November,

their industry ; and the South has held in degradation, oppression and
slavery the laborers who have enriched their owners. Mutual wrongs
have been committed, and hitherto no just object appears before the
world as a cause o f the lamentable struggle which is exhausting both of
them. But slavery is doomed.
A protective system has been fostered in the North, founded very ex­
tensively upon the pirated inventions o f this country, and by the agency
o f which our manufactures have been largely excluded from the markets
of the States. Even their very literature has been abstracted from the
intellectual faculties of those in their fatherland who have only their cul­
tivated minds and soul-breathing thoughts for their inheritance.
In addition to these grave reasons, which mainly affect the morality of
the States, this country has been paying a tribute o f five million pounds
sterling per annum to those States in excess o f the price at which cotton
could be remuneratively produced and sold. W ith the convulsion which
exists in America, with the adverse commercial policy dominant there,
and with the inhuman system of slavery which prevails in the cotton pro­
ducing districts, what are the duties which devolve upon our governing
and mercantile classes ? I f by the convulsion of the States we are taught
our national as well as commercial duties, the lesson will be ultimately
beneficial.
Whether it has been wise for our government to see continually in­
creasing the dependence o f this great trade upon the one chief supply of
its raw material, and that source adverse in interest, and oppressive to
its own labor, we can only answer in the negative. W ith the East and
W est Indies, with tracts in South, East and W est Africa, and with land
in Australia as extensive as Europe, capable of growing cotton from the
lowest to the highest qualities, it is a national reproach to us that we
have permitted our own fields to be uncultivated, and that our spinners
and manufacturers have been driven by necessity to consume the produce
o f slavery.
Lacking the means of communication and of irrigation, the resources
o f the East Indies remain in much the same dormant condition in which
they have been for two thousand years; but brighter prospects are open­
ing in that great dependency; railways are being constructed, canals
formed, river navigation improved and works o f irrigation promoted.
One great defect is, however, retained with perverse tenacity. The tenure
o f land is obstructive alike to the rights o f individual ownership, and to
its effective cultivation. W ithout doing the slightest wrong to the hold­
ers of any land, its equitable transfer might be sanctioned, and a landed
proprietary as influential as in our own country might be established.
Protection to life and the rights o f property, with every other just ad­
junct o f good government, will inevitably lead to prosperity.
Small supplies of cotton, as good as that obtained from New-Orleans,
are now received from India, and the cotton of this vast dependency is
certainly im proving; but wdiilst, from a combination o f circumstances
and causes, the ryot of India is only paid 12s. per acre for his crop of
cotton, and the American cultivator can obtain £12, the energy and ca­
pability of the former cannot be developed. Supposing efforts to be
made commensurate with indicated difficulties, all the common cottons,
or 75 per cent, o f the consumption o f Great Britain, might be obtained
from India in a couple o f years. From Egypt the supply of cotton may




1 8 6 1 .]

M r. B a z l e y ’ s Views o f Cotton.

48 3

increase, but there the withering influence of the despot retards its ex­
tended cultivation, though the spirited, energetic and successful enter­
prise of M e h em et A l i is an example deserving the imitation o f better
men. He introduced that agricultural industry into his vice-royalty, and
founded a fountain o f wealth whence flow millions o f annual income to
the advantage of Egypt.
For all the finer, higher and better classes o f cotton, from New-Orleans,
Brazil and Egypt, to the most beautiful Sea Island, Queensland, in
Australia, might quickly afford all requisite supplies. That territory
alone, besides sustaining the population o f Europe, could easily be made
to produce all the cotton now consumed in the w orld ; but so sweeping
a change and enlarged production need not be deliberated upon, the facts
being only referred to as illustrating the powers of that colony. In seek­
ing from the government the development o f the resources o f the colo­
nies, the two-fold advantage would arise of which that power would finan­
cially be greatly benefited, alike at home and in the colonies. Govern­
ment must set its colonial house in order. Land grants for beneficial
purposes should be free, facilities afforded for emigration, public works
promoted, and prosperity will follow in the train. Capitalists, merchants
and manufacturers, whose investments are largely embarked in the cotton
trade, have duties devolving upon them.
These bodies are known to have large investments in foreign railways,
in the cultivation o f sugar and other products, and in many dubious se­
curities ; but in the cultivation o f the staple raw material of their own
pursuits they have not ventured to embark. Last year the cotton trade
contributed to capital and labor fifty million pounds sterling, and in the
last fifty years the aggregate reward has been one thousand millions.
Surely from these treasures might be spared some pittance o f capital to
free the negro, and to insure still greater prosperity to industry.
Supposing the government of our country to be willing to make all
the preliminary arrangements which will contribute to the security and
profit o f capital invested in cotton growing, the clear duty o f the class
referred to will be to enter upon investments with no niggard hand; and,
for their encouragement, it may be mentioned that very recently an ex­
tensive Louisiana cotton planter has asserted that he could grow cotton
at 3d. per lb. which is now worth 9d. per lb. in Liverpool, and o f course
he has had to buy his laborers, and afterwards to sustain them. The
confessed profit is 200 per cent., but, in all sobriety of judgment, cotton
growing would afford 100 per cent o f recompense.
Here, then, the governing, the capitalist, the mercantile and the man­
ufacturing classes have duties in common to perform, and from which
none of them should withhold their willing help. Upon this subject the
warning voice has been long and often heard, and the present embarrass­
ment in cotton supplies has been anticipated. Having, therefore, been
forewarned, may this great and world-benefiting industry be forearmed.




484

[November,

A nn u al R eport on Breadstuffs.

ANNUAL REPORT

ON B R E A D S T U F F S .

T h e export o f breadstuffs, domestic as well as foreign, is one of the
first importance to this country ; it is especially so to the city and State
o f New-York in the present condition o f the financial and commercial
affairs o f the nation. From the port of New-York alone were exported to
foreign countries, in the single month of August, 1861, (being the close
o f the cereal year,) no less than 297,000 barrels o f flour, 2,389,000 bushels
o f wheat and 2,338,000 bushels of Indian corn, valued at over six millions
of dollars. In order to present this subject to our readers in its full breadth,
w e copy from the annual circular of Mr. E d w a r d B ill the following tabular
statement of the export o f breadstuffs, from this and other ports, to Great
Britain and Ireland, for the past year, compared with fourteen former years,
viz., 1846-1860 :
E xport of B readstuffs to G reat B ritain and I reland , from S eptember 1, 1860,
to S eptember 1, 1861.
Bushels
Bushels
Barrels
Barrels
Corn.
Wheat.
From
Flour.
Corn Meal.

N ew -York,...........................
Kew-Orleans,.......................
Philadelphia,.........................
B altim ore,...........................
B oston,.................................
Other ports,.........................

. . . 1,775,338 ..
. ..
179,427 . .
...
1 9 2 ,1 7 5 ..
...
1 2 7 ,0 3 1 ..
...
126,846 . .
...
160,844 . .

One year to Sept. 1, 1861,. . . . 2,561,661 . .
“
“
I860,. . . .
717,156 . .
“
“
1859,. . . .
106,457 . .
“
“
1858,. . . . 1,295,430 . .
“
“
1857,. . . . 849,600 . .
“
“
1856,. . . . 1,641,265 . .
“
1855,. . . .
175,209 . .
“
“
1854,. . . . 1,846,920 . .
“
“
1853,. . . . 1,600,449 . .
“
“
1852,. . . . 1,427,442 . .
“
“
1851,. . . . 1,559,584 . .
“
“
1850,. . . .
5 7 4 ,7 5 7 ..
“
“
1849,. . . . 1,137,556 . .
“
“
1848,. . . .
182,583 . .
1847,. . . . 3,155,845 . .

3,266 . . 20,541,073 . .
996 .
66,767 . .
. 1,593,416 .
969,084 .
48 .
13,032 .
106 .
. 2,369,998 .

8,653,569
1,464,267
704,447
853,200
14,100
16,451

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

11,705,034
2,221,857
342,013
3,317,802
4,746,278
6,731,161
6,679,138
6,049,371
1,425,278
1,487,398
2,205,601
4,753,358
12,685,260
4,390,226
17,157,659

4,416 .
944 . .
58
143 .
685 .
6,816 .
4,768
41,726 .
100 .
1,680 .
5,620 .
6,411
82,900 .
108,534
844,187 .

Total for fifteen years,... ...18,831,914 . . 1,108,988
To

the

25,553,370
4,938,714
439,010
6,555,643
7,479,401
7,956,406
324,427
6,038,003
4,823,519
2,728,442
1,496,355
461,276
1,140,194
241,309
4,000,359

. 74,176,428 . . 85,897,434

Continent, from N ew -Y ork and OTHER PORTS.
Barrels
Bushels
Bushels
Flour.
Wheat.
Corn.

One year to Sept. 1, 1861,. . . . 142,129 . . 3,452,496 . .
"
“
I860,. . . . 49,243 . .
178,031
“
“
1859,. . . .
51,388 . .
57,845
“
“
1858,. . . . 303,100 . .
390,428
“
“
1857,. . . . 483,344 . . 2,875,663 . .
“
“
1856,. . . . 748,408 . . 2,610,079 . .
“
“
1855,.
7,763 ..
4,972 . .
Total for seven years,..

101,145
19,358
25,519
16,848
543,590
282,083
308,428

...1,785,375 .. 9,569,504 . . 1,296,971

Barrels
liye.

.

347,258

13,100
.
216,162
. 1,975,178
35,569
. 2,587,267

F rom Canada to G reat B ritain and I reland, via St. L awrence.
Barrels
Flour.

Bushels
Wheat.

Bushels
Corn.

Bushels
Peas.

Bushels Barrels
Oats. OatrnH.

Jan. 1 to Aug. 22,1861,___ 369,648 3,221,277 134,196 1,236,218 289,273 17,929




F L O U It — B b i s .

1859-60.

1858-59.

1857-58.

1856-57.

1SS5-56.

1854-55.

1853-54.

1852-53.

1851-52.

1850-51.

1849-50.

September,.........
October,..............
November,..........
December,..........
January,.............
February,............

August,...............

251,688
270,892
228,678
187,565
168,959
186,868
171,539
211,140
200,068
271,593
2S1,779
297,243

79,422
141.157
126,641
139,589
49.138
34,635
69,193
83,445
103,810
177,377
221,607
239,236

92,851
140,238
75,906
58,266
30,930
36,120
49,140
71,168
65,492
56,300
11,342
75,006

80,776
169,506
171,3S6
104.5S4
125,720
108,982
73,553
124,790
111,604
162,877
173,30S
140,708

103.202
193,896
244,639
205,S08
110,546
94.305
119,665
80,128
78,685
53,188
59,919
58,869

111,471
193.961
221,373
207,052
180,839
126,048
89,411
74,875
124,952
329,348
293,185
217,754

24,302
34,687
49,757
56,188
72,794
30,244
22,474
40,390
37,608
20,834
33,087
36,240

197,482
261,143
410,258
395,239
208,700
132,213
85,052
67,103
70,390
96,052
87,246
32,580

125,246
122,974
106,663
112,010
115,746
101,927
157,135
146,117
63,294
145,008
187,632
164,963

122,336
S4.339
143,460
74,504
39,336
61,263
62.612
76,750
142,606
149,583
180,306
124,857

215,084
141,6S7
155,268
96,555
49,855
28,002
27.649
44,805
97,286
97,466
231,084
268,833

74,575
45,286
69,145
80,160
56,302
33,007
27,181
23,331
29,276
55.406
47,921
148,462

Total,...........

2,728,012

1,465,250

762,759

1,547,794

1,402,850

2,169,769

459,145

2,043,458

1,548,715

1,261,952

1,453,574

690,052

1853-54.

1852-53.

1851-52.

1850-51.

1849-50.

551,883
684,688
471,289
441,246
261,896
112,801
189,302
276,842
172,179
390,976
597,092
520,200

204,864
118,866
817,743
152,585
88,819
103,554
120,608
136,142
165,617
82,044
279,122
206,986

64,226
103,229
265,822
164,227
23,641

’ 986
1,485
12,675
61,806

930,528
1,502,881
1,809,908
1,491,907
661,676
288,621
299,965
43,558
63,530
807,302
145,209
77,853

40,693
20,081
65,755
60,525
192,096
270,665

27,283
41,716
69,610
116.577
88,802
14,568
2,010
3,138

255,849

7,622,938

4,669,844

1,976,950

1,270,960

May,...................

E x p o r t o f W H E A T - I t u » h c * l « —fro m N e w -Y o r lt .

Months.

1860-61.

1859-60.

September,..........
October,..............
November,..........
December,...........
January,..............
February,............
March,................
April,..................
May,....................
June,.................
July,...................
August,...............

2,228,924
2,600,226
2,472,162
2,027,145
832,169
1,060,995
972,6SS
999,843
1,729,108
3,577,243
2,968,999
2,889,645

79,839
144,408
117,112
50,196
59,299
25,842
175,878
356,010
792,926
1,401,791
1,743,045

Total,...........

28,859,147

4,946,346




1858-59.

1857-58.

1856-57.

1855-56.

132,890
174,670
124,815
9,787
10,759
5,990
600
1,567
3,000
9,026
14,184

620,622
694,241
910,269
468,325
180,631
17,358
33,257
127,743
405,680
1,171,513
672,939
385,298

1,099,029
1,829,131
2,057,913
1,464,201
239,994
177,179
270,061
138,708
75,092
130,698
182,9S0
112,509

277,583
947,569
1,214,102
1,011,626
360,531
209,384
143,374
79,159
248,523
910,765
1,291,599
1,214,167

487,288

I 5,696,876

7,772,495

7,968,882

1854-55.

16,953
13,728
103,032
41,541
3,643

11,640
100
45,954
874,898

485

1860-61.

Annual Report on Breadstuffs.

Months.

1861.]

In order to show the breadstuff's trade of this port alone, as indicated by its foreign exports, we extract from the New- Yoi'h Shipping List the
following elaborate monthly table of exports of breadstuff's to all foreign ports from New-York city, from Sept. 1 to Aug. 81, for the following years:

486

A nn u al R eport on Breadstuff's.

[November,

E x p o r t © f C O R N —B u s h e ls —fr o m N e w - Y o r k .
M onths .

1860-61.

1859-60.

1858-59.

1857-58.

1856-57.

1855-56.

September,..............
October,..................
November,..............
December,..............
January,..................
February,................
March,.....................
April,......................
May,.......................
June,......................
July,........................
August,...................

189,726
260,098
599,531
851,870
613,261
603,751
789,664
1,057,004
799,151
768,968
397,276
2,838,429

12,175
7,923
2,610
9,086
4,149
23,561
70,321
105,786
483,930
877,573
175,386
147,371

72,861
200,735
93,173
15,560
5,789
20,775
19,298
21,701
16,739
19,480
33,684
16,729

175,126
190,068
87,634
49,190
144,684
256,797
412,406
456,814
142,331
109,529
19,263
13,244

858,727
383,888
880,632
237,540
142,642
311,701
681,560
357,528
135,993
21,678
18,557
76,089

357,242
130,407
206,279
332,165
295,293
221,608
401,202
557,506
348,795
300,716
97,636
256,657

Total,...................

9,268,729

1,919,871

536,524

1 2,057,086

3,606,535

3,499,506

M onths .

1854-55.

1853-54.

1852-53.

1851-52.

1850-51.

1849-50.

September,..............
October,..................
November,...............
December,..............
Januarv,..................
February,................
March,.....................
April,......................
May,........................
June,......................
July,.......................
August,...................

193,857
490,118
880,573
750,583
508,859
320,097
383,834
168,314
86,307
437,828
778,485
333,414

19,890
26,004
144,168
364,175
453,311
726,711
591,358
8S3,959
360,759
488,415
109,231
124,111

20,914
11,517
5,743
12,208
30,956
122,716
184,860
118,426
65,963
42,275
12,086
8,893

30,008
114,095
114,814
8,073
42,199
50,823
78,819
107,255
190,126
104,609
105,538
33,861

51,518
24.671
18,943
49,345
53.672
42,809
25,065
67,308
510,507
424,337
175,895
111,441

61,978
193,131
145,805
70,792
97,662
522,423
463,141
360,084
414,529
419,525
119,072
11,936

Total,...................

5,327,269

3,792,092

636,557

980,220

1,555,521

2,880,018

F oreign E xports of F lour, W heat ant> C orn, for the Y ear ending A ugust 31,
1861, from the P ort of N e w -Y ork .
F lour.

Average, Total
value.
price.

Sept.,
Oct.,
Nov.,
Dec.,
Jan.,
Feb.,
March,
April,
May,
June,
July,
Aug.,

1S60,. .
“ ..
“ ..
“ ..
1861,. .
“ ..
u .
“ ...
“ ...
.
.
u
.

W heat.

Average Total
price.
value.

Corn.

Average Total
price. value.

251,688 $5 85 $ 1,472,374 2,228,924 $1 30 $ 2,897,601 189,726 68 c. $ 128,014
270,892 5 75 1,557,629 2,600,226 1 22 3,172,275 260,098 66
171,665
228,678 5 70 1,303,465 2,472,162 1 28 3,164,367 599,531 70
419,672
984,716 2,027,145 1 15 2,331,217 851,870 66
187,565 5 25
511,122
963,066 832,169 1 26 1,048,533 613,261 72
441,548
168,959 5 70
422,626
186,868 5 60 1,046,461 1,060,995 1 26 1,336,853 603,751 70
943,464 972,688 1 25 1,215,860 789,664 68
536,971
171,539 5 50
739,903
211,140 5 60 1,182,384 999,843 1 28 1,279,7991,057,004 70
543,423
200,068 5 50 1,100,004 1,729,108 1 25 2,161,385 799,151 68
438,312
271,593 5 50 1,493,761 3,577,243 1 20 4,292,692 768,968 57
214,529
281,779 4 50 1,268,006 2,968,999 1 00 2,968,999 897,276 54
297,243 4 75 1,411,904 2,389,645 1 00 2,389,645 2,338,429 48 1,122,446

12 months,..2,728,012




$ 14,727,234 23,859,147

$28,259,226 9,268,729

$ 5,690,231

487

Journal o f Agriculture.

1861.]

JOURNAL

OF

AGRICULTURE.

I. T he B ritish H arvest. II. T he I mportance of

a Good H arvest . III. Guano D iscoveries.
IY . F lax C ulture.

THE

BRITISH

HARVEST

1861.

OP

T h e latest accounts received, with respect to the harvest, are n o t satis­
factory. The wheat crop is deficient in the number o f sheaves, and the
weight, after threshing, is inferior to that o f a fair average crop. Many
fields o f wheat are injured by rust, and in other places the corn on the
ground has heated. The farmers who cut their wheat before it arrived
at maturity have suffered least. These unfavorable accounts have pro­
duced an effect on the Paris flour-market, and sellers are now slow in
presenting themselves. Even bakers have consented to pay one franc the
sack more than in the preceding week.

THE

IMPORTANCE

OP

A

GOOD

HARVEST.

The cost o f British imports o f grain of all kinds, as well as flour for
the last seven years, were, in the year
1854, __£21,760,283
1855, __ 17,508,700

..
..

1856,_____£23,039,422 . .
1857,____
19,380,567 . .

1858,____£20,152,641
1859,___ 18,042,033

making a total in six years o f £119,833,676, andan annual average o f
£19,980,613, paid for foreign grain and flour, while in the year 1860 the
cost amounted to the enormous sum o f £31,671,918, mainly owing to
the bad harvest in England ; but these figures do not represent, by any
means, the full extent to which we are still subjected by the harvest o f
1860. They only show what a large sum o f money we have paid ; but
the payments in that year were not near so heavy as they have been
since. The official information, brought down to the end of April, makes
the value of the grain and flour imported in the first four months o f 1859,
£4,384,045 ; 1860, £3,913,001, and 1861, £12,435,435, by which it will
be seen that we have been paying for the first four months o f the current
year at the rate o f £37,306,305 per annum, or £8,522,434 more for
breadstuffs than in the same period o f 1860.— London Times, Aug., 1861.
GUANO

DISCOVERIES.

B y accounts recently received from Sydney, it appears that the guano,
discovered some time since on Flat Island, in Port Philip Bay, is now in
much use, the difference o f price between this guano and that imported
from the Chincha and other islands on the coast o f Peru being very con­
siderable, the former being five guineas per ton, while the latter com­
mands from £15 to £16. Experienced navigators aver that large de­




488

Journal o f Agriculture.

[November,

posits of that article are to be found upon the many uninhabited spots on
the South Sea Islands. Samples from some places in the South Pacific,
brought by American vessels, have been analyzed with even more favor­
able results than those o f the Flat Island. In one analysis o f the latter,
the highest per centage of that fertilizing substance, phosphate, was 43.03,
whilst the former shows a much superior per centage, and is as follow s:
Phosphate and carbonate o f lime, 6 5 ; moisture, 2 8 ; organic matter,
5 ; saline matter, 2— 100. It is devoid o f smell in consequence o f its
deficiency o f ammonia. Flat Island guano, on its first introduction into
Victoria, met with much prejudice; but its extensive use now has re­
moved this erroneous impression. Government, as well as the Board of
Agriculture, have been furnished with various analyses, which all agree as
to the efficacy o f Flat Island guano. The cargo o f guano, the analysis
o f which is given above, was brought from M‘Keen’s Island, one o f the
Phoenix group, in 4° south latitude, 176° west longitude. Other cargoes
have been brought from Baker’s Island, 13 miles north o f the equator,
23° south latitude, 176° west longitude.

FLAX

CULTURE.

An adjourned meeting o f the prominent citizens o f Niagara county,
and others interested, was held at the American Hotel, Lockport, in
August last, to hear the report o f a committee appointed to ascertain the
facts in regard to the culture of flax in that locality, and to confer with
the “ American Flax Company.” The practical conclusions o f the com­
mittee may be gathered from the follow ing:
That from the best information they could obtain from farmers and
publications upon the subject, a fair average yield o f dry straw after the
seed has been threshed off, is a ton and a half per acre, and ten bushels
of seed, although two tons o f straw and eighteen bushels o f seed have
frequently been raised upon an acre of land. That the lands o f this
county and the adjoining counties o f Erie, Orleans and Genesee, are well
adapted to the growth o f flax, and that the crop in these counties would
be highly remunerative to the farmers. W e do not regard it as a pecu­
liarly exhausting crop, and it has the great advantage of keeping the land
clean and free from weeds, and is a good crop to seed with, either for
timothy or clover.
After hearing the report, a discussion of the subject ensued, in which
Hon. W a sh in g to n H unt and Hon. S. B. R u g g l e s , Mr. T u r n e r , of Black
Rock, and other distinguished gentlemen took part. The following reso­
lutions were adopted:
On motion o f Governor H unt , it was resolved, that it is the opinion o f
this meeting that the “ American Flax Company” will be able to procure
all they want at $8 per ton, and that we will do all in our power to aid
and assist in procuring such supply.
On m o tio n o f Dr. M o rse , it was resolved , that a com m ittee o f three
b e a p p o in te d t o g e t th e p led g e o f farm ers to raise from on e to three
th ou san d ton s o f flax straw, to see that a sufficient su p ply o f the best
k in d o f flax seed b e b rou g h t in to m arket, and to m ake such oth er ar­
rangem ents as are necessary t o forw a rd th e enterprise.




JOURNAL
I. T he

489

Journal o f M ining and Manufactures.

1861.]

new

OF

MINING

AND

MANUFACTURES.

P atent L aw of the U nited States. II. P atent L aw s of E uropean Govern ­
III. Quicksilver . IY . Cocoanut Oil . Y. I ndia L ubber Y arnish .

ments.

UNITED STATES PATENT LAW AMENDMENT ACT OF

A

n

A

ct in a d d it io n to

U

seful

A

“ A

n

rts .”

A

ct to p r o m o te the

1861.

P r o g r e ss

of the

Approved Marcli 2, 1861.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the United
States o f America in Congress assembled, That the commissioner of
patents may establish rules for taking affidavits and depositions required
in cases pending in the Patent Office, and such affidavits and depositions
may be taken before any justice o f the peace, or other officer authorized
by law to take depositions to be used in the courts of the United States,
or in the State courts o f any State where such officer shall reside ; and
in any contested case pending in the Patent Office, it shall be lawful for
the clerk of any court o f the United States for any district or territory,
and he is hereby required, upon the application of any party to such
contested case, or the agent or attorney o f such party, to issue subpoenas
for any witnesses residing or being within the said district or territory,
commanding such witnesses to appear and testify before any justice of
the peace, or other officer as aforesaid, residing within the said district
or territory, at any time and place in the subpoena to be stated ; and if
any witness, after being duly served with such subpoena, shall refuse or
neglect to appear, or, after appearing, shall refuse to testify, (not being'
privileged from giving testimony,) such refusal or neglect being proved
to the satisfaction of any judge o f the court whose clerk shall have issued
such subpoena, said judge may thereupon proceed to enforce obedience
to the process, or to punish the disobedience in like manner as any court
of the United States may do in case o f disobedience to process o f
subpoena ad testificandum issued by such cou rt; and witnesses in such
cases shall be allowed the same compensation as is allowed to witnesses
attending the courts of the United States. Provided, That no witnesses
shall be required to attend at any place more than forty miles from the
place where the subpoena shall be served upon him to give a deposition
under this law. Provided, also, That no witness shall be deemed guilty
of contempt for refusing to disclose any secret invention made or owned
by him. And provided, further, That no witness shall be deemed guilty
of contempt for disobeying any subpoena directed to him by virtue of
this act, unless his fees for going to, returning from and one day’s at­
tendance at the place o f examination, shall be paid or tendered to him at
the time of the service of the subpoena.
S e c . 2. And be it further enacted, That, for the purposes o f securing
greater uniformity o f action in the grant and refusal of letters patent,
there shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate, three examiners-in-chief, at an annual salary of




490

Journal o f M ining and Manufactures.

[November,

three thousand dollars each, to be composed o f persons o f competent
legal knowledge and scientific ability, whose duty it shall be, on the
written petition of the applicant, for that purpose being filed, to revise
and determine upon the validity o f decisions made by examiners when
adverse to the grant o f letters-patent, and also to revise and determine
in like manner upon the validity o f the decisions of examiners in inter­
ference cases, and when required by the commissioner in applications
for the extension o f patents, and to perform such other duties as may be
assigned to them by the commissioner; that from their decisions appeals
may be taken to the commissioner o f patents in person, upon payment
o f the fee hereinafter prescribed; that the said examiners-in-chief shall
be governed in their action by the rules to be prescribed by the com­
missioner o f patents.
S e c . 3. And be it further enacted, That no appeal shall be allowed to
the examiners-in-chief from the decisions of the primary examiners, ex­
cept in interference cases, until after the application shall have been
twice rejected; and the second examination o f the application by the
primary examiner shall not be had until the applicant, in view' o f the
references given on the first rejection, shall have renewed the oath of
invention, as provided for in the seventh section o f the act, entitled “ An
act to promote the progress of the useful arts, and to repeal all acts and
parts of acts heretofore made for that purpose,” approved July fourth,
eighteen hundred and thirty-six.
S e c . 4. And be it further enacted, That the salary of the commissioner
o f patents, from and after the passage o f this act, shall be four thousand
five hundred dollars per annum, and the salary o f the chief clerk of
the Patent Office shall be two thousand five hundred dollars, and the
salary of the librarian of the Patent Office shall be eighteen hundred
dollars.
S e c . 5. And be it further enacted, That the commissioner o f patents
is authorized to restore to the respective applicants, or, when not re­
moved by them, to otherwise dispose of such of the models belonging
to rejected applications as he shall not think necessary to be preserved.
The same authority is also given in relation to all models accompany­
ing applications for designs. He is further authorized to dispense in
future with models o f designs when the design can be sufficiently repre­
sented by a drawing.
S e c . 6. And be it further enacted, That the tenth section o f the act
approved the third o f March, eighteen hundred and thirty-seven, au­
thorizing the appointment o f agents for the transportation o f models
and specimens to the Patent Office, is hereby repealed.
S e c . 7. And be it further enacted, That the commissioner is further
authorized, from time to time, to appoint, in the manner already pro­
vided for by law, such an additional number o f principal examiners,
first assistant examiners and second assistant examiners, as may be re­
quired to transact the current business o f the office with despatch,
provided the whole number of additional examiners shall not exceed
four of each class, and that the total annual expenses of the Patent
Office shall not exceed the annual receipts.
S e c . 8. And be it further enacted, That the commissioner may re­
quire all papers filed in the Patent Office, if not correctly, legibly and
clearly written, to be printed at the cost of the parties filing such




1861.]

Journal o f Mining and Manufactures.

491

papers; and for gross misconduct lie may refuse to recognise any per­
son as a patent agent, either generally or in any particular case ; but
the reasons of the commissioner for such refusal shall be duly recorded,
and be subject to the approval o f the President of the United States.
S e c . 9. And be it further enacted, That no money paid as a fee on
any application for a patent, after the passage o f this act, shall be with­
drawn or refunded, nor shall the fee paid on filing a caveat be considered
as part o f the sum required to be paid on filing a subsequent application
for a patent for the same invention.
That the three months’ notice given to any caveator, in pursuance of
the requirements o f the twelfth section o f the act o f July fourth, eighteen
hundred and thirty-six, shall be computed from the day on which such
notice is deposited in the post-office at Washington, with the regular
time for the transmission of the same added thereto, which time shall be
endorsed on the n otice; and that so much o f the thirteenth section of
the act o f Congress, approved July fourth, eighteen hundred and thirtysix, as authorizes the annexing to letters patent o f the description and
specification of additional improvements, is hereby repealed ; and in all
cases where additional improvements would now be admissible, inde­
pendent patents must be applied for.
S e c . 10. And be it further enacted, That all laws now in force fixing
the rates o f the Patent Office fees to be paid, and discriminating between
the inhabitants of the United States and those of other countries, which
shall not discriminate against the inhabitants o f the United States, are
hereby repealed, and in their stead the following rates are established:
On filing each caveat, ten dollars.
On filing each original application for a patent, except for a design,
fifteen dollars.
On issuing each original patent, twenty dollars.
On every appeal from the examiners-in-chief to the commissioner,
twenty dollars.
On every application for the re-issue of a patent, thirty dollars.
On every application for the extension of a patent, fifty dollars; and
fifty dollars, in addition, on the granting o f every extension.
On filing each disclaimer, ten dollars.
For certified copies o f patents and other papers, ten cents per hundred
words.
For recording every assignment, agreement, power of attorney and
other papers, of three hundred words or under, one dollar.
For recording every assignment and other papers over three hundred
and under one thousand words, two dollars.
For recording every assignment or other writing, if over one thousand
words, three dollars.
For copies of drawings, the reasonable cost o f making the same.
S e c . 11. And be it further enacted, That any citizen or citizens, or
alien or aliens, having resided one year in the United States, and taken
the oath o f his or their intention to become a citizen or citizens, who by
his, her or their own industry, genius, efforts and expense, may have in­
vented or produced any new and original design for a manufacture,
whether o f metal or other material or materials, an original design for
a bust, statue or bass-relief, or composition in alto or basso relievo, or
any new and original impression or ornament, or to be placed on any ar-




492

Journal o f M ining and Manufactures.

[N ov em b er,

tide of manufacture, the same being formed in marble or other material,
or any new and useful pattern, or print, or picture, to be either worked
into or worked on, or printed, or painted, or cast, or otherwise fixed on
any article of manufacture, or any new and original shape or configu­
ration of any article o f manufacture, not known or used by others before
his, her or their invention or production thereof, and prior to the time
o f his, her or their application for a patent therefor, and who shall de­
sire to obtain an exclusive property or right therein to make, use
and sell, and vend the same, or copies o f the same, to others, by them
to be made, used and sold, may make application in writing to the com­
missioner o f patents, expressing such desire, and the commissioner, on
due proceedings had, may grant a patent therefor, as in the case now of
application for a patent, for the term o f three and one-half years, or for
the term o f seven years, or for the term of fourteen years, as the said
applicant may elect in his application : Provided, That the fee to be paid
in such application shall be for the term o f three years and six months,
ten dollars; for seven years, fifteen dollars; and for fourteen years, thirty
dollars : And provided, That the patentees of designs under this act shall
be entitled to the extension of their respective patents for the term of
seven years from the day on which said patents shall expire, upon the
same terms and restrictions as are now provided for the extension of
letters patent.
S e c . 12. And be it further enacted, That all applications for patents
shall be completed and prepared for examination within two years after
the filing o f the petition, and in default thereof they shall be regarded as
abandoned by the parties thereto, unless it be shown to the satisfaction
o f the commissioner of patents that such delay was unavoidable; and
all applications now pending shall be treated as if filed after the passage
o f this a ct; and all applications for the extension o f patents shall be filed
at least ninety days before the expiration thereof, and notice of the day
set for the hearing o f the case shall be published, as now required by
law, for at least sixty days.
S e c . 13. And be it further enacted, That in all cases where an article
is made or vended by any person under the protection o f letters patent,
it shall be the duty o f such person to give sufficient notice to the public
that said article is so patented, either by fixing thereon the word patented,
together with the day and year the patent was granted, or when, from
the character o f the article patented, that may be impracticable, by en­
veloping one or more o f the said articles, and affixing a label to the
package, or otherwise attaching thereto a label, on which the notice, with
the date, is printed ; on failure of which, in any suit for the infringement
o f letters patent by the party failing so to mark the article the right to
which is infringed upon, no damage shall be recovered by the plaintiff,
except on proof that the defendant was duly notified o f the infringement,
and continued after such notice to make or vend the article patented.
A nd the sixth section o f the act entitled “ An act in addition to an act
to promote the progress o f the useful arts,” and so forth, approved the
twenty-ninth day of August, eighteen hundred and forty-two, be, and the
same is hereby repealed.
S e c . 14. And be it further enacted, That the commissioner of patents
be, and he is hereby authorized to print, or in his discretion to cause to
be printed, ten copies o f the description and claims o f all patents which




Journal o f M inina and Manufactures.

493

may hereafter be granted, and ten copies o f the drawings o f the same,
when drawings shall accompany the patents: Provided, The cost of
printing the text of said descriptions and claims shall not exceed, exclu­
sive of stationery, the sum o f two cents per hundred words for each o f
said copies, and the cost of the drawing shall not exceed fifty cents per
copy ; one copy o f the above number shall be printed on parchment, to
be affixed to the letters patent; the work shall be under the direction,
and subject to the approval o f the commissioner of patents, and the
expense of the said copies shall be paid for out of the patent fund.
S e c . 15. And be it further enacted, That printed copies of the letters
patent of the United States, with the seal o f the Patent Office affixed
thereto, and certified and signed by the commissioner of patents, shall be
legal evidence o f the contents o f said letters patent in all cases.
S e c . 16. And be it further enacted, That all patents hereafter granted
shall remain in force for the term of seventeen years from the date of
issue ; and all extensions of such patents is hereby prohibited.
S e c . 17. And be it further enacted, That all acts and parts o f acts
heretofore passed, which are inconsistent with the provisions o f this act,
be, and the same are hereby repealed.
EUROPEAN

PATENTS.

Many valuable inventions are yearly introduced into Europe from the
United States, by parties ever on the alert to pick up whatever they can
lay their hands upon which may seem useful. Models are not required in
any European country, but the utmost care and experience are necessary in
the preparation of each case. W e copy from “ The Scientific American.”
Great Britain.— From a synopsis of the patent laws, published in the
Scientific American, it appears that patents for inventions, under the new
law, as amended by the act o f October 1, 1852, and now in operation,
include the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in one grant,
which confers the exclusive right to make, use, exercise or vend. This
is conceded to the inventor or the introducer for a period of fourteen
years, subject, after the patent is granted and the first expenses paid, to
a government tax twice during its existence, once within three years, and
once again within seven. The purchaser of a patent would assume the
payment of these taxes.
There is no provision in the English law requiring that a patented
invention shall be introduced into public use within any specified limit.
Under the patent act o f October, 1852, the British government relin­
quished its right to grant patents for any of its colonies, each colony
being permitted to regulate its own patent system. If a patent has
been previously taken out in a foreign country, the British patent will
expire with it.
France.— Patents in France are granted for a term o f fifteen years,
unless the invention has been previously secured by patent in some other
country ; in such case it must take date with and expire with the pre­
vious patent. After the patent is issued the French government requires
the payment o f a small tax each year, so long as the patent is kept alive,
and two years’ time is given to put the invention patented into practice.
It should be borne in mind, that, although the French law does not
require that the applicant should make oath to his papers, yet if a patent




494

Journal o f M ining and Manufactures.

[November,

should be obtained by any other person than the inventor, upon proof
being adduced to this effect before the proper tribunal, the patent would
be declared illegal.
B elg iu m .— Patents in Belgium are granted for twenty years, or, if pre­
viously patented in another country, they expire with the date thereof.
The working o f the invention must take place within one year from date
o f patent, but an extension for an additional year may be obtained on
application to the proper authorities. Inventors are only legally entitled
to take out patents.
T h e N eth erla n d s .— Patents are granted by the Royal Institute of the
Netherlands to natives or foreigners, represented by a resident subject,
which extend to a period o f about two years, within which time the in­
vention must be brought into use, and, upon payment o f an additional
tax, a patent will be granted to complete its whole term o f fifteen years.
Unless these conditions are complied with the patent ceases.
P r u s s ia .— Applications for patents in Prussia are examined by the
Royal Polytechnic Commission; and unless there is novelty in the in­
vention the applicant’s petition will be denied; and if it is granted, the
invention must be worked within six months afterward. A respite, how­
ever, of six additional months may be obtained, if good and sufficient
reasons for it can be shown.
A u s tria .— Austrian patents are granted for a term o f fifteen years, upon
the payment o f one thousand florins, or about five hundred dollars in
American currency. This sum, however, is not all required to be paid
in advance. It is usual to pay the tax for the first five years upon the
deposit of the papers, and the patent must be worked within its first
year. The Emperor can extend the patent and privilege o f working by
special grant. In order to obtain a patent in Austria, an authenticated
copy of the original letters patent must be produced.
S p a in .— The duration of a Spanish patent o f importation is five years,
and can be prolonged to ten years; and the invention is to be worked
within one year and one day. To obtain a Cuban patent requires a
special application and an extra charge.
R u ssia .-— Since the close o f the Crimean war considerable attention
has been given to Russian patents by Americans. Russia is a country
rich in mineral and agricultural products, and there seems to be a field
open for certain kinds o f improvements. The present Emperor is very
liberally disposed towards inventors, and, as an evidence o f the interest
which he takes in the progress of mechanic arts, we may state that we
have had visits from two distinguished Russian savans, specially sent out
by the Emperor to examine American inventions. A s Russian patents
are expensive and somewhat difficult to obtain, we do not take it upon
ourselves to advise applications; inventors must judge for themselves;
and this remark applies not only to Russia, but also to all other foreign
countries.
Canada .— Patents o f invention are granted only to actual residents of
Canada and British subjects. Under the general patent law o f Canada,
an American cannot procure a patent for his invention there. The only
way in which he can do so is by virtue of a special act o f Parliament,
which is very difficult, uncertain and expensive to obtain.
Several
zealous friends of reform in Canada are working earnestly to bring about
a reciprocal law, but their efforts have thus far proved fruitless.




Journal o f M ining and Manufactures.

1861.]

495

B r itish I n d ia .— The date of the law, February 28, 1856 ; duration of
a patent, fourteen years. Invention must be worked within two years
from date of petition. Privilege granted only to the original inventor
or his authorized agent in India.
S a x o n y .— Duration o f patent, from five to ten years. Invention must
be worked within one year from date o f grant. Careful examination
made before granting a patent.
H a n o v er .— Duration o f patent, ten years ; and in case o f foreign patent
having been previously obtained, an authenticated copy of said patent
must be produced. Invention must be worked within six months from
date of grant.
S a rd in ia .— Duration o f patent, from one to fifteen years. Patents for
five years or less must be worked within one year, and all others within
two years.
N o r w a y and S w eden .— Duration o f patent, three years at least, fifteen
at most, according to the nature and importance o f the invention. Pat­
ents for foreign inventions not to exceed the term granted abroad, and to
be worked within one, two or four years.
A u s tra lia . — Date of law, March 31,1854. Careful examination made
"by competent persons previous to issue o f patent, which, when granted,
extends to fourteen years. Imported inventions are valid according to
duration o f foreign patent. It would require from twelve to eighteen
months to procure a patent from the Australian government.

QUICKSILVER.

The quantities o f quicksilver exported from San Francisco during the
first half of each o f the last five years, and the market rate at the close o f
each period, were as follow :
First six months o f

1857................
1858,..............
1859,..............
1860,..............
1861,..............

........... 11,938 flasks,
........... 13,452
“
...........
581
........... 3,799
“
........... 14,797
“

..

Value per lb., June 30th,
tt
if
ii
ft
it
ii
if
ii

..
..
..
..
..

65 cents.
65 “
65 “
81
40 cents.

It appears, from the data o f the present year, that quicksilver is re­
suming the importance which it had attained prior to the suspension of
the New-Almaden mine. The full operation o f those extensive works,
and the important progress constantly making in others, swell the export
of this year to larger dimensions than ever, and have produced a corre­
sponding reduction o f its current value for that purpose. A much larger
quantity can be produced, and a large increase in the export may be
looked for.
COCOANUT

OIL.

The production o f cocoanut oil on islands in the Pacific is increasing.
On June 11th the Hawaiian schooner M a r il d a arrived at Honolulu in
twelve days from Fanning’s Island, bringing 12,000 gallons of cocoanut
oil. She reported every thing at the island prospering. On her return
she was to take the new oil-press constructed by Mr. H u g h e s , at the
Honolulu foundry, which will enable the proprietors to double the pre­
sent manufacture o f oil, at a much reduced cost o f labor.




496

Journal o f M in in g and M anufactures.

INDIA

RUBBER

[N ov em b er,

VARNISH.

That India rubber dissolved in various liquids yields a good varnish is
well known ; but in general they are too viscid for delicate purposes, and
are only good for making stuffs water-proof. India rubber liquified by
heat, dissolved in oil of coal tar, or drying linseed oil, does not give n
varnish of sufficient fluency or free from smell. Moreover, a considerable
quantity of India rubber remains undissolved in a gelatinous state, sus­
pended in the liquid, so that the solution is never clear. Dr. B o l l y has
recently published some remarks on this subject which may be useful.
I f India rubber be cut into small pieces and digested in sulphuret of car­
bon, a jelly will be formed ; this must be treated with benzine, and thus
a much greater proportion o f caoutchouc will be dissolved than would
be done by any other method. The liquid must be strained through a
woollen cloth, and the sulphuret of carbon be drawn off by evaporation
in a water bath ; after which, the remaining liquid may be diluted at will
with benzine, by which means a transparent, but still yellowish liquid,
will be obtained. A more colorless solution may be prepared by digest­
ing India rubber cut into small pieces for many days in benzine, and fre-.
quently shaking the bottle which contains it. The jelly thus formed will
partly dissolve, yielding a liquid which is thicker than benzine, and may
be obtained very clear by filtration and rest. The residue may be sepa­
rated by straining, and will furnish an excellent water-proof composition.
As for the liquid itself, it incorporates easily with all fixed or volatile
oils. It dries very fast, and does not shine, unless mixed with resinous
varnishes. It is extremely flexible, may be spread in very thin layers,
and remain unaltered under the influence o f air and light. It may be
employed to varnish geographical maps or prints, because it does not
affect the whiteness o f the paper, does not reflect light disagreeably as
resinous varnishes do, and is not subject to crack or come off in scales.
It may be used to fix black chalk or pencil drawings; and unsized paper,
when covered with varnish, may be written on with ink.— G alignani.

SWISS

CHEESE.

Each parish in Switzerland hires a man, generally from the district of
Gruyere, in the Canton o f Freyburgh, to take care of the herd and make
the cheese; one cheeseman, one pressman or assistant, and one cowherd,
are considered necessary for every forty cows. The owners o f the cows
get credit in a book for the quantity of milk given by each cow daily.
The cheeseman and his assistants milk the cows, put the milk all together,
and make cheese o f i t ; and at the end o f the season each owner receives
the weight of cheese proportionable to the quantity of milk his cows have
delivered. B y this co-operative plan, instead of small-sized, unmarketable
cheeses, which each owner could produce out o f his three or four cows’
milk, he has the same weight in large, marketable cheeses, superior in
quality, because made by people who attend to no other business. The
cheeseman and his assistants are paid so much per head o f the cows
in money or in cheese; or sometimes they hire the cows, and pay the
owners in money or cheese. A similar system exists in the Frence Jura.




1861.]

Cotton Crop o/'ISSS— 1861,

497

C O T T O N C R O P OF T H E U N I T E ! ) S T A T E S .
I. Statement and T otal A mount for the Y ear ending 31st A ugust, 1S61. II. P roduction
of EAcn State in 1850 and in 1861. III. P er Centage of P roduction in each State .
I Y . E xport from each P ort. Y . Consumption in the U nited States, 1S47-1S61.

Total.
States a n d P orts .

Bales.
1861.

I860.

1859.

1858.

1,781,599

2,139,425

1,669,274

1,576,409

546,794

843,012

704,406

522,364

144,747

252,424

192,062

145,2S6

121,172

192,724

173,4S4

122,351

477,584

525,219

475,788

282,973

L o u isia n a .
Export from N e w -O rlean s —
T o foreign ports,.............................. 1,788,673
T o coastwise p o r t s ,........................
132,179
Burnt at N ew -O rleans,..................
3,276
10,118
Stock, 1st Septem ber, 1S61,..........
1,929,246

Deduct—
R eceiv ed from M ob ile,..................
R eceived from M ontgom ery, &c.,
R eceived from F lorid a,..................
R eceived from T exa s,....................
Stock, 1st September, 1860,..........

48,270
11,551
13,279
30,613
73,934
177,647

A labam a.

Export fr o m M obile —

T o foreign ports,..............................
T o coastwise p o r ts , ........................
M anufactured in M obile, (e s t.,)..
Stock, 1st Septem ber, 1S61,..........

456,421
127,574
2,000
2,481

Deduct stock, 1st Septem ber, 1860,........

588,476
41,682

T e xas.

Export from G alv esto n , & c.T<> foreign ports,..............................
T o coastw ise p o r t s ,........................
Stock, 1st Septem ber, 1861,..........

63,209
84,254
452

Deduct stock, 1st Septem ber, 1860,........

147,915
3,168

F l o r id a .

Exp. from A p al ac h ic o l a , St . M a r k s , & c .
T o foreign ports,..............................
T o coastwise p o r t s ,........................
Burnt at St. M ark s,........................
Stock, 1st Septem ber, 1861,..........

28,073
85,953
150
7,860

Deduct stock, 1st Septem ber, 1860,........

122,036
864

G e o r g ia .

Export fro m S a v a n n a h —
T o foreign ports— U plands,..........
Sea Islands, ..
T o coastw ise ports— U plands,. . .
Sea Islands,
Stock in Savannah, 1st Sept., 1861,
Stock in A ugusta, & c., 1 A u g., “

293,746
8,441
170,572
11,512
4,102
5,991

Deduct—
R ec’ d from Florida— Sea Islands,
U p la n d s,...
Stock in Savannah, 1st Sept., 1860,
Stock in Augusta, & c .,l “
“

1,033
6,188
4,307
5,252

494,364

16,780

South Carolina .

E xp.from Charleston & G eorgetown,
T o foreign ports— U plands,..........
Sea Islands,...
T o coastw ise ports— U pla n ds,. . .
Sea Islands,
V O L . X L V .-----N O . V .




199,345
15,043
121,663
8,355
32

[N ov em b er,

Cotton Crop o f 1 8 5 8 — 1861.

498

COTTON CROP OP 1858—1861.—(OmUnued.)
Total.
States

and

Bales.

P oets.

Burnt at Charleston,.................
Stock in Charleston, 1 Sept., 1861,

564
2,S99

Deduct—
Received from Florida and Sa­
vannah—Sea Islands,.............
Uplands,..................
Stock in Charleston, 1 Sept., 1S60,

255
2,378
8,897

N orth

To foreign ports,........................

195

T o coastw ise p o r t s ,........................

56,100

1860.

1859.

1858

336,339

510,109

4S0,653

406,251

56,295

41,194

37,482

23,999

78,132

56,987

33,011

24,705

143,424

10S,676

85,321

9,624

347,S69

11,530

C a r o l in a .

Export —

1861.

V ir g in ia .

Export —

To foreign ports,........................
To coastwise ports,...................
Manufactured, (taken from ports,)
Stock, 1st September, 1861,........

810
61,129
16,993
2,000

80,932
2,800

Deduct stock, 1st September, 1860,......
T ennessee, &c.

Shipments from Memphis,.........
“
“ Nashville,........
“
“ •'Columbus and
Hickman, Ky.,........................
Stock, 1st September, 1861,........
Deduct—

Shipments to New-Orleans,......
Manufactured on the Ohio, &c.,.
Stock, 1st September, 1860,........

369,S57
16,471
5,500
1,671
196,366
52,000
1,709

393,499

250,075

3,656,0S6 4,669,770 3,851,481 3,113,962

Total crop of the United States,........

Decrease from crop of 1860, 1,013,684 bales; 1S59, 195,395 bales. Increase over crop of 1858,
542,124 bales.

E

x po rt

op

C

otton

to

F

o r e ig n

P

o r t s

,

From September 1, 1860, to August 31, 1861.
To Great
Britain.

F rom

New-Orleans, La.,.
Mobile, Ala...........
Galveston, Tex.,...
Florida,.................
Savannah, Ga.,......
Charleston, S. C.,...
Virginia,...............
North Carolina,---New-York,...........
Baltimore,..............
Philadelphia,.........
Boston,.................
Grand total,__
Total last year,,
Decrease,.......




.bales,

To
France.

To Nort . Other Forof Europe. eign Ports.

1,159,348
340,S45
47,229
27,140
282,994
136,513
S10
144
158,415
975
3,793
IT,019

3SS,925
96,429
3,640

49,122

35,i97
2,4S3
6,113

93

1,783,678
456,421
63,209
28,073
302,187
214,388
810
195
248,049
3,545
8,798
23,225

2,175,225
2,669,432

578,063
589,587

216,250
295,072

158,030
220,082

3,127,568
8,774,178

494,207

11,524

78,622

62,052

646,605

10,061
29,886

122,042
6,601
12,315
933
6,165
24,401

113,858
12,546
25
2,967
23,588
51
5,315
87

499

Cotton Crop o f 1 8 5 8 — 1 8 61 .

1 8 6 1 .]

C o m p a r a t iv e C r o p S t a te m e n t .
From the JV. Y. Shipping and Commercial List.

1860-1,.... ...
1859-60,... ...
1S5S-9,__ ...
1857-8,.... ...
1856-7,.... ...
1S55-6,.... ...
1854-5,.... ...
1S53-4,.... ...
1852-3,.... ...

3,656,086
4,669,770
3,851,481
3,113,962
2,939,519
3,527,845
2,847,339
2,930,027
3,262,882

Bales.

Bales.

Bales.

1851-2,.... ...
1850-1,.... ...
1849-50,... ...
1S48-9,.... ...
1847-8,.... ...
1S46-7,.... ...
1845-6,,... ...
1844-5,.... ...
1S43-4,.... ...

C o n sum ption

3,015,029
2,355,257
2,096,706
2,728,596
2,347,634
1,778,651
2,100,537
2,394,503
2,030,409

in

the

1 8 4 2 -3 ,.... . . .
1S 4 1-2 ,.... . . .
1 8 4 0 -1 ,.... . . .
1S39-40,... . . .
1 8 3 8 -9 ,.... . . .
1 8 3 7 -8 ,.... . . .
1 8 3 6 -7 ,.... . . .
1 8 3 5 -6 ,.... . . .
1 8 8 4 -5 ,.... . . .

Bales.

2,378,875
1,6S3,574
1,634,945
2,177,835
1,360,532

1 8 3 3 -4 ,.... . . . 1,205,394
1 S 3 2 -3 ,.... . . . 1,070,48S
1 8 3 1 -2 ,.... . . .
987,477
1 8 3 0 -1 ,.... . . . 1,038,848
1829-30,... . . .
976,845
1,801,497 1 8 2 8 -9 ,.... . . .
870,415
1,422,930 1827-8,.... . . .
727,593
1,860,725 1 8 2 6 -7 ,.... . . .
957,281
1,254,328 1 8 2 5 -6 ,.... . . .
720,027

U n ited S t a t e s , 1861.

Total crop of the United States as before stated,...................................................bales,

3,656,0SG

A dd stocks on hand at the commencement of the year, 1st Sept., 1860:

In the Southern ports,.......................................................................
In the Northern ports,.................................................. ....................
Makes a supply of............................................................................
Deduct theref rom—
The export to foreign ports,.............................................. 3,127,568
Less, foreign included,......................................................
701
Stocks on hand, 1st September, 1861:
In the Southern ports,.......................................................
In the Northern ports,.......................................................

37,574
45,613

Burnt at New-Orleans, St. Marks, Charleston and Philadelphia,.
Manufactured in Virginia and Mobile,........................................

4,390
18,993

142,613
85,095

227,70S
3,8S3,794

3,126,867

83,1S7
23,383
-------

3,233,437

Taken for home use north of Virginia,.................................................................. bales,
Taken for home use in Virginia and South and West of Virginia,........................ “

650,357
193,383

Total consumed in the United States, (including burnt at the ports,) 1860-61,... “

843,740

Estimate of the amount o f cotton consumed the past year in the States
South and West o f Virginia, and not included in the receipts at the
ports. T h u s:
North Carolina, bales,.
South Carolina,..........
Georgia,....................
Alabama,...................
Tennessee,.................
On the Ohio, &c.,......

1854.

1855.

1856.

1857.

20,000 . .
12,000 . .
23,000 . .
6,000 . .
6,000 . .
38,000 . .

18,500 . .
10,500 . .
20,500 . .
5,500 . .
4,000 . .
26,000 . .

22,000 ..
15,000 ..
25,000 ..
6,500 ..
7,000 ..
42,000 ..

25,000
17,000
23,000
5,000
9,000
38,000

Total to Sept. 1, bales, 105,000

S5,000

117,500

117,000

1858.

1859.

.. 26,000 .. 29,000 ..
.. 18,000 .. 20,000 ..
.. 24,000 .. 26,000 ..
8,000 .. 10,000 ..
.. 10,000 .. 13,000 ..
.. 39,000 .. 45,000 ..

1860.

1861.

30,000
21,000
2S,000
11,000
15,000
49,000

.. 33,000
.. 24,000
.. 82,000
.. 12,000
.. 17,000
.. 52,000

125,000143,000154,000 170,000

To which, if we add (for the past year) the stocks in the interior towns
1st September, (say 6,200 bales,) the quantity detained in the interior,
(say 25,000 bales,) and that lost on its way to market, (9,000 bales,) to
the crop as given above, received at the shipping ports, the aggregate
will show, as near as may be, the amount raised in the United States the




Cotton Crop o f 1 8 5 8 — 1 8 61 .

500

[N o v e m b e r,

past season— say, in round numbers, 3,866,000 bales, (after deducting
300 bales new crop received this year to 1st ult.,) against
Bales.

Bales.

Bales.

1860,...... ....4,805,800 1857,. ........... 3,014,000
1859,...... ....4,017,000 1856,. ........... 3,335,000
1858,...... ....3,247,000 1855,. ........... 3,186,000

Bales.

1854,.... ...... 3,000,000 1851,.... ...... 2,450,000
1853,.... ...... 8,360,000 1850,.... ...... 2,212,000
1852...... ...... 3,100,000 1849,.... ...... 2,840,000

The quantity of new cotton received at the shipping ports to 1st September was, in
Bales.

Bales.

1861,...... ........
1860,...... ........
1859,...... ........
1858,...... ........
1S5T,....... ........
1856,...... ........
1855,...... ........

300
51,600
12,369
8,031
100
1,800
26,079

1854,. ..............
1853,. ..............
1852,. ..............
1851,. ..............
1850,. ...............
1849,. ..............
1848,. ..............

1,890
6,716
5,125
3,200
255
575
3,000

1847,.... ..........
1846,.... ..........
1845,.... ..........
1844,...... .........
1843,.... .........
1842,.... ..........
1841,.... ..........

Bales.

Bales.

1,121
200
7,500
7,500
300
3,000
32,000

1840,.... .......... 80,000
1839,....
“
1838,....
1837,....
1836,.... .......... 9,702
1835,.... ......... 3,424
1834,....

S tatement showing the A mount of C otton Consumed Y early in tiie U nited
S tates, from 1841 to 1801.
Year.

184*7-8,.......... ........
1 8 4 8 -9 ,......... ____
1849-50,........ ........
1850-1,.......... ........
1851-2,.......... ........
1852-8,........ .........
1853-4,.......... ........
1854-5,.......... ........
1855-6,.......... ____
1856-7............____
1857-8,.......... ____
1858-9....................
1859-60,........ ........
1 8 60-1,.......... ........

North o f
Virginia.

Elsewhere.

Total,
United
States.

Foreign
export
and stock.

Bales.
523,892
504,143
476,486
386,429
588,322
650,393
592,284
571,117
633,027
665,718
452,185
760,218
786,521
650,357

Bales.
92,162
138,342
137,012
99,185
111,281
153,332
144,952
135,295
137,712
154,218
143,377
167,433
185,522
193,383

Bales.
616,044
642,485
613,498
485,614
699,603
803,725
737,236
706,412
770,739
819,936
595,562
927,651
972,043
843,740

Bales.
1,731,590
2,086,111
1,483,208
1,869,643
2,315,426
2,459,157
2,192,791
2,140,927
2,757,106
2,119,583
2,518,400
2,923,830
3,677,727
2,812,346

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

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

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

Total crop.

Bales.
2,347,634
2,728,596
2,096,706
2,355,257
3,015,029
3,262,882
2,930,027
2,847,339
3,527,845
2,939,519
3,113,962
3,851,481
4,669,770
3,656,086

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

'C omparative S tatement of the P roduction of C otton in the U nited S tates for
the Y ears 1860-61 and 1849-50, and P er Centage of each S tate at those
P eriods.
1849-50.

1860-61.

Bales.

Louisiana,.......................
Alabama,.......................
Texas,.............................
Florida,...........................
Georgia,.........................
South Carolina..............
North Carolina,.............
Virginia,.........................
Tennessee,.....................
Mississippi,...................
Arkansas,.......................
Kentucky and Indiana,.
Bales,




1,751,599
546,794
144,747
121,172
477,584
336,339
56,295
78,132
143,424

3,656,086

Per cent aye

Bales.

47.90
14.95
3.96
3.31
13.06
9.20
1.54
2.13
3.95

178,737
564,429
57,596
45,131
499,091
300,901
73,849
3,947
194,532
484,293
65,346
772

..

..
..

100.

..

2,468,624

Per centage

..
..
..

..

7.24
22.87
2.33
1.83
20.22
12.19
2.99
.16
7.88
19.62
2.64
.03
100.

1 8 6 1 .]

Cotton C rop o f 1 8 6 8 — 1861.

501

There is an apparent discrepancy in this statement, in the omission o f
the States of Mississippi and Arkansas as producers of cotton in the year
1860-61. This arises from the fact that neither has a seaport through
which to export their crop to foreign countries and to domestic ports.
Hence, it will be found that, ordinarily, all the cotton o f Arkansas, and
nearly all of the State of Mississippi, is distributed via New-Orleans.
Some portions o f Mississippi cotton are shipped to Mobile, which is the
second port in importance in the United States as a cotton-receiving and
exporting point. From an official “ S tatem en t o f the P r o d u cts and T a x ­
able P r o p e r ty o f L o u isia n a ]' in 1859, it appears that cotton is not ordi­
narily the most valuable crop of that State. A t the prices prevailing
during the past twelve months (10 @ 22 cts.) it was equal to the sugar
crop in aggregate value. The main products of that State, in 1859, were
as follow, and, at prices of 1860-61, would result thus :
S u gar,.............
292,180
Cotton,.............
499,885
Molasses,.........
422,054
C orn ,............... 18,121,043

lihds.,
. . Value, $100 per hhd.,
bales,
..
“
60 per bale,
bbls.,
“
bushels, . .
“
40 cts. per bushel,

. . $29,218,000
..
30,000,000
..
6,000,000
..
5,250,000

Owing to the unsettled state o f the country, and the absence o f our
usual mail facilities, our labor has been prosecuted with more difficulty,
and less satisfaction to ourselves, than ever before, but we take pleasure
in stating, that owing to a combination of favorable circumstances, we are,
with a few unimportant exceptions, enabled to present a statement which,
we believe, in all its leading items, to approximate exactness, and one
which, for all practical purposes, may be considered reliable. Some of
the minor details usually given in our statement are of necessity omitted,
owing to the causes alluded to above, and some others are less complete
than we could wish, but we feel assured that the statement, as a whole,
will be found very nearly correct. It is well known that, owing to the
disturbed state of the Southern section of the country, the commerce in
cotton was hurried to a close some two months or more earlier than
usual, and the results now given were more or less correctly known a
month or two ago. It will be well, however, to observe here, that our
former (weekly) tables included as receipts a ll the shipments from Mem­
phis, but to arrive at the commercial crop o f the country, we have, as
usual, deducted the amount consumed on the Ohio, &c., estimated, by
good judges, at 52,000 bales, and, on this account, the aggregate crop
will now appear less than was previously supposed it would be. The
statement, however, must speak for itself; it is the best we could make,
considering the serious embarrassments under which we have labored.
It may be well to observe, that the preceding statement of the crop is
that o f the United States, as a w hole , and does not purport to be the
crops o f the S tates, though the shipments, stocks, &c., are necessarily
arranged under the different leading shipping ports or States, as the case
may be.— A7. Y . S h ip p in g L ist.




•502

H is to r y o f the U n ited S ta tes T a riff.

HISTORY

OF T H E

UNITED

[N ov em b er,

STATES TARIFF.

I. T ariff of M arcit, 1861. II. M ethod of L evy for P rotection. III. F ailure as a R eve ­
nue M easure. IV. D iminished Consumption. V. D ecline in I mportations . VI. M onthly
C ustoms, P ort of N ew -Y ork . VII. Congressional D iscussion. VIII. O utbreak of W a r .
IX. E xtra Session. X. F ree A rticles T axed . XI. T ea and Coffee. XII. E stimated
R evenue . XIII. N orthern Consumption. XIV. Y ield of the three T ariffs . XV.
B onded G oods. XVI. E xports of the Country. XVII. R eturn of Specie . XVIII. Grain
E xports—Cotton I mports—E ffect of L oan upon Customs—P robable Change .

The tables (pp. 506, 507) embrace every article enumerated in tbe tariff
act of August 5th, 1861, with the rate of duty levied on each; to which
we add the comparative rates according to the tariffs o f 1842, 1846,
1857 and March, 1861. The whole will show at one glance the changes
at these dates on these articles.
In our number for April last we brought down the history o f the
national tariffs passed since the formation o f the federal government to
the enactment of March, 1861, which had been passed hastily amid the
extraordinary excitement that attended the close o f the 36th Congress.
That tariff restored the rates of duties to the highest protective rates for
the leading manufactures. It changed the mode o f levying the duties,
and introduced many complications in their application. It made charges
on long lists of articles previously free, generally on the principle of
light taxes upon raw or partly manufactured articles, and increasing the
rate in proportion to the degree in which the imported article was sup­
posed to rival similar articles o f domestic production. Such a principle,
although it gratified the views o f those who held that home manufac­
tures should be protected by the direct interference o f the government,
was not of a nature to improve the revenues, since the domestic articles
would, by reason o f the increased tax, more readily exclude the foreign
one from the markets, thus cutting off the taxed article from the service
of the revenue. In a similar manner, tea, coffee and cocoa, which are not
United States productions, were left free of duty, while sugar, which has
a domestic rival, was charged with a specific duty, but of a lower equiva­
lent than the ad valorem o f the former tariff. The tariff, as a whole, was
calculated to increase the public revenue in speculative seasons, but to
have a contrary effect when, from general causes, commerce was depressed
and want of confidence bore heavily upon those circulating credits which
are, in the United States, the machinery of business. This had been the
case since the November election had been followed by political events
o f a serious nature. The commercial effect o f those events was to cause
an immediate decline in importations, and this decline showed itself, as
a consequence, in the falling off in the customs revenue, although the tariff
remained unaltered up to the first o f April, when the new tariff o f March
went into operation. The following table shows the monthly customs
receipts at the port o f New-York, where two-thirds of the whole federal
revenue are collected, during the two years of the operation of the tariff
1857 and the first quarter o f the year 1861:




H istory o f the United States Tariff.

1 8 6 1 .]

1859.

1860.

January,...........$3,478,471
..
3,328,688 . .
February,........
March,................ 3,164,011 . .
A p r il,................. 3,212,060 . .
May,...................
4,014,520 . .
June,.................. 3,314,429 . .
J u ly ,................... 4,851,246 . .
August................ 4,243,010 . .
September,___
2,908,506
..
October,............ 2,318,750
..
November,.......... 2,157,154 . .
December,.......... 2,843,388 . .
$39,834,233

..

$3,899,166
3,378,043
3,477,545
2,444,268
2,466,463
2,024,193
4,504,066
4,496,243
3,038,803
2,632,078
1,798,749
1,171,826

50 3

1861.

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

$35,431,443

$2,050,202
2,528,736 Tariff of 1857.
2,489,926
1,643,262 “ March,1861.
979,145
1,894,064
2,069,591
1,558,824 “ August 5.
1,645,294
_
_
_

..

____

The political events of November, 1860, had an immediate effect upon
the revenue, which declined to less than half that o f the corresponding
months o f the previous year.
The discussion of the tariff question during the session naturally led
to larger importations as a precaution against the higher duties threatened
in that discussion, and the receipts in February and March, although
far behind those of the corresponding months in 1860, were larger than
during the prevalence o f the panic in November and December. W ith
the first o f April the tariff of March went into operation, but almost
simultaneously with its action the war broke out and destroyed what re­
mained of confidence, thereby curtailing business and again reducing the
yield o f the tariff, while the necessities o f the war required increased
revenues. When Congress met, under these circumstances, the revision
o f the tariff was again brought to its notice, and efforts were made to re­
duce those more strictly protective imposts which, in the altered state of
the national commerce, assumed a prohibitive action, and were therefore
detrimental to the great object of revenue. These efforts were, however,
without success. The rates were not modified, but many important arti­
cles, previously in the free list, were subjected to tax. O f these, coffee and
tea were the most promising for revenue. Brown sugar was raised from
three-fourths of a cent per pound to two cents per pound, and molasses
from two to five cents per gallon. These three changes, with that in rela­
tion to cocoa, were calculated to give a large revenue. The quantities and
values imported in 1860, with the rate and amount o f duty, were as fol­
low, compared with the revenue that the new act would draw from the
same quantities:
1861.

I860.
D uties.
Q u a ntity.

Value.

Tea,...............lb. 30,593,106 $ 7,306,916
C offee,............... 200,998,751 25,063,333
C o co a ,...............
3,186,721
389,839
Sugar, b ro w n ,.. 692,944,872 30,471,302
“
clayed, . .
1,035,639
78,229
“
loaf, A c.,.
771,334
8,087
“
ca n d y ,...
41,598
1,243
“
s y ru p ,...
86,312
19,717
Molasses, . . gall. 30,922,633
5,062,850




$ 8,569,534

R a te.

free.
“
4 cts.
24 “
ti it
it ft
it it
If it
ti ft

Am ount.

$15,593
7,313,112
18,774
1,941
298
4,732
1,215,084

D uties.
R a te.

15 cts.
4 “
3 “
2 “
2*“
4 “
6 “
2 “
5 “

Am ount.

$4,588,960
8,039,950
127,468
13,858,897
2,589,097
29,853
2,495
1,726
1,546,131
$ 30,974,577

504

H istory o f the United States Tariff.

[N ov em b er,

The quantities imported in 1860 were for the whole Union, and, if
estimated for the North only, must be reduced in the ratio o f forty per
cent, for the articles o f tea, coffee and cocoa. In the case o f sugar, how­
ever, the quantities imported are not more than half o f the whole con­
sumption of the Union, the remainder being made up from the Louisiana
production. Hence, the quantities of sugar imported may be assumed to
be the usual Northern supply. All these articles, however, encounter a
diminished demand, by reason o f that general economy which flows from
the depression o f general industry; and, instead of deriving, as was esti­
mated, $35,000,000 from the amended tariff and $20,000,000 from the
tax on tea, coffee and sugar, the prospect is that the whole tariff for the
present fiscal year will not give $20,000,000.
I f the dutiable imports are taken for three periods o f the present year,
embracing the three tariffs, the results are as follows :
Imports.

Duties.

Average.

Jan. 1 to April 1, 3 mos., tariff ’ 57,........ $36,024,451 . . $ 1,068,864 . . 19^ per cent.
April 1 to Aug. 5, 4 “
« ’ 61,.......... 2 5,164,019.. 6,586,062 . . 26^
Aug. to Sept.,
2 “
“ Aug.,’61, 12,324,147..
3,204,218 . . 26

These figures give for result that the old tariff yielded less than twenty
per cent, in the last three months of its operation, while that of March,
1861, gave but twenty-six and one-eightli per cent, upon the imports, be­
cause the articles most heavily taxed were imported in a smaller ratio. The
new tariff gives no higher average rate of taxes on dutiable imports, for
the reason, that in the first two months of its operation it hardly became
effective in its full force. The large quantities o f goods in bond, and
which were imported freely to come in under the old rates, did not feel
the new taxes, and new importations have been comparatively very small.
The new law provides that goods can remain in bond no longer than three
months without paying duties, under a penalty o f an addition o f twentyfive per cent, to the duty. The amount o f goods in bond at the close
of July, or when the new tariff went into effect, was, in round numbers,
$23,000,000, and has since not much diminished. The importations
that now take place are under the new tariff.
It appears, however, that, for three months o f the fiscal year 1862,
which begins July 1, already elapsed, the customs revenues have been but
$5,273,809, which would give for the year $21,084,000, or $34,000,000
short of the official estimate. This result cannot be ascribed to the
higher taxes, since, as the table demonstrates, the average import is
hardly more than under the old one, and also because it has yet not come
fully into operation. The great depression of general business, arising
from the economy o f the people, is the main cause o f the lessened im­
portations and smaller revenues. The commerce of the fiscal year 1862
must undergo a very great change in respect to exports, which, in ordi­
nary years, are the measure o f the importations from which the customs
revenues are derived. The exports o f 1860 were as follow s:
1860.

Produce now blockaded,.............$236,905,881
Produce and manufactures, ____
79,336,542
Specie,...........................................
56,946,851
Total exports,...........................$373,189,274 . .




1861.

. . $210,111,000
..
129,500,000
..
23,771,877
$363,382,877 . .

1862.

(Estimate.)
..
nil.
. . $130,000,000
..
nil.
$130,000,000

1861.]

H istory o f the United States Tariff.

505

In 1860 the proceeds o f the large exports returned in the shape of
dutiable goods to the extent of $279,872,327, and $82,291,614 in free
goods. In 1860 $23,771,877 was exported in specie in the first part o f
the year. The exports o f breadstuffs then becoming large, reaching an
excess o f $46,000,000 over the previous year, simultaneously with the
great decline in importations, $34,076,153 o f specie returned into the
country, the joint effect o f the famine abroad and the political events at
home. The new year opens with the new tariff, and also with an export
demand for breadstuffs, which, it is hoped, will carry the aggregate ex­
ports to a point as high as last year, or $130,000,000.
The cost of exporting grain to Europe this year is somewhat increased
by the fact that ships have few return freights. Not only goods come in
less quantities, but immigration has been greatly affected. Hence, vessels
require the outward-bound grain to pay two freights. The same general
circumstances cause exchanges to rule 3 @ 4 per cent, lower than last
year. These two unfavorable features are offset, to some extent, by the
lowness of prices; but these, in their turn, so lessen the profits of pro­
ducers as to check the consumption o f goods. The favorable features
are, that, while the crops are very large, there are no attempts to hold
for a speculative rise, but the whole moves freely forward on a cash basis.
It is obvious, that if the whole proceeds of this exportation are received
in the shape of dutiable goods, taxed at an average of thirty per cent.,
the revenue would be $39,000,000 ; at an average o f twenty-six per
cent., the rate for the first two months of the new tariff, the amount
would be $33,800,000. But the exports may not reach so high a figure,
the more readily that prices are much lower than for the corresponding
season last year. In other words, more grain is given for the same
money, and a considerable portion will be required to pay for free
goods. The product of the tariff is, then, dependent upon the value of
the exports of which the proceeds return into the country; and the
range o f the new tariff upon the leading heads o f importations is, as
compared with the previous tariffs, as follows : ( S ee n ext p a g e.)
The position o f the cotton trade, for the moment, is such that no de­
pendence, for revenue, can be placed upon duties imposed upon those
manufactures, since the material o f manufacture fails as well abroad
as at home. The Northern States have been accustomed to manu­
facture 700,000 bales o f cotton, worth $35,000,000. As that material
threatens now to run short altogether, a great demand for substitutes
must spring up, which may improve the importations o f other articles.
The aggregate importation cannot, however, exceed the value o f the
produce exported, without involving such an outward current o f specie
as will react upon the means o f purchase.
In the case that the
government loan is taken to any extent abroad, that circumstance will
supply bills that will give great latitude to the importations, and greatly
improve the revenue. It is by no means impossible that considerable
sums in stock may be so exported. It would seem to be most probable,
that linen, wool and silks, with their mixtures, would, to a considerable
extent, supplant cotton, the cheaper article in general use. The demand
for British linens might then fairly be increased at the duty charged
under the March tariff o f twenty-five per cent, on lower qualities.




506

C om parative R a tes o f D u t y , 1 8 4 2 — 1 8 6 1 .

COMPARATIVE

RATES

1842.

OF D U T Y ,

1846.

1857.

[N o v e m b e r,

1842 — 1861.
March,

August,

1861.

1861.

Acid, tartaric,................ 20 per cent. .. 20 per ct. .. 4 per ct. .. 10 per cent. .. 10 cents lb.
Almonds,.................. lb.,
3 cents. .. 40 per ct. .. 30 per ct. .. 2 cents. .. 4 cents lb.
“
shelled,......lb.,
3 cents. .. 40 per ct. .. 30 per ct. .. 4 cents. .. 6 cents lb.
Argol,...................... lb.,
free. .. 5 per ct. ..
free. ..
free. .. 3 cents lb.
Arrow root,................... 20 per cent. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 10 per cent. .. 20 per cent.
Banannas and plantains,.
free.
.. 20 per ct. .. 8 per ct. .. 10per cent. .. 20 per cent.
free.
.. 15 per ct. ..
free. ..
free.
.. 15 per cent.
Bark, Peruvian,.............
Bar lead,........................ 3 cents lb. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 1Yz ct. lb. .. 1)4 cent lb.
Brandy,..................gall.,
$100 ..
$1 00 .. 30 per ct. ..
$100 .. $1 25 gall.
Brimstone, crude,.. ..ton, 20 per cent. .. 15 per ct. .. 4 per ct. ..
free.
.. $3 per ton.
“
rolls,...... ton, 25 per cent. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 20 per cent. .. $6 per ton.
Button cloths, silk,........ 30 per cent. .. 30 per ct. .. 24 per ct. .. 30 per cent. .. 40 per cent.
Cassia,................per lb., 20 per cent. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 8 cents lb. .. 10 cents lb.
Cassia buds,........per lb., 20 per cent. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 8 cents lb. .. 15 cents lb.
Caustic soda,................. 20 per cent. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 20 per cent. .. 1 cent lb.
Cayenne pepper,.........lb., 10 cents lb. .. 30 per ct. .. 4 per ct. .. 8cents lb. .. 6 cents lb.
“
ground,........lb., 10 cents lb. .. 30 per ct. .. 4 per ct. .. 4cents lb. .. 8 cents lb.
Chicory root,.............. lb.,
free.
..
free. ..
free.
..
free.
.. 1 cent lb.
Chicory, ground,...... lb., 20 per cent. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 20 per cent. .. 2 cents lb.
Chloride of lime,............
1 cent lb. .. 10 per ct. .. 4 per ct. .. 10 per cent. .. 80 cts. 100 lbs.
Chocolate,...................lb., 4 cents lb. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 20 per cent. .. 6 cents lb.
Cinnamon,.................. lb., 25 cents lb. .. 30 per ct. .. 4 per ct. .. 20 per cent. .. 20 cents lb.
Cloves,....................... lb., 8 cents lb. .. 40 per ct. .. 4 per ct. .. 4 cents lb. .. 8 cents lb.
Cloves, oil of,........... lb., 20 per cent. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 20 per cent. .. 70 cents lb.
Cocoa,........................ lb., 1 cent lb. .. 10 per ct. .. 4 per ct. ..
free.
.. 3 cents lb.
Cocoa leaves and shells,.. 20 per cent. .. 10 per ct. .. 4 per ct. ..
free.
.. 2 cents lb.
free.
.. 8 cents lb.
Cocoa, prepared,.......lb., 1 cent lb. .. 10 per ct. .. 4 per ct. ..
Coffee,........................lb.,
free.
..
free. ..
free.
..
free.
.. 4 cents lb.
Copal gum,.................... 15 per cent. .. 10 per ct. .. 8 per ct. .. 10 per cent. .. 10 cents lb.
Cream Tartar,............ lb.,
free.
.. 20 per ct. .. 4 per ct. ..
free. .. 6 cents lb.
Currants,.................... lb., 3 cents lb. .. 40 per ct. .. 8 per ct. .. 2 cents lb. .. 5 cents lb.
Bates,.......................lb., 1 cent lb. .. 40 per ct. .. 8 per ct. .. )4 cent lb. .. 2 cents lb.
Feathers and downs,__ 25 per cent. .. 25 per ct. .. 19 per ct. .. 20 per cent. .. 30 per cent.
Figs,.........................lb., 2 cents lb. .. 40 per ct. .. 8 per ct. .. 8 cents lb. .. 5 cents lb.
Ginger, preserved,__lb., 2 cents lb............................ 15 per ct. .. 10 per cent. .. 30 per cent.
Ginger root,............... lb., 2 cents lb. .. 40 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 10 per cent. .. 3 cents lb.
Ginger, ground,..........lb., 2 cents lb. .. 30 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 10 per cent. .. 5 cents lb.
Gum copal,..................... 15 per cent. .. 10 per ct. .. 8 per ct. .. 10 per cent. .. 10 cents lb.
Gunpowder,...............lb., 8 cefits lb. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 20 per cent. .. 30 per cent.
Hemp, Manilla,..........ton,
$25
..
$25
..
$19
..
$15
..
$25 ton.
Hemp, Eussia,........... ton,
$40
..
$30
.
$24
..
$35
..
$40 ton.
Hides,............................
5 per cent. .. 5 per ct. .. 4 per ct. .. 5 per cent. .. 10 per cent.
India rubber,.................
free.
.. 10 per ct. .. 4 per ct. ..
free.
.. 10 per cent.
-----boots and shoes,___ 30 per cent. .. 30 per ct. .. 24 per ct. .. 20 per cent. .. 30 per cent.
Ivory,............................
free.
.. 5 per ct. ..
free.
..
free.
.. 10 per cent.
Ivory, vegetable,...........
free.
.. 5 per ct. .. 4 per ct. ..
free.
.. 10 per cent.
cents lb.
..20perct... 15perct...1)4 cent lb. .. 2)4 cents lb.
Lead, sheets,.................... 4
Lead, pigs and bars,......
3 cents lb. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 1 cent lb. .. 1)4 cent lb.
Lead, red,.................. lb., 4 cents lb. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 1)4 cent lb. .. 2)4 cents lb.
Lead, white,.............. lb., 4 cents lb. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 1)4 cent lb. .. 2)4 cents lb.
Lime, chloride,..............
1 cent lb. .. 10 per ct. .. 4 per ct. .. 10 per cent. .. 30 cts. 100 lbs.
Liquorice,.................. lb., 25 per cent. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 3 cents lb. .. 5 cents lb.
Liquorice root,...........lb., 25 per cent. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. ..
free. .. 1 cent lb.
Leather, sole and bend,.. 6 cents lb. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 20 per cent. .. 30 per cent.




1 8 6 1 .]

The United States Tariffs, 1 8 4 2 — 1 8 61 .

1842.

1846.

1857.

507

March,

August,

1861.

1861.

Lemons,......................... 20 per cent. .. 20 per ct. .. 8 per ct. .. 10 per cent. .. 20 per cent.
Limes,........................... 20 per cent. .. 20 per ct. .. 8 per ct. .. 10 per cent. .. 20 per cent.
Mace,........................lb.,
50 cents. .. 40 per ct. .. 4 per ct. .. 15 cents lb. .. 25 cents lb.
Manilla hemp,......... ton,
$25
..
$25
..
$19 ..
$15
.. $25 per ton.
Molasses,....................... 4)4 cts. lb. .. 30 per ct. .. 24 per ct. .. 2 cts. gall. .. 5 cents gall.
Nutmegs,...................lb., 80 cents lb. .. 40 per ct. .. 4 per ct. .. 15 per cent. .. 25 cents lb.
Nuts,......................... lb., 1 cent lb. .. 30 per ct. .. 24 per ct. .. 1 cent lb. .. 2 cents lb.
Oil of cloves,.............. lb., 20 per cent. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 20 per cent. . 70 cents lb.
Oranges,......................... 20 per cent. .. 20 per ct. .. 8 per ct. .. 10 per cent. .. 20 per cent.
free.
.. 15 per ct. ..
free. ..
free.
.. 15 per cent.
Peruvian bark,..............
Pepper, Cayenne,....... lb., 10 cents lb. .. 30 per ct. .. 4 per ct. .. 3 cents lb. .. 6 cents lb.
Pepper, ground,.........lb., 10 cents lb. .. 30 per ct. .. 4 per ct. .. 4 cents lb. .. 8 cents lb.
Pig lead,........................
8 cents lb. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 1 cent lb. .. 1% cent lb.
Pimento,...................lb., 5 cents lb. .. 40 per ct. .. 30 per ct. .. 2 cents lb. .. 6 cents lb.
Plantains,.....................
free.
.. 20 per ct. .. 8 per ct. .. 10 per cent. .. 20 per cent.
Plums,....................... lb., 25 per cent. .. 30 per ct. .. 8 per ct. . 1 cent lb. .. 5 cents lb.
Prunes,......................lb.,
3 cents lb. .. 40 per ct. .. 8 per ct. .. 2 cents lb. .. 5 cents lb.
Quinine,......................... 20 per cent. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 30 per cent. .. 30 per cent.
Rags,.............................
% cent lb. .. 5 per ct. ..
free. ..
free.
.. 10 per cent.
Raisins,.......................lb., 3 cents lb. .. 40 per ct. .. 8 per ct. .. 2 cents lb. .. 5 cents lb.
Red lead,................... lb., 4 cents lb. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 1)4 cent lb. .. 2)4 cents lb.
Rochelle salts,........... lb., 20 per cent. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 20 per cent. .. 10 cents lb.
Russia hemp,........... ton,
$40
..
$30 ..
$24 ..
$35
.. $40 ton.
Sal Soda,....................... 20 per cent. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 20 per cent. .. )4 cent lb.
Saltpetre, crude,..... lb.,
free.
.. 5 per ct. .. 4 per ct. ..
free.
.. 1 cent lb.
Saltpetre, refined,— lb.,
2 cents lb. .. 10 per ct. .. 8 per ct. .. 10 per cent. .. 2 cents lb.
Salt, sacks,.................... 8 cts. bush. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 6 cts. bush. .. 18 cts. 100 lbs.
Salt, in bulk,................. 8 cts. bush. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 4 cts. bush. .. 12 cts. 100 lbs.
Salts, Rochelle,......... lb., 20 per cent. .. 20 per ct. ., 15 per ct. .. 20 per cent. .. 10 cents lb.
Sewing silk,...................
$2 lb. .. 30 per ct. .. 24 per ct. .. 30 per cent. .. 40 per cent.
Silk velvet, under $3 yd.,
$2 50 lb. .. 25 per ct. .. 19 per ct. .. 20 per cent. .. 35 per cent.
Silk velvet, over $3 yd.,..
$2 50 lb. .. 25 per ct. .. 19 per ct. .. 30 per cent. .. 40 per cent.
Silk, under $1 yard,......
$2 50 1b. .. 25 per ct. .. 19 per ct. .. 20 per cent. .. 30 per cent.
Silk, over $1 yard,.........
$2 50 lb. .. 25 per ct. .. 19 per ct. .. 30 per cent. .. 40 per cent.
Silks, floss,.................... 25 per cent. .. 25 per ct. .. 19 per ct. .. 20 per cent. .. 30 per cent.
Silks, tram,.................... 50 cents lb. .. 15 per ct. .. 12 per ct. .. 15 per cent. .. 25 per cent.
Silk ribbons, galloons, &c. 30 per cent. .. 80 per ct. .. 24 per ct. .. 30 per cent. .. 40 per cent.
Silk fringes, laces, &c.,...
$2 50 lb... 25 per ct. .. 19 per ct. .. 30 per cent. .. 40 per cent.
Soda, bicarbon.,..100lbs.,
20 per cent... 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 20 per cent. .. 1 cent lb.
Soda, sal,................. lb.,
20 per cent... 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 20 per cent. .. )4 cent lb.
Soda, caustic,................ 20 per cent. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 20 per cent. .. 1 cent lb.
Spirits turpentine,, .gall.,
10 cents. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 10 cts. gall. .. 10 cents gall.
Spirits,..................... gall., 60 cents. . .100 per ct. .. 30 per ct. .. 40 cents. .. 50 cents gall.
Sugar, brown,.............lb., 2)4 cents. .. 30 per ct. .. 24 per ct. .. X cents lb. .. 2 cents lb.
Sugar, clayed,.............lb., 2)4 cents. .. 30 per ct. .. 24 per ct. .. % cents lb. .. 2)4 cents lb.
Sugar, refined,............lb.,
6 cents. .. 30 per ct. .. 24 per ct. .. 4 cents.
.. 4 cents lb.
Sugar, syrup of,......... lb., 2)4 cents. .. 30 per ct. .. 24 per ct. .. % cent lb. .. 2 cents lb.
Sugar candy,.............. lb.,
6 cents. .. 30 per ct. .. 24 per ct. .. 4 cents lb. .. 6 cents lb.
Tartar emetic,...........lb., 20 per cent. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 20 per cent. .. 10 cents lb.
Teas,........................lb.,
free.
..
free. ..
free. ..
free.
..15 cents lb.
Turpentine, spirits,.gall., 10 cents. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 10 cts. gall. .. 10 cents gall.
Vegetable ivory,.............
free.
.. 5 per ct. .. 4 per ct. ..
free.
.. 10 per cent.
Velvets, silk, under $8,.. $2 501b. .. 25 per ct. .. 19 per ct. .. 20 per cent... 35 per cent.
Velvets, silk, over $3,... $2 50 lb. .. 25 per ct. .. 19 per ct. .. 30 per cent... 40 per cent.
White lead,...................
4 cents lb. .. 20 per ct. .. 15 per ct. .. 1)4 cts. lb. .. 2% cents lb.
Wines,................... gall., 6 60 cts. .. 40 per ct. .. 80 per ct. .. 40 per cent. .. 50 per cent.




D istilled
Spirits.

Glass.

July 4 ,.........

March 2 6 ,...

July 1, 1812, all )

ft

2 9 “ . . 224 “

if

6 0 “ . . 40

"
“

duties doubled, f

P ig Iron.

. 10 p. c. . 1 c. lb .. . 21 c. lb .. .

1790 .

1804 .

Coffee.

. 121 “
.1 5

“

Manufac­
tured
Iron.

Bar
Rolled
Iron.

Clothing.

Cottons.

Woollen

5 p. c .. .

5 p. c. .

5 p. c. . • 7 1 p .c.. • H . c. . .

5

71 “

71 “

“

..

5 p. c

.1 1 “

. .4

“

..

..11“

..4

“

. . 10

“ . . 10

“

.10

“

. .1 0

“

. . 10

“

. . 10

“

“

. . 15

“ . . 15

“

.1 5

“

. .1 0

“

.

15

“

..1 5

“

“ . . 15

“

.1 5

“

. .1 0

“

.

iv i “

. . 15

“

.

.

71 “

..

n

“

..

71 “

. 15 “

. .2 1 “

..4
. .5

“

. . 15

171“

•. 2 1 “

. .5

“

. . 171 “ . . 171 “

. 171 “

•. 121 “

■ 20

“

. . 171 “

. 30 “

.. 5 “

. .10

“

..3 0

“

.3 0

. .2 5

.

“

. . 30

“

. .5

“

. . 20

“ . . 20

“

.830 ton. . . 3 0

“

.

25

“

..2 5

“

.. 5

“

..8 1 0 ton.. . 25

“

.830

“

. .3 0

“

.

25

“

. . 20

“

“

..8 1 21 “ . . 25

“

.|36

“

. .5 0

“

.

25

“

. . 45

“

“ . . 25

“

.830

“

. .5 0

“

.

25

“

. . 50

“

. 15 “

- 4

“

April 2 7 ,__

1816 .

tf

4 2 “ . . 20

“

.. 3 “

May 22,___

1824 .

ft

4 2 “ . . 30 & 3 c. lb .. . 20 “

. 3 “

May 1 9 , . . . .

1828 .

It

5 7 “ . . 30 “ 3

“

. . 20 “

.. 3 “

. .5

July 14,........ 1832 .

ft

5 7 “ . . 30 “ 3

“

. . 20 “

. . 21 “

. .free.

20

..8 1 0

. . 30

“

“

“

40

March 2,........ 1833*
p. 0.

gallon, 60 “ . . 30 & 6 c. lb ..

August 6 , . . . . 1846 .

p. c.

March 3,........ 1857 .

“

March 2,........ 1861 .
August 5 ,___ 1861 .




20

. . 20 p. c.

“

. .20p. c. . . “

. . 20 p. c .. . 20

“

. 20 p. c. . .2 0

“

.

20

“

. . 20

“

30 “

. . 2 1 c.lb . . “

. . $9 ton.. . 30

“

•825 ton. . .5 0

“

.

30

“

. . 40

“

. . 40 p. c.

30 “

. . 30p. c. . . “

. . 30 p. c .. . 30

“

. 30 p. c. . . 3 0

“

.

25

“

..30

“

. . 30

“

24 “

. .24

. . 24

“ . . 24

“

.2 4

. .2 4

“

.

19

“

. . 24

“

gallon, 40 “ . . 30
tf
5 0 “ . . 30

“

30

..

. . $6 ton.. . 30

“

•815 ton. . .3 0

“

.

30

“

25 A 12 c

“

30 “

“

.$15

“

.

30

“

25 <fc12

100
30

20

“

“

.. “

f c . lb. . “

.. 2 “

. . 4 c. lb .. . |6

“ . . 30

“
“

. .3 0

* Where the duty exceeds 20 per cent., the excess to be reduced biennially until the excess should cease, 1S42.

[November,

September 11 1841 .
August 3 0 ,... 1842 .

H is to r y o f the U n ited S ta tes T a riff.

1789 . . gallon, 1 0 c .. . 10 p. c.
ft
15 “ . . 121 “
ft
May 2 ,......... 1792 .
2 8 “ . . 15 “
tf
2 8 “ . . 20 “
June *7,........... 1794 .
if
March 3 , . . .. 1797 .
2 9 “ . . 20 “
August 1 0 ,..

Sugar.

China.

508

D uties L evied by each G eneral T ariff of tiie U nited S tates, since the F ormation of the G overnment, upon E leven L eading H eads of I mports .

1 8 6 1 .]

Chambers o f Commerce and Boards o f Trade.

50 9

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND BOARDS OF TRADE.

Monthly Meeting o f the Chamber o f Commerce, Mew-York.
T iib monthly meeting of the New-York Chamber of Commerce was
held Thursday, October 3d, 1861. P e l a t ia h P e r u , Esq., president, in
the chair. Present, Messrs. P h e l p s and Low, vice-presidents, and about
forty members.
The following gentlemen, who were nominated September 5th, were
this day elected members : J ohn J a c o b A s to r , Jr., J o n a t h a n II. R a n ­
som ,

E d w a r d M ott R obinson , S e l aii V

an

D

uzer,

E dw ard W

il l e t s .

Mr. R o y a l P h e l p s said that as Mr. A sto r was a personal friend— a
gentleman whom they would all regard as an acquisition to the Cham­
ber— he considered the presentation o f his name a favorable opportunity
to raise the inquiry, how the Chamber was to be constituted— whether
of respectable citizens o f New-York in general, or o f merchants ? Gen­
tlemen were constantly elected who had no connection whatever with
the commerce of New-York, and it had been a frequent subject o f re­
mark. lie felt assured Mr. A sto r would not take offence at his embrac­
ing the opportunity to make an objection that might hereafter be a shield
between the Chamber and such nominations.
Mr. P . M. W e t m o r e , while entirely concurring in the views expressed
by Mr. P h e l p s , considered that Mr. A s to r could not be said to have no
connection with the commerce o f New-lTork.
As a large capitalist,
whose money was invested, and became the foundation for extensive
commercial transactions, he was very intimately connected with com­
merce. He was glad, however, that the question was raised; and, with
the intention o f himself bringing up the subject, he had cut a paragraph
from the Evening Post, stating that Mr. G. AY. S m it h , late Street Com­
missioner o f this city, had received a commission in the rebel army.
This Mr. S m ith had been elected a member o f the Chamber, although
having no connection whatever with commerce.
The Secretary read from the by-laws showing that those “ whose vo­
cations were connected with the trade o f the country” were embraced as
eligible, v iz.:
“ No persons can be admitted members o f this corporation but mer­
chants and others, residents o f this and contiguous States, whose avoca­
tions are connected with the trade and commerce o f the country.”
Mr. O p d y k e said that Mr. A s to r , properly speaking, was not a mer­
chant. Commerce, in a large sense, took in financial transactions, such
as banking, exchange, brokerage, buying and selling whatever was to be
sold. Mr. A stor did not come under that category, so far as he knew,
being engaged only in investing his own revenues. But under the sen­
tence read from the by-laws he was eligible. AVm. B. A stor , his father,
was a member.
Mr. P h e l p s withdrew his objection, which he had made solely for the
purpose of stopping the further election of men not merchants.
Mr. A. C. R ic h a r d s , from the committee on procuring medals for




510

Chambers o f Commerce and Boards o f Trade.

[November,

presentation to the soldiers at Forts Sumter and Pickens, reported that
$1,500 would he required to supply the 168 medals.
A subscription list, h ead ed b y Mr. P iie l p s for $ 1 0 0, was im m ed iately
op en e d , and th e sum o f eig h t h u n d red dollars subscribed.
Mr. R . B. M in t u r n was re-elected a member of the Arbitration Com­

mittee for the term o f twelve months.
Mr. B lunt thought that some action should be taken in the case of
runaway members. He moved that the names o f I s aa c V . F o w l e r , M.
L o v e l l and G. W . S m it h , who had absconded, be stricken from the roll
o f members, which was adopted.
On motion o f Mr. G e o r g e O p d y k e , the Executive Committee were
requested to present three names for trustees o f the Nautical School, es­
tablished by the legislature, for approval of the Chamber at its next
meeting. (This law was printed in the September No. of the M e r c h a n t s ’
M a g a z in e , pp. 310, 311.)
A letter was received from Prof. F r a n c is L ie b e r , o f Columbia College,
thanking the Chamber for his election as honorary member.
Mr. P r o s p e r M. W e t m o r e offered th e f o llo w in g :
Resolved, That the Executive Committee be instructed to prepare and
submit, at the next meeting of the Chamber, a memorial to the Congress
o f the United States, asking that authority be granted to the Assay
Office in this city to coin for the national currency such portion o f gold
and silver bullion which may be in the Treasury o f the United States as
the Secretary o f the Treasury may direct.
This resolution, Mr. W e tm o re said, he based upon a statement of the
bullion deposited in the United States Assay Office, New-York, by which
it appeared that the total deposits, from October 1, 1860, to September
30, 1861, were— of silver, $2,480,237; o f gold, $67,788,158. Bullion
transmitted to the United States Mint for coinage, during the same period
— o f silver, $2,300,126; o f gold, $64,855,532.
The cost of transporting the bullion to the Mint at Philadelphia,
and returning it, was $71,755; but this was not the only or greatest
loss sustained. The loss o f time involved by transmitting the bullion to
Philadelphia, instead o f coining it here, was as four weeks to three days.
Again, the risk was enormous. No great loss had yet been sustained;
but when they recollected that two millions a week, on the average, went
by way of boat to Amboy, and the liability o f accidents to steamboats,
it would be seen what a risk the government ran ; for the loss, if any,
would fall, not on the owners nor on the express company, but on gov­
ernment ; and it was a very unprofitable kind of insurance, for they re­
ceive no premium. He thought the community who furnish government,
in its necessity, with seventy per cent, of the coin it had to use, ought to
be permitted to furnish the coin from its own Mint, since it had all the
power except authority from Congress. He added the following item s:
B ullion D eposited, U nited S tates A ssay O ffice, N e w -Y oek .

Silver.
$ 216,472
452,118
792,647
1,019,000

..
.
.
.

Gold.
$ 11,818,605
17,882,427
21,959,126
16,128,000

..
.
.
.

Total.
% 12,035,077
18,334,545
22,751,773
17,147,000

Total deposits from October 1,
1860, to September 30, 1861, $ 2,480,237

..

$ 67,788,158

..

$ 70,268,395

1860,
1861,
“
“

4th quarter,.......................
1st
“
.......................
2d
“
.......................
3d
“
.......................




1861.]

511

Chambers o f Commerce and Boards o f Trade.
B ullion T ransmitted to U nited S tates M int for C oinage.
Silver.

1860,
1861,
' “
«

4th quarter,.......................
1st
“
2d
“
3d
“

$101,987
496,830
809,367
891,942
$2,300,126

Gold.

Total.

..
..
..
..

$8,772,811
19,484,603
19,505,400
17,092,718

..
..
..
..

$ 8,874,798
19,981,433
20,314,767
17,984,660

..

$64,855,532

..

$ 67,155,658

The estimated eost o f transportation to and from the Mint— on gold,
$64,855; on silver, $6,900— is $71,755. A dd to this the loss o f time,
and the aggregate loss will appear to be about one hundred thousand
dollars annually.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr. B lo o d g o o d made a brief address, introducing a resolution for the
appointment o f a committee of three, to take into consideration and re­
port upon a suggestion made by an eminent merchant o f New-York.
Mr. B l o o d g o o d remarked: W hile no one can entertain a higher esti­
mate o f the influence, the labors and the beneficent measures o f the
Chamber of Commerce, I am o f the opinion that its sphere o f usefulness
may be greatly enlarged. Its action, though powerful, is not as extended
as it might be, and I therefore respectfully suggest at least one method
by which its great influence might be increased. Composed of the lead­
ing merchants and bankers o f New-York, it sustains the character which
was impressed upon it by its founders and their successors; and, on a
careful study o f its history, I find that it has been hitherto equal to every
emergency of peace or war, of navigation and o f commerce.
But I believe there are still many important positions which it might
efficiently occupy. I perceive, I think, that it has not entirely fulfilled
its high duties, though self-imposed, and that its ability to do good is
by no means exhausted. If I may be allowed to express m y private
opinions on this subject, I would say, that, much as it has done, much
remains to do. Thus, if I am rightly informed, the Liverpool Chamber
o f Commerce exercises an immense influence, not only over commerce
itself, but in the details which make it successful, and has, within a few
years, by its exertions, elevated that city to the rank of a first-rate port.
This Liverpool Chamber not only interests itself in public questions,
but also in their details. They have a clock which tells the true time of
day for the shipping; they have signals, daily hoisted, premonitory of
the weather, communicated by careful observers at Greenwich, by which
the departure o f ships is regulated ; they look after the magnetic influ­
ences which disturb the marine compass, and it is by their interference
that the maritime interests o f their port are regulated. Your intelligent
and efficient secretary has, at my suggestion, written to the officials of
that institution for a full explanation o f their regulations, their application
and their results. I regret they have not reached him in time to be sub­
mitted at this meeting.
Be this as it may, the object o f my remarks at this time is this :
Believing for some time that the Chamber o f Commerce had still untried
fields to cultivate, I suggested to a friend and relative o f mine a measure
which he has thus far cordially assented to. This gentleman, o f ample
means, a retired merchant, to whom, in more ways than one, New-York
has been greatly indebted, is the owner o f a site in this immediate neigh­




512

Chambers o f Commerce and Boards o f Trade.

[November,

borhood. He owns four large lots between Pine and Cedar streets. On
these, at my suggestion, he will erect a structure in marble, in the most
substantial manner, and in the finest taste, at his own expense, the upper
stories o f which shall be principally devoted to the use o f the Chamber
of Commerce. There will be constructed a large room for general pur­
poses, committee rooms, rooms for a library and marine charts, a hall for
the meeting of the Chamber and merchants generally, apartments for a
commercial newspaper reading-room, (which, I am informed, can easily
be transferred from the Exchange, and for which negotiations can readily
be made,) a tower for a clock, an observatory, from which the whole bay
and harbor will be visible, and space for the Nautical School which has
been created by act o f the legislature, and which will fall under the con­
trol of the Chamber. He does not require assistance from the Chamber
o f Commerce to erect these buildings. He will accept only a fair and
reasonable rent for his building, and advance the money himself. This
expenditure is contemplated to be about $70,000.
It may be said that this is not the time for such an enterprise. But,
in my judgment, it is the very time of all times. The proposed edifice
can be erected at less cost now than it could have been in our palmy
days, or hereafter when our palmy days return. The erection o f this
building, and the enterprise and sagacity o f the Chamber of Commerce,
could never be more felicitously displayed than in seizing upon this
opportunity.
It is true we are at war with our own brothers, engaged in a distressing
family quarrel; but New-York, favored by nature, by Providence and its
own intrinsic merit, stands in all its magnificent proportions undisturbed.
To the merchants, bankers and people o f New-York the country owes
this day its proud position and its real safety. But for them, no armies
would have crowded the seat of war ; but for them, rebellion this moment
would be rampant; and when this controversy i ended, "nd when the
historian makes his record o f its events, no such city and no such people
will have ever received or deserved so much honor. Ours is a case o f
peculiar character. It has no parallel. A good cause may be sometimes
overthrown for want o f strength ; but a good cause, with a just quarrel
and a superior force, never yet failed and never can.
I look forward confidently to the restoration o f the Union, the
supremacy of the Constitution, and a return to their allegiance o f that
mistaken, cheated and abused population of the South, who have been
led by demagogues into a fratricidal contest, which must end in their
utter ruin if persisted in, unless they accept again our brotherly care.
And this I believe they will do.
No matter, then, about the condition o f things elsewhere, when we are
all right here. The Chamber of Commerce has a destiny which has sur­
vived two wars, and will survive this. Art, philanthropy, patriotism,
commerce cannot be extinguished by any difficulties o f the hour, and
therefore we are safe in extending our benevolent action to reach pos­
terity, who will admire our persistence.
It is, therefore, no objection to my proposition that war exists. Com­
merce goes on. I am surprised to learn, from this morning’s papers, that
our trade was never more active in this port than at this moment. More
entries and departures than were ever known ; more exports than imports,
and no falling off in them. If Cotton has ceased to be King, I am happy
to find that Corn has ascended the throne, and that his dynasty is not to




1861.]

Chambers o f Commerce and Boards o f Trade.

513

be disturbed for the present. In a French paper I received yesterday, I find
it stated that the grain crop o f France is one-third less this year than last;
and that country has no where else to look for a supply than the Northern
and Western United States. W e may congratulate ourselves, therefore, on
the stability o f our commerce, in spite o f all the obstacles which foreign
jealousy has placed in our path.
I see, therefore, no reason why the Chamber of Commerce may not
proceed in its honorable course, nor why it should not seek every favor­
able opportunity to extend its influence, nor why such patriotic and, I
may say, disinterested offers to increase its usefulness should be un­
noticed. The Chambers o f Commerce in Cincinnati and St. Louis, I am
told, are conducted on a superior scale, though they have no bays in
which the navies o f the world may anchor, no healthful “ salt sea” waves
to break upon their shores. Here is an opportunity, then, that has never
occurred before to us, and may never occur again. I therefore respect­
fully suggest that a special committee be appointed, o f which I hope
our experienced and liberal-minded president may be chairman, to take
into consideration the suggestion now made, in good faith for myself and
the eminent citizen whose name I am ready to give if called upon to do
so. If the plan is adopted, the merchants o f New-York will have a place
of resort that will have no superior, either in this country or in Europe,
and exercise a large and beneficial influence. I f it is not, I shall have at
least the pleasure o f having made a fair and useful and a patriotic pro­
position, and performed my duty as one of its humble members.
The subject was referred to a committee, consisting o f the President,
Messrs. B l o o d g o o d and Cisco.
LETTER FROM PROFESSOR LIEBER.

N ew -Y ork, September 13, 1861.
S i r ,— Prevented by circumstances beyond my control from attending
the first meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, after its honorary mem­
bership had been conferred on me, I am obliged to request o f you, Mr.
President, the favor o f expressing to the Chamber my sincere thanks
for the honor which your eminent institution has kindly bestowed upon
me. I appreciate this distinction, and value it the more on account o f
the time in which you have extended it to me— a period, it seems, o f
peculiar honor to the merchants o f New-York.
In selecting me for the honorary membership, the Chamber o f Com­
merce of the State of New-York has doubtless been prompted by a desire
to express its sympathy with one of the branches which I am teaching
at Columbia College— a branch which, indeed, has been called the phi­
losophy of commerce, and which certainly is the science of production
and exchange, and exchange is commerce. May this sympathy between
the great commerce of our city and the course o f education and know­
ledge always subsist between your Chamber, the chartered embodiment
of the merchants at the southern end o f this the only port-surrounded
city in the world, on the one hand, and our college on the northern hill
of the city on the other hand. May they flourish together. Both are
interwoven with the history of New-York. Our Chamber of Commerce
was established, if I am not mistaken, in the year 1758, a few years after
the foundation o f our college. The two institutions are already linked
VOL. x l v .— n o . v.
33




514

Chambers o f Commerce and Boards o f Trade. [November,

together by the worthy and venerated president of the latter, an active
member of long standing o f the former.
I f a profession were required o f a new member, I could make mine
with reference to trade, and to that struggle in which our country is en­
gaged and which signally affects our commerce, in a very few words.
I am by conviction, sympathy and all the results o f observation and
study, an unwavering Union man. I believe that commerce is the hand­
maid o f civilization, and that men are inherently exchanging beings; I
am in favor o f the freest possible exchange, o f unshackled trade ; I know
that one of the characteristics o f modern progress is the almost universal
establishment of free trade within each country ruled by one government;
I believe that without the Union civil liberty will not be maintained, and
I know that in modern history, ever since the downfall of antiquity, civil,
and, in a great measure, even religious, liberty have gone hand in hand
with com m erce; and I know that when commerce suffers, that which
presents itself to the less observing as a relief nearest at hand proves fre­
quently the merest palliative— in economy as in medicine.
W ar dis­
turbs exchanging traffic, indeed, but every peace on that account is not
a remedy. Many a peace recorded in history, ancient as well as modem,
has proved a scourge more dire than the war it was intended to close.
There is nothing great without its sacrifice, and commerce is not ex­
empted from this universal law, any more than religion, science, liberty,
the arts, or that civilization which comprehends them all.
W e have civil war in our country— sad for all o f us— and bitter for
those who wantonly plunged her into this contest; for whatever its issue
may be, one thing seems to be beyond all doubt— neither, cotton nor
slavery will come forth from this war as they went into it. The royal
purple o f the one will be rumpled, perhaps rent, and the divinity o f the
other will appear somewhat shorn and paled.
Be the end o f the war what it may, the bankers and merchants o f
New-York, this Chamber and the capitalists, deserve the warmest acknow­
ledgments o f every patriot, and to take a much more confined view, o f
every economist, for having bravely supported the active and able Sec­
retary of the Treasury in his directness o f purpose and candor o f conduct,
when lately he was in the midst o f us on his momentous errand to obtain
a large portion o f the means wherewith to carry on our just and conser­
vative war, which has been forced upon us and is now necessary, even in
a purely commercial point of view.
It is true, indeed, that those who are now in arms against their own
country have proclaimed the desire o f establishing free trade as one of
the causes— an economical reason for an insurrection which commenced
with the setting aside o f the elements of morals, the stepping over the
principles o f honor, and the breaking o f those oaths which are held by
men most sacred; and, on the other hand, it is true that the United
States have enacted an untoward tariff; but has the revolted portion of
the country shown itself in former times, and does it show itself even
now, frankly and plainly for free trade ? The sugar interest o f Louisiana
tells us no. Had it ever been candidly in favor o f internal free trade ?
The river tonnage duty, repeatedly asked for by men from that portion,
would surely not have promoted free domestic traffic. I f ever this in­
surrection should come victoriously to settle down into an acknowledged
new state of things, would it not break up the free traffic and unhampered
exchange in the territory of the Union, which is the largest portion o f




1861.]

Chambers o f Commerce and Boards o f Trade.

515

the whole peopled northern continent— that free trade within the country
for which Germany toilsomely labors, and which, permit me to repeat it,
is one o f the cheering characteristics o f modern progress ?
Nature gave us a land abounding in all the means o f sustaining life
and industry— food and fuel; she cast a network o f fluvial high roads
over the whole.
Our history is marked by no feature more dis­
tinctly than by the early complete freedom o f river navigation, for which
other nations have struggled in vain for many long centuries; and this
insurrection, with a federal confession o f judgment, steps in and means
to snap the silver thread. The Mississippi belongs to you, sir, as much
as to any man in Louisiana, and it is mine as much as it is yours. It
belongs to the country by divine right, i t j u s d ivin u m ever existed in any
case ; and let us trust in that God the country will never allow it to be
wrested from us. Every consideration, with the consciousness of a high
mission imposed upon us by our Maker to that of the commonest econo­
my, urges us to hold fast to the unstinted freedom o f our fluvial and all
other communication. Let us first re-establish complete free trade with­
in our whole domain, and afterwards let every one who candidly believes
in the blessings of international free trade see to that.
Important as the topic o f free trade doubtless is proved to be by the
recent history o f civilized nations, and by the development o f all ex­
change, there is, nevertheless, a principle which every economist and
publicist acknowledges as o f far greater importance for production and
exchange for commerce in its evident and its narrowed spheres— it is the
simple fact that the instability of the country’s polity affects production
and exchange far more than an injudicious policy, plague or conquest.
Let the right o f secession— as it has almost farcically been called— be
established; let American polities be considered as confederacies of
States merely pieced or huddled together without a pervading and com­
prehensive national element, (an effete type o f polity belonging to a pe­
riod long passed in the political progress o f our race,) and, sir, we may
as well close the doors o f our Chamber, and you may save yourself the
trouble of presiding over us. I say what I literally mean.
The right o f secession once acknowledged would lead to a number of
chartered States, folio wing the pattern held up by the insurgents, which
brings small States, proud of an imaginary sovereignty, into contact just
sufficient to produce jarring and contest, and to prevent organic harmony.
The history o f all pure or real confederacies is uninviting, frequently
appalling, whether regarded in a general point o f view or with reference
to production and wealth alone. T o such a supposed state o f things our
commerce would cease to be an organic branch o f civilization, and sink
to the short-sighted, selfish extorting which constitutes the trading o f all
lawless countries, be the lawlessness caused by the despotism o f the
many, the heartless arrogance o f the few or the tyranny o f one.
As men o f duty and honor, as patriots, as merchants and men o f in­
dustry, as lovers o f freedom and civilization, as men who know that
great and constant accumulation o f wealth is requisite for modem civili­
zation, as men who are determined to do right and wish to act nobly,
let us stand by our country and see that this gigantic, sanguinary absur­
dity be crushed or driven from every corner of the soil.
Accept, sir, the sentiments o f m y highest regard, with which I am
your very obedient servant.
F r a n c is L ie b e r .
T o P e l a t ia h P e r it , P resid en t o f the Cham ber o f Commerce.




516

Chambers o f Commerce and Boards o f Trade.

[November,

The Secretary reported that he had received copies of the following
works for gratuitous distribution among the members :
I. Annual Report o f the Patent Office o f the United States on Agri­
culture, for the year 1860. One volume, 8vo., pp. 504, with engravings.
II. Remarks on the Proposed Issue o f Treasury Notes on Demand.
III. Acts and Resolutions passed during the first session o f the ThirtySeventh Congress. July— August, 1861. Octavo, pp. 96.
IV. The Utility and Application o f Heat as a Disinfectant. B y E l is h a
H a r r is , M. D., o f New-York. Octavo, pp. 22.
Y . Annual Report o f the Superintendent o f the Insurance Department
of the State o f New-York, March, 1861. Two volumes, octavo.
The Secretary reported that the speech o f the Hon. J oseph H olt
before the Chamber o f Commerce and citizens of New-York, at Irving
Hall, on Tuesday, September 3d, had been printed in pamphlet form for
distribution among all persons who desired copies.
The next meeting of the Chamber will be held Thursday, November 7th.
J. S m ith H

THE

N EW -YORK

PRODUCE

o m an s ,

S ecretary.

EXCHANGE.

A meeting of grain dealers was held October 11th, after business hours,
at the Produce Exchange. F r a n c is P. S a g e was appointed Chairman
and F. B a n k s , Secretary. The Chairman stated that the meeting had
been called for the purpose o f finally settling the demurrage question
between the sellers o f grain and the transportation men. Three days
have usually been allowed to remove the grain after the arrival of the
boat, after which twenty-five dollars per day had been charged. Three
days had been found too short a time, and twenty-five dollars is too
much to pay for each additional day. The buyers think the improve­
ments which have recently been made in the size of the canal-boats
entitle them to much more time.
The next question was the liability for a detention o f the boats after
the proper time for discharge. In their insurance policy provision is
made, and five days are allowed for them to discharge. A nd it was also
desirable to settle who is responsible for damage done to a boat after the
proper time for discharge.
The third question was the right o f rejection after the grain has been
examined and the boat sent alongside the ship. From the length of time
which occasionally elapses before a boat is discharged, after it is sent
alongside ship, great loss is often caused.
Mr. L a w b e r moved that a committee of two be appointed to represent
all the interests, and report at the next meeting. The Chairman then
appointed the following comm ittee: Shipowners, F r a n c is M. F r e n c h
and J o h n S. W ill ia m s ; buyers, J. J. K in g s la n d and H . S tu t zer ; re­
ceivers, J. B. H e r r ic k and E. S. B r o w n ; forwarders, M. M. C a l eb and
H u g h A l l e n . The meeting then adjourned until Friday, October 18th,
at one o’clock.




Journal o f Nautical Intelligence.

1 8 6 1 .]

JOURNAL
I.

OF

NAUTICAL

517

INTELLIGENCE,

T he A m erican S hipm asters ’ A ssociation . II. B r it ish Steam V essels for C h in a . III.
B r it ish Steam ers for P eru . IV. A n I n cid en t of the S e a . V. T he L a k e T r ad e to L i v e r ­
poo l . VI. S u rveys in A u s t r a l a s ia . VII. T he S a n d w ic h I sland s . VIII. L igh t -H ouses
in S c otlan d — Ca p e of G ood H ope — S ou th P a c if ic — C oast of B r a z il — B a y of B isc ay .

AMERICAN

SHIPMASTERS’

ASSOCIATION.

T he American Shipmasters’ Association has been organized at New-

York with a view to elevate the moral character and professional capacity
o f American seamen, by the encouragement of worthy and well-qualified
officers, and to promote the security of life and property at sea. Under
the direction o f a council of experienced shipmasters and shipowners,
certificates will be issued to worthy and competent persons, after exami­
nation, for such offices as they may be qualified to fill with credit in the
mercantile marine service. These certificates, it is believed, will serve as
a recommendation to shipowners, and will, doubtless, be encouraged by
underwriters in making favorable insurances on vessels and cargoes under
the command of officers holding them.
Merchants and shipowners paying ten dollars annual fee will be en­
titled to participate in the privileges of the association, in accordance
with the rules thereof. The association will be under the direction of a
president, the duties to be performed by a chairman and secretary. A
treasurer will attend to the judicious management o f its finances.
Suitable rooms in the “ Merchants’ Exchange,” Nos. 89 and 90, are
provided, called “ The Shipmasters’ Rooms,” where the chairman and
secretary will attend for the necessary duties of the association. These
rooms will be supplied with newspapers, books and records relating to
marine and commercial intelligence.
Subscribers to the association, shipmasters and officers holding its cer­
tificates, will have free admission to the rooms, with the privilege o f in­
troducing masters and mates o f foreign vessels in port, or strangers tem­
porarily visiting New-York.
Printed monthly reports o f officers in good standing and holding cer­
tificates of the association will be furnished to the members, and will be
published hereafter in the M e r c h a n t s ’ M a g a z in e .
In order to secure the contemplated object of the association by placing
proper persons in commission, the right o f revocation will be reserved in
each certificate issued.
The council o f the association are: Captain C h a r l e s H . M a r s h a l l ,
Captain E z r a N y e , Captain E. E. M o r g a n , Captain R o bert L. T a y l o r ,
Captain W il l ia m C. T h o m p so n , (o f the Neptune Insurance Company,)
and J ohn D . J o n e s , (President Atlantic Marine Insurance Company,)
under whose directions examinations are to be made and certificates
issued. These certificates will be o f two grades : 1st. O f competency.
2d. Of service.
The certificate o f competency will be issued to experienced seamen
upon examination as to nautical science, under the direction o f the council.




518

Journal o f Nautical Intelligence.

[November,

The certificate o f service will be issued to any experienced officer for the
station he has filled, when approved b y the council, or under the rules
which may be adopted. A record o f all examinations and certificates
issued will be kept by the secretary, alphabetically arranged, in convenient
form for reference. Also a register o f shipwrecks, with the names o f
officers in command. For the information o f officers holding the certifi­
cates o f the association, a bulletin will be kept with the address o f persons
desiring officers o f vessels: and, if necessary, o f officers not employed
or desiring situations.
R u les o r

th e

C o u n c il

of

the

S h ip m a s t e r s ’ A

s s o c ia t io n .

I. C ertificates. — Applicants for certificates must present a written state­
ment, under their signature, specifying their native place, age, principal
voyages and service, period o f following the sea, and any other indication
o f their capacity or experience, and shall give reference to persons and
vessels for and on which they have been employed, and shall answer such
questions as m aybe deemed proper.
Such statements and answers, and written recommendations, certificates
or objections from previous employers or others, shall be preserved for
future reference.
Misstatements made by the applicant shall be a sufficient reason for
refusing a certificate, or for revoking one, if granted.
II. M a ster's Certificate o f S ervice. — The qualifications for a certificate
of service shall be— experience as a mariner and as a navigator; skill in
the sailing and management o f a vessel; a service o f one or more
voyages as master; to be in good standing with his employer, o f good
character and habits, particularly as to temperance ; he shall be twentyone years o f age, and have had six years’ experience at sea.
I f an applicant for a certificate as master has only served in a fore-andaft rigged vessel, and is ignorant o f the management o f a square-rigged
vessel, he may obtain a certificate on which the words “ fore-and-aft rig­
ged vessel” will appear.
III. C ertificates o f Com petency. — The qualifications shall be all those
required for service, and the applicant shall possess competent knowledge
of nautical science to determine the longitude by observation, the proof
of which shall be an examination under such rules as the council may
prescribe.
IV . R ejected A p p lica tion s. — Rejected applications for certificates shall
not be reconsidered, except upon application o f three members o f the
council, when the whole case may be examined.
Y . R evocation s. — All certificates may be revoked for reasons satisfac­
tory to a majority of the council; for cruel or inhuman treatment o f crew
or passengers, for breach o f trust or barratry, for unskilfulness or mis­
conduct, involving unnecessary damage to vessel or cargo, or for ship­
wreck not satisfactorily accounted for.
V I. R e-E x a m in a tion s. — On application o f the holder, a revoked cer­
tificate may be reconsidered. If, upon examination by the council, or
other persons under their directions, the applicant should prove faultless,
a new certificate may be issued to him, but no new certificate shall be
granted after a third revocation.




519

Journal o f Nautical Intelligence.

1861.]

O f f ic e r s

of the

S h ip m a s t e r s ’ A

s s o c ia t io n .

Council, Captain C h a r l e s H . M a r s h a l l , Captain E z r a N t e , Captain
E. E. M o r g a n , Captain R o bert L. T a y l o r , Captain W il l ia m C. T h o m p ­
son and J ohn D . J o n e s , (ex officio.)
Treasurer, D a n ie l D r a k e S m ith . Chairman, examiner in seamanship,
Captain W il l ia m W . S t o r y . Secretary, I saac H. U pto n . President,
J ohn D . J o n e s .
Applications for certificates may be made at the rooms of the associa­
tion, 89 and 90 “ Merchants’ Exchange,” Wall-street, New-York.
BRITISH

STEAM

VESSEL

FOR

CHINA.

The steam tug I slan d Q ueen has been built, in England, for Mr. M‘Farl a n e , who was for many years resident in China, and who thoroughly un­
derstands the river navigation of that country. She is about 400 tons
measurement and 110 horse-power, the engines being made on the
diagonal principle, which has been so successful in the I n c a and other
vessels. In this instance they are fitted with surface-condensers, and, as
this great improvement in machinery was looked forward to with con­
siderable interest, we have ascertained the following particulars o f several
trials the I sland Q u een has made :
She made her first trial trip to Douglas, Isle o f Man, thence to Holyhead, and from there to Liverpool, her average speed being ten knots,
and the consumption of coal equal to ten tons in twenty-four hours.
The next trial was to ascertain her efficiency as a tug boat; and
in September last she towed out to sea, from the M e r s e y , a new
vessel, belonging to Mr. E d w a r d B a t e s , called the E d w a r d P e r c y .
The E d w a r d P e r c y is about 900 tons measurement, and was
drawing fully eighteen feet. She towed this vessel easily at the rate of
eight knots per hour, which is considered a first-rate result, looking at
the nominal power of the steamer and the size o f the vessel towed.
The consumption of coal during the time she was towing was at the rate
o f twelve tons in twenty-four hours. The surface-condensers worked
beautifully, the vacuum being steady at twenty-eight.
Two other trials were made, each o f four hours’ duration. In one case
she made a speed o f eight to nine knots, with a consumption equal to six
tons in twenty-four hours; going ten to eleven knots, the consumption
was equal to ten and a half tons. So far, therefore, this improved class
o f engines, with surface-condensers, has proved satisfactory, and its ad­
vantages will be more apparent when contrasted with engines on the
common plan, especially for long voyages, the boilers being kept perfectly
clean and free from the incrustation usual when ordinary condensers are
used.
THE

PACIFIC

STEAM

NAVIGATION

COMPANY.

Messrs. J ohn R e id & Co., Port Glasgow, launched from their buildingyard a magnificent iron paddle steamship, o f 1,400 tons register, named
the P e r u . This vessel is the property o f the Pacific Steam Navigation
Company, and is intended to ply between Panama and Valparaiso, as a
consort to the C a l l a o , V a l p a r a is o and other ships built by Messrs. J ohn
R e id & Co., a few years ago. The P e r u will be furnished with Messrs.




520

Journal o f Nautical Intelligence.

[November,

R a n d o l p h , E l d e r <fc Co.’s patent double cylinder engines, o f 350 nomi­
nal borse power. In September last Messrs. R a n d o l p h , E l d e r & Co.
launched from their recently acquired building-yard at Govan the first
vessel built by their firm. The vessel alluded to was christened the
T a l c a , and is the property o f the Pacific Steam Navigation Company.
She is a paddle steamer, of the following dimensions : length o f keel and
forerake, 190 feet; breadth of beam, 30 feet; depth from keel to under
side of upper deck at amidships, 17 feet; height between decks, 6 feet;
burden, 800 tons. Her engines are R a n d o l p h , E l d e r & Co.’s patent
double cylinder, of 160 horse power nominal.

AN

INCIDENT

OP

THE

SEA.

The ship A l bert G a l l a t in , on one o f her outward voyages to NewYork, early in the present year, experienced very severe weather, and
when in lat. 49° 30' N., long. 42° W ., the captain ( D e l a n o ) threw a bottle
overboard containing a memorandum to the effect that the vessel was
suffering from a violent gale, and requesting any person who picked up
the bottle to report the circumstance. The memorandum was dated
February 9, and on the 7th March the A l bert G a l l a t in arrived in a leaky
and distressed state at New-York. On the 19th February the bottle
was picked up off the Island o f Iona, north of Scotland.

THE

DIRECT

ROUTE

TO

LIVERPOOL.

Tire J ohn G. D e s h l e r , o f Detroit, Michigan, which arrived at Liverpool
from that port, grain laden, when on her passage though the Straits of
Belle Isle, and when surrounded by ice and in very thick weather, was
driven upon the rocks, where she remained for three days, but, after dis­
charging a part of her cargo, she was, through the great exertions and skill
used by Captain M a n n , got once more into deep water, and was safely
navigated by him to this port, where the remainder o f her cargo has
been discharged in first-rate order. This is her third voyage across, and
the severe test she has undergone is another proof, if it were necessary,
that the lake-built vessels are quite equal, if not superior, for carrying
cargoes in good condition to many o f the ocean-going ships.
The bark R a v e n n a , Captain M a l o t t , arrived at Chicago, September
28, direct from Liverpool. She made the run from Liverpool to Quebec
in the short space of twenty-eight days without carrying away a sail,
rope or spar, and outsailing ships which left 20 and 30 days before her.
The R a v e n n a brings 200 tons of salt for C hicago; the remainder o f her
cargo was consigned to Detroit and Cleveland. This is the first shipment
to Chicago direct from Liverpool in an American vessel. The R a v e n n a
left here on the first o f June, and the trip has proved that grain can be
landed in Liverpool direct from Lake Michigan in as good condition as it
can from New-York.— C hicago J ou rn a l, S a tu rd a y E v en in g , Septem ber
28 th.
AUSTRALASIA.

The surveys o f the coasts o f Australasia have now been amply provi­
ded for. New South Wales and Victoria are each to contribute £3,500




Journal o f Nautical Intelliaence.

521

a year; South Australasia, £2,000 ; and Tasmaniaaud Queensland, £1,500
a year each towards the surveys, and the English Admiralty has sanctioned
a similar sum o f £10,000 a year out o f the imperial treasury to meet the
contributions of the colonies.
THE

SANDWICH

ISLANDS.

A t the October meeting o f the Ethnological Society, New-York, the
recording secretary read an account, by Mr. Joane, of the Micronesian
mission, published in June last, o f a voyage o f five hundred miles and
back, made by a few natives in their little canoes, without a compass, and
with only two stopping-places, guided by the stars, currents, winds, &c.
This writer remarked that this fact proved that the islands o f the Pacific
might have been peopled either by accident or by design, and accounted
for known resemblances in language, &c.
The author considers it certain that the Sandwich Islands were peopled
from the Society Islands, and that voyages were made between them before
the days of Captain C ook . Mr. G u l ic k stated, at a former meeting o f
the society, that he had seen natives who had recently performed that
voyage in canoes; and they declined accepting a compass, saying that
their pilot had one in his head.

NEW

LIGHT-HOUSES.

Cape o f G ood H o p e. — Official in­
formation has been received at the Department of State, from the
Colonial Government at the Cape of Good Hope, that a light would be
exhibited from the new light-house on the Roman Rocks on the 16th
September, 1861, which will supersede that shown at the light-vessel
now moored a cable’s length north o f the rocks. It will be a revolv­
in g white light, showing a bright face for the space of twelve seconds
twice every minute, which will serve to distinguish it from the Cape
Point light in thick weather, as that light revolves only once every
minute. The light will be fifty-four feet above the sea, and visible in
clear weather, from a ship’s deck, thirteen miles distant.
The light-tower is forty-eight feet high, the lower half of which will
be painted black and the upper half white.
From the light-house,
Noah’s Ark bears S. 56° W . - f miles, and the Dock-yard clock W . by
N. 1.65 mile.
N. N. E. § E. 2 f cables from the light-house, lies the C astor R o ck , with
only fifteen feet on it at low water, springs. Its position is marked by a
beacon, with a flag, having the word “ r o c k ” painted on it. There are
patches o f nineteen and twenty-four feet between the Castor Rock and
the light-house, which renders it necessary for large ships to give the
light-house a berth of at least three and a half cables, when passing to
the N. E., before hauling in for Simon’s Bay.
In sailing for Simon’s Bay, by keeping the light-house in line with
Elsey Peak, bearing N. ^ W ., a ship will pass midway between the
Whittle Rock and Miller’s Point.
R om an R ock

L ig h t, F a lse B a y ,

S cotland , W est Coast, S ou n d o f I s la y — F ix e d L ig h t on M a ca r th u r
H ea d . — Official information has been received, that on and after the 1st




522

Journal o f Nautical Intelligence.

[November,

day of September, 1861, a light would be exhibited from the light-house
recently erected on Macarthur Head, on the western side o f the south
entrance to the Sound of Islay, Argyllshire. The light will be a fixed
light. It will show white up the Sound, from the eastern shore of the
Island o f Islay, till it bears about S. -1 W . ; red towards the Island of
Jura, from S. £ W . till it bears about w est; and white from west, round
southerly and as far to the westward as it can be seen, or until obscured
by the south side o f Islay. The light will be elevated about 128 feet
above the level o f high water springs, and should be seen in clear weather
at a distance o f 17 miles.
The illuminating apparatus is dioptric or by lenses, varying with range
from the first to the third order.
The light will show its greatest
power towards Cantyre to the south and the Sound o f Islay to the
north. The light-tower is circular, built o f stone, and painted white.
It is 42 feet in height from the ground to top o f lantern, and its position
is lat. 55° 45' 55" N., long. 6° 2' 55" west o f Greenwich.
B ay o f Biscay, Spain, North Coast— Fixed and Flashing Light at
Rivadesella.— Notice has been given, that on and after the 20th day of
August, 1861, a light would be exhibited from a building recently
erected on Mount Somos, the western extremity o f the entrance o f the
Ria or Inlet of Rivadesella, in the province o f Oviedo, on the north coast
o f Spain, in the Bay o f Biscay. The light is fixed and flashing, showiug a bright flash every four minutes. It is placed at an elevation of
370 feet above the mean level of the sea, and should be visible from the
deck o f a ship, in an ordinary state o f the weather, at a distance o f 17
miles, but only through an arc o f the horizon o f 167 degrees to seaward.
The illuminating apparatus is catadioptric, or by lenses of the third
order.
The light-tower is square, surmounted by an octagonal lantern, and
rises from the centre of the keeper’ s dwelling to a height o f twenty-five
feet from the ground.
All the buildings, including the lantern, are
painted white. The tower stands 30 yards from the margin of the sea,
in lat. 43° 28' 40" N., long. 1° 5' 0 " east o f the Observatory o f San Fer­
nando, at Cadiz, or 5° 7' 16" west o f Greenwich.
Jupiter Inlet and Cape Florida Lights.— Official information has been
received, that on or about the 23d August, 1861, a band o f lawless per­
sons extinguished the lights at Jupiter Inlet and Cape Florida, on the
coast of Florida, and removed the illuminating apparatus, Ac.
Cape o f Good Hope, Simon's B ay— Revolving light on Roman Rocks.
— On and after the 16th day o f September, 1861, a light will be exhib­
ited from the light-house recently erected on the Roman Rocks, near the
western shore o f False Bay, Cape o f G ood Hope, South Africa. The
light will be a revolving white light, showing a bright face for the space
o f twelve seconds every half minute. It will be placed 54 feet above
the mean level o f the sea, and in clear weather should be seen from the
deck of a vessel at a distance of 12 miles. The illuminating apparatus
is catoptric or by reflectors o f the third order. The light-house is circu­
lar, of iron, and 48 feet h ig h ; the lower half will be painted black, the
upper half white. Its position is lat. 34° 10' 45" S., long. 18° 27' 30"
east from Greenwich. Noah’s Ark Rock bears from it S. W . b y W .
three-quarters o f a mile, and the Dock-yard clock W . by N. I f mile. The




1861.]

Journal o f Nautical Intelligence.

523

light vessel hitherto moored on the north side of the Roman Rocks will
be removed on the exhibition o f the above light.
The Castor Rock, with only 15 feet on it at low water springs, lies
N. N. E. f E., 2f cables from the light-house ; it is marked by a beacon,
with a flag having the word rock painted on it. Between this rock and
the light-house there are patches o f 19 and 24 feet water. To avoid
these dangers a vessel o f large draught, when passing to the northeast
of the light-liouse, should give it a berth o f
cables before hauling in
for Simon’s Bay. When bound to Simon’s Bay from the southward by day,
the light-house kept in line with Elsey peak 1ST. f W ., will lead between
the Whittle Rock and Miller’s Point. B y night this bearing of the light is
the only guide.
C aution. — The mariner should be on his guard in misty weather against
the possibility of mistaking the light on Roman Rocks for the light on
Cape Point, as they are both revolving, and only ten miles apart. The
distinction consists in the difference of interval o f revolution, the light
on Cape Point showing its bright face every minute, and the light on the
Roman Rocks every half minute.
S o u th A m erica , Coast o f B r a z il— R ev olvin g L ig h t on S an ta B arba ra ,
A b ro lh o s Isla n d s. — The Secretary o f State for the marine department at

Rio de Janeiro has given notice that a light is exhibited from a light­
house recently erected on the island o f Santa Barbara, one of the Abrol­
hos Islands, on the coast o f Brazil. The light is a revolving white light,
attaining its greatest brilliancy every minute. It is placed at an ele­
vation o f 189 feet above the mean level o f the sea, and should be seen
in clear weather at a distance o f 1*7 miles. The illuminating appa­
ratus is dioptric, or by. lenses o f the first order. The tower, which is
circular and surrounded by a dwelling, stands on the highest part of
the island. It is built o f iron, 51 feet high, and surmounted by a
bronze lantern. The position o f the eastern summit o f the island is
latitude l ? 0 57' 42" S., longitude 38° 41' 30" west o f Greenwich.
R ev o lv in g L ig h t on P o n ta dos N a u fra g a d o s. — A light is exhibited
from a light-house recently erected on Ponta dos Naufragados, on the
southern bar o f St. Catharine. The light is a revolving white light, at­
taining its greatest brilliancy every thirty seconds. It is placed at an
elevation o f 149 feet above the mean level o f the sea, and should be
seen in clear weather at a distance o f 18 miles. The illuminating appa­
ratus is dioptric, or by lenses o f the second order. The tower is circular,
and its position is given in latitude 27° 49' S., and longitude 48° 42'
37" west o f Greenwich.
S o u th P a c ific Ocean.— R e e f o f f S tew a rt Is le, N ew -Z ea la n d . — The fol­
lowing notice to mariners has been received from the Admiralty, London :
“ It appears from an examination o f the weather-book o f the ship B r u c e ,
T h o m as M e ik l e jo h n , commander, in his passage from Otago, by the
south of New-Zealand, to Calcutta, in November, 1860, when passing the
southeast extreme o f South or Stewart Island, discovered a dangerous
reef, which is not laid down in the Admiralty or any other charts, or
noticed in the New-Zealand pilot or sailing directions. This danger,
which is described as two low rocks, from three to six feet high, and
close together, on which the sea breaks heavily, lies in the direct track
of vessels closely rounding Stewart Island in proceeding to or from the




524

Journal o f Nautical Intelligence.

[November,

southern settlements o f New-Zealand. Its position, which appears to
have been determined with some accuracy, is as follows :
“
“
“
“
“

1 - f miles E. by N.
5tV “ E. by N.
3-j
“
E.by S.
7J
“ S. E. f E.
Or, in latitude 47°

f N. from Owen Island, off Lord’s River.
\ N. “ the extreme of the Break Sea Isles.
| S.
“ W reck Reef, off Port Adventure.
“ East Head, north of Port Adventure.
7' 35" S., and longitude 168° 21' 35" E.

“ Soundings, though tried for, were not obtained in its neighborhood,
from the rapid rate o f sailing o f the ship in passing the danger.
“ Caution.— It is creditable to Captain M e ik l e jo h n to have entered the
discovery of this reef in his weather-book, but it is greatly to be regretted
that he did not take some steps, immediately on his arrival at Calcutta
or in England, to make public the existence o f this very serious danger,
which lies but little out o f the sailing track o f ships bound to the southern
settlements o f New-Zealand. Had not the remark been seen by Rear
Admiral F itz R o r, (who was searching this book for meteorological
facts, and at once transmitted it to the Admiralty for publication,) this
reef might not have been heard of until it had caused the wreck of a
vessel. On being applied to for further information, Captain M e ik l e ­
jo h n readily sent up his original chart on which the reef was marked at
the time, and there can be but little doubt o f its existence. Masters o f
vessels are, therefore, warned to keep a good lookout in this neighbor­
hood. They are further requested, on the discovery o f any danger, to
report the same immediately on arriving at the first port, in order that
other vessels may be put on their guard, and for the general benefit of
the mariner.”
IR O N -P L A T E D

SHIPS.

Three of the tenders made to the English Admiralty for iron-plated
vessels were promptly accepted by Mr. M a r e , o f Millwall, Mr. L a ir d , of
Birkenhead, and by the Thames Iron Works, where the W a r r io r was
built, and they were ordered to commence the construction o f the vessels
forthwith. The length of the new ships will be 400 feet on the lowwater lin e; breadth, extreme, 59 feet 4 inches; depth, 21 feet below the
gun-deck ; and tonnage, 6,815. The length of the W a r r io r class is 380
feet, breadth 58 feet, and tonnage 6,170. The breadth of deck, however,
in the proposed frigates, will not be greater than the W a r r io r , as the
Admiralty have most wisely decided on giving the sides o f the new
vessels a greater incline towards the deck. Thus, the slope o f the
W a r r io r ’ s sides inwards, from the water’s edge, or the “ tumble home,”
as it is termed, is an incline of about one foot in thirteen ; whereas, in the
ships to be built it will be at an incline o f one in eight and a half feet,
which, of course, not only increases the chances o f the shot glancing off,
but has the more important advantage o f getting the weight more in the
centre, and diminishing the tendency to roll. The internal subdivisions,
as to water-tight compartments, &c., will be almost precisely similar to
those of the W a r r io r . The main decks are to be armed with 36 100pounder A r m st r o n g s , and the spar-deck with 21 guns o f a similar calibre.
Two forward guns will, it is said, be 200-pounders, and so, also, will the
pivot-gun at the stern.




1861.]

Commercial Regulations.

COMMERCIAL
I.

625

REGULATIONS.

T he C on fiscation A ct of A ugust , 1861. II. R esults of C onfiscation A ct . III. C ommer ­
T r ea ty b etw een F ran ce a n d I t a l y . IV. F ree I m portations into F r an ce . V. T r eaty
b etw e en E n glan d a n d F rance . VI. T r e a ty w it h T u r k e y . VII. T r e a ty b etw e en R u ssia
a n d C h in a . VIII. D ecisions of the S e cretary of tiie T r easu ry on H o llo w W a re — W ool ­
len C a r d C loth —P r in ted C otton H and ke rc h ie fs .
c ia l

AN ACT TO CONFISCATE PROPERTY USED FOR INSURRECTIONARY PURPOSES.

B e it enacted b y the S enate and H o u se o f R epresen tatives o f the U ni­
ted S ta tes o f A m erica in Congress assembled, That if, during the present

or any future insurrection against the government o f the United States,
after the President of the United States shall have declared, hy proclam­
ation, that the laws o f the United States are opposed, and the execution
thereof obstructed hy combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the
ordinary course of judicial proceedings, or by the power vested in the
marshals by law, any person or persons, his, her or their agent, attorney
or employee, shall purchase or acquire, sell or give, any property of what­
soever kind or description, with intent to use or employ the same, or
suffer the same to be used or employed, in aiding, abetting or promoting
such insurrection or resistance to the laws, or any person or persons en­
gaged therein ; or if any person or persons, being the owner or owners o f
any such property, shall knowingly use or employ, or consent to the use
or employment o f the same as aforesaid, all such property is hereby de­
clared to be lawful subject o f prize and capture wherever found; and it
shall be the duty o f the President of the United States to cause the same
to be seized, confiscated and condemned.
Sec. 2. A n d be it fu r t h e r enacted, That such prizes and capture shall
be condemned in the district or circuit court o f the United States having
jurisdiction o f the amount, or in admiralty in any district in which the
same may be seized, or into which they may be taken and proceedings
first instituted.
Sec. 3. A n d be it fu r t h e r enacted, That the Attorney-General, or any
District Attorney of the United States in which said property may at the
time be, may institute the proceedings o f condemnation, and in such case
they shall be wholly for the benefit of the United States; or any person
may file an information with such attorney, in which case the proceedings
shall be for the use of such informer and the United States in equal parts.
Sec. 4. A n d be it f u r t h e r enacted, That whenever hereafter, during
the present insurrection against the government of the United States, any
person claimed to be held to labor or service under the law o f any State
shall be required or permitted by the person to whom such labor or ser­
vice is claimed to be due, or by the lawful agent o f such person, to take
up arms against the United States, or shall be required or permitted by
the person to whom such labor or service is claimed to be due, or his
lawful agent, to work to be employed in or upon any fort, navy yard,
dock, armory, ship, entrenchment, or in any military or naval service
whatsoever, against the government and lawful authority o f the United
States, then and in every such case the person to whom such labor or ser­
vice is claimed to be due, shall forfeit his claim to such labor, any law of
the State or of the United States to the contrary notwithstanding. And




526

Commercial Regulations.

[November,

whenever thereafter the person claiming such labor or service shall seek
to enforce his claim, it shall be a full and sufficient answer to such claim
that the person whose service or labor is claimed had been employed in
hostile service against the government o f the United States, contrary to
the provisions of this act.
Approved, August 6, 1861.
CONFISCATION

OF

VESSELS.

The seizure o f vessels at New-York and other Northern ports, under
the new confiscation act, still continues. All the vessels taken are first
libelled, then confiscated, and will be finally sold to the highest bidder.
Some o f these vessels were loading with cargoes for foreign ports. The
government, it is stated, will not claim their cargoes, (unless it should be
proved that they were intended to be shipped to Southern ports,) and
the owners will be afforded every facility for their removal.
In case o f most o f the seizures but a small part, say one-fourth o f the
vessel, belongs to parties in the seceded States. The three-fourths owners,
resident in the North, will bid in the vessels, and, as the Secretary of the
Treasury has discretionary powers by the act, he will undoubtedly remit
the amount paid for shares previously owned by the bidders-in, and ac­
cept only the amount due for the portion o f the vessel claimed by South­
ern owners.
The Southern owners can, o f course, have no claim upon the Northern
buyers, as the act o f Congress confiscates their property. The South is
thus likely to be cut off from any ownership in a large number of vessels,
and Northern shipowners will have an opportunity o f adding to their
property at a considerable rate, considering the probable amount which
will be invested under the confiscation sale.
W ith regard to the transferred vessels, it is believed that there will be
no special difficulty in establishing the illegality o f the transfers. The
federal government will not be likely to recognise powers o f attorney
issued by the rebels, particularly when they were issued for the purpose
o f attempting to nullify a law enacted by Congress, and to avoid the con­
fiscation which the act o f Congress and the proclamation o f the President
decree.
COMMERCIAL

TREATY

BETWEEN

FRANCE

AND

ITALY.

The P u n g o la of Milan gives the following details concerning the treaty
o f commerce now in course o f negotiation between France and Italy:
Absolute reciprocity in commerce and navigation, even in the coasting
trade. Perfect equality for vessels as regards tonnage, pilotage and
quarantine dues, & c .; also for loading and unloading cargoes in port, the
use of docks &c. Agricultural and manufactured productions o f all
countries to be imported by French and Italian vessels without any dif­
ferential dues being imposed. The productions o f the two countries, ex­
ported or imported from one to the other, to enjoy the privileges accorded
to those of the most favored nations. Perfect equalities o f duties in the
coral and other fisheries. All favors which may hereafter be accorded to
any nation by either power, is to be accorded to the other. The reduced
import duties on certain articles granted by preceding treaties to be ex­
tended to rice, flax and hemp tissues, salt meat, &c. The reductions




1861.]

527

Commercial Regulations.

accorded to Belgium by the recent treaty to be extended to Italy. A bo­
lition o f the certificate o f origin in the event o f direct imports. Italian
securities to be negotiated in the Bourse o f Paris, and those o f France in
the Bourses o f Italy. Abandonment o f all taxes and charges whatever
in case o f shipwreck, also of all transit dues.

TREATY

BETWEEN

RUSSIA

AND

CHINA.

The Delhi Gazette of June 27th gives the following as authentic : The
Ambassador o f the King o f Kokan arrived in Cabul on the 5th, on his
way to Peshawur, and was received very warmly in Durbar by the Ameer.
He (the ambassador) informed the Ameer that he was going with cer­
tain proposals to the British authorities which had relation to news re­
ceived at Kokan, to the effect that a treaty had been concluded between
the Emperor o f Russia and the Emperor o f China, by which the Russians
have pledged themselves to protect and hold seven cities belonging to
China, situated near the boundaries o f Yarcund Kashkur, and to occupy
the same by an armed military force. The Russians have also agreed to
assist the Chinese with troops, if necessary, against the British and K okanees. It seems that the Emperor o f China had written to the Czar to
say that the British had taken some o f his places near Hindostan, and
were intending to come upon others; and his Celestial Majesty having
received a very favorable answer to his letter from Russia was the cause
o f the treaty being concluded.

FREE

IMPORTATIONS.

The Chamber of Commerce of Boulogne have published a notice call­
ing particular attention to the liberal dispositions o f the Circular, No.
781, just issued by the French Custom House, in accordance with which
French subjects returning into France, or foreigners settling there, are al­
lowed to import all articles o f personal and domestic use, such as cloth­
ing, house-furniture, musical instruments, books, &c., free o f duty.
Agricultural implements, tools and mechanical appliances may also be
imported free of duty by persons intending to employ them, and stu­
dents’ materials and marriage outfits are also to be exempt from duty.

THE

ANGLO-FRENCH

COMMERCIAL

TREATY.

The Paris correspondent o f the London Times, writing in September,
says: Now that the first o f October is approaching, the term at which
the treaty o f commerce with England is to be carried into full execu­
tion, the shopkeepers in Paris who deal in cotton goods are reducing
their prices to a figure quite unprecedented. They fear, it is said, that
the French market will be overstocked with British manufactures. Every
Englishman they perceive in any public place they imagine to be a man­
ufacturer come to compete with and undersell them. A Rouen paper
states that the hotels in that town are filled with English merchants and
manufacturers, come to make sales o f their produce for the 1st of Octo­
ber, the period when a variety o f British merchandise will be admitted
into France on the payment o f a duty o f 15 per cent, ad valorem. That
paper adds that the prices demanded b y the English dealers are so mod­




528

Commercial Regulations.

[November,

erate that they would create surprise, were it not known that English
merchants make immense sacrifices in order to become masters o f the
market.
TREATY

WITH

TURKEY.

The treaty of commerce between Great Britain and Turkey, which is
to come into operation on the 1st o f October, has been laid before Par­
liament. Turkish produce and manufactures purchased by British sub­
jects are to be liable to no duty, except an export duty o f 8 per cent.,
diminishing annually by 1 per cent., until it be reduced to a fixed ad va­
lorem duty o f 1 per cent., to cover the general expenses o f administration
and control; and the produce and manufactures o f the dominions and
possessions of Her Britannic Majesty are not to be subject in Turkey to
any duty beyond an import duty o f 8 per cent., but the import of tobacco
or salt is prohibited. There is to be no differential duty on British ship­
ping. The duty o f 3 per cent, now levied on articles passing through
Turkey by land to other countries is to be reduced to 2 per cent., and
after eight years, is to be merely 1 per cent., to defray the expense o f regis­
tration. No charge is to be made on British produce or goods in Brit­
ish ships passing through the States. The “ most favored nation” clauses
are inserted.
D ecisio n s o f the S ecreta ry o f the T rea su ry o f questions a risin g u p on appeals by im ­
p o rte r s f r o m the D ecision s o f C ollectors rela tin g to the p r o p e r classification, under the
T a riff A c t o f M a rch 2, 1861, o f certa in a rticles o f F o re ig n M a n u fa ctu re , entered at
the p o r ts o f B oston a nd M ew -Y ork.

HOLLOW

WARE.

T rea su ry D ep a rtm en t, J u l y 12, 1861.

Sir,— I have had under consideration your report on the appeal o f
Messrs. B a l a n c e & G r o s je a n from your assessment of duty, at the rate
o f 30 per cent., under the provision for “ manufactures o f metal, &c.,
not otherwise provided for,” in section 22 o f the tariff act o f March 2,
1861, on certain “ hollow ware” imported by them.
The appellants claim entry at the rate o f 2^ cents per pound, as being
provided for in section 1, under the classification o f “ hollow ware, glazed
or tinned.”
The articles in question it appears are returned by the appraisers at
your port as composed o f “ metal, and hollow, but not castings o f iron.”
The provision under which the importers claim to enter at a duty o f 2£
cents per pound refers, in my opinion, to hollow ware, being a casting of
iron, and does not embrace hollow ware o f any other description. Being
excluded from that classification, the wares in question would fall under
the provision to which you referred them on the entry, v iz .: “ Manufac­
tured, articles, vessels and wares, not otherwise provided for, o f brass,
copper, gold, iron, lead, pewter, platina, silver, tin or other metal, or of
which either o f these metals, or any other metal, shall be the compo­
nent material of chief value,” and your decision assessing duty at the
rate of 30 per centum ad valorem is affirmed.
I am, very respectfully,
S. P. C h a s e , S ecreta ry o f the T rea su ry.
H ikam B a r n e y , Esq., Collector, <&c., N e w -Y o r k .




1861.]

C om m ercial R egu la tion s.
WOOLLEN

CARD

529

CLOTH.

T rea su ry D epa rtm en t, J u l y 29, 1861.
Sir,— I have had under consideration your report on the appeal o f Mr.
B e n ja m in P olan d from your decision, subjecting to duty, at the rate
o f 12 cents per pound, and in addition thereto 25 per centum ad valorem ,
as a “ manufacture o f wool, made wholly or in part of wool, not other­
wise provided for,” under the tariff o f March 2, 1861, certain “ woollen
card cloth” imported by him.
The appellant claims entry thereof at the rate o f 30 per cent, under
section 22 o f the tariff of 1861, as being provided for in the provision
for “ manufactures not otherwise provided for, composed o f mixed mate­
rials, in part of cotton, silk, wool or worsted or flax.” The article under
consideration is a manufacture, cotton, wool and linen, and is used for
manufacturing cotton cards.
After a careful examination o f this case I concur with you in opinion,
that the merchandise in question is subject, under the second subdivision
o f section 13 o f the tariff o f 1861, to duty at the rate o f 12 cents per
pound, and in addition thereto 25 per centum ad valorem .
Your assessment o f duty at those rates is affirmed.
I am, very respectfully,
S. P . C h a s e , S ecreta ry o f the T rea su ry.
J. Z. G o o d r ic h , Esq., Collector, dec., B oston , M ass.

PRINTED

COTTON

HANDKERCHIEFS.

T rea su ry D ep a rtm en t, S eptem ber 10, 1861.
Sir,— I have had under consideration the appeal o f Messrs. L. H e id e n h e im e r & Co., from your assessment o f duty at the rate of “ 2 cents
per square yard and ten per centum ad valorem in addition,” on printed
cotton handkerchiefs, under the provision in section 14 o f the tariff o f
March 2, 1861, for “ manufactures of cotton, &c., on finer or lighter
goods of like description, not exceeding 140 threads to the square inch,
counting the warp and filling, two cents per square yard, * * * *
and if printed, painted, colored or stained, there shall be levied, collected
and paid a duty o f 10 per centum ad valorem in addition.”
The appellants claim that the above section refers “ only to goods
sold by the ya rd , and printed cotton handkerchiefs being bought and
sold by the dozen or by the piece, the meaning o f the act could not be
to levy on them a duty by the yard,” but that they should be classified
either under the head of “ all manufactures o f cotton, bleached, printed,
painted or dyed, not otherwise provided for,” at 30 percent., section 14,
or, “ as wearing apparel ready for use,” at the same rate o f duty, sec­
tion 22.
These goods are in pieces of several dozens in length.
I concur in the views expressed by you, and the goods in question are
liable, in my opinion, to duty at the rates assessed on the entry, viz.,
two cents per square yard and ten per centum in addition.
I am, very respectfully,
S. P , C h a s e , S ecreta ry o f the T re a s u r y .
H ir a m B a r n e y , Esq., Collector, dec., N ew - York..
VOL.

x l v .— n o .




v.

34

530

H

STEAMERS.

5
P

W H E R E B U IL T .

M ASTERS.
EH

15 Canadian, (Br.)... Graham,
18 Tulu, (Br.)......... Goodwin,

20001Greenock,
452 Glasgow,

YEAR.

MARINE LOSSES FOR JUNE, 1861.
IIA IL FROM .

1860 Liverpool,
1857 Glasgow,

W H E R E FROM .

Quebec,
New-York,

W H ERE TO .

D IS A S T E R S .

Liverpool,
Tot. loss; sk. by ice in St. Law. R. June 4,
Kingston, Ja., Total loss at Port Morant, Ja., May 28,
2 Steamers,........................... Totals,

SHIPS.
4 Betsy Williams, ..
25 Dasliaway,..........
5 Equal Rights,......
24 Masonic,.............
4 Yesper,..............

Nickerson, 400 Stonington
1012 Hallowell, Me.
Wedge,
G.W. Collier 850 Black Rock,
Sebart,
439 Richmond,
G.W. Bailey, 321 Newbury,

1S46 New-Bedford,
1854 Hallowell,
1861 New-York,
1847 Bath,
1827 New-London,

Manzanilla,
Baltimore,
New-York,
New-Orleans,
New-London,

New-York,
Calcutta,
Bristol, Eng.,
Liverpool,
Whaling,

$

$

LO SS O N
CARG O.

350,000
75,000
425,000

On Riding Rocks, off and at Nassau, May 5,
Put back to Baltimore, leaky, June 24,
Put into St. Thomas, leaky, May 15,
Put into St. Thomas, leaky, May 23,
Condemned at Honolulu, March 26,

$

$

100,000

6,000
6.700
4,600
3.700
10,000

$

$

31,000

40,000
60,000

$

$

5,000
8,000
3,400
2,600

14,000

TO TAL
LO SSES.

$

$

890,000
135,000
525,000
$

$

11,000
9,700
8,000
6,300
10,000
45.000

1

871 Miramichi,
1S60 Miramichi,
306 Eastport,
1849 New-York,
39S Rockland,
1855 Rockland,
365 Memel,
1856 Memel,
627 Quebec,
1S49 Liverpool,
430 Nova Scotia. 1849 Liverpool,
280 Warren, R. I., 1852 Fall River,
305 Wells, Me.,
1853 Wells,
402 Portsmouth, 1824 Boston,
499 Bath, Me.,
1851 Bath,

Savannah,
Liverpool,
Havana,
Cardenas,
Pensacola,
Cienfuegos,
Madeira,
Baltimore,
Liverpool,
Savannah,
Darien,
Queenstown,
Havana,
Falmouth, E.,
Sagua,
New-York,
Buenos Ayres, Cork,
Havana,
Cronstadt,

Total loss at Hunting Islands, May 20,
$ 40,000 $ 26,000 $ 66,000
Total loss on Key Pedro, June,
8.500
8.500
Total loss on Jardinallis Bank, May 13,
15.000
3.000
18,000
Total loss on Cape Hatteras, June 2,
17.000
80,000
47.000
Ashore near St. Helena, June 6, ar. N. Y.,
2,000
2,000
Abandoned at sea, April 18,
9.000
6.000
15.000
Put into Bermuda, June 16,
4.000
3,700
7,700
Ashore on West Bank, N. Y. Bay, June 14,
3.500
6,000
9.500
Put into Baltimore in dis., June 14, (cond.)
7.500
9,000
16,500
On fire and sunk at Cronstadt, June 13,
8.500
8.500
10 Barks,.............................. Totals,

BRIGS.
15 Alpine,............. .
14 Bedouin, (Br.)__
8 Borneo,...... ' ___
26 Com. Stewart,__
8 Franklin, (Br.)....
12 Jaffa, (Br.) .. / __
2 Lind, (Dan.)........
6 Milton,................




Killman,
McKenzie,
Norton,
Wilson,
Chisholm,
Douglass,
Petersen,
Hoyt,

249 Frankfort, Me. 1858 Frankfort,
298 New-Glasgow 1858 New-Glasgow
199 Bristol, Me., 1851 Jacksonville,
155 Harpswell,
1847 Harpswell,
176 Maitland, N.S. 1S55 Maitland,
182 Maitland, N.S. 1858 Maitland,
238 Westarvick, 1840 Westarvick,
155 New-Bedford, 1844 Boston,

New-Orleans,
New-York,
Minatitlan,
Portland,
Matanzas,
Sydney, C . B . ,
New-York,
Marseilles,

Bordeaux,
Galway,
Hamburg,
Pictou, N. S.,
New-York,
New-York,
Liverpool,
Boston,

Put into Newport, leaky,
Abandoned at sea, April,
Put into Key West, leaky, May 18,
Total loss on White Head Island, June 16,
Total loss on Conch Reef, May 21,
Total loss on Nantucket Island, June 8,
Missing since December 26, 1860,
Condemned at Gibraltar, May 14th,
8

Brigs,................................. Totals,

$ 115,000 $ 83,700 $ 198,700
$ 4,500
11,000
3.700
4.000
5.000
3.700
5,500
6.000

$ 3,000
15,000
2.500

$ 4 8 ,4 0 o !

$ 4 0 ,0 0 0

2.500
4.000
9.000
4.000

$ 7,500
26,000
6,200
4,000
7,500
7,700
14,500
10,000
$ 83,400

Marine Losses.

5 Ships,................................. Totals,
BARKS.
14|Coronet, (Br.)...... Brown,
12jCornelia,__ ' ....... Barton,
6(Caroline Ellems,.. Ellems,
10 Emma Eloise, (P.) Healy,
14 Edward, (Br.)__ Tucker,
4 Johan, (Br.)........ Clase,
22 Mary E. Barney,.. Robbins,
15,Mary Sawyer,...... Bartlett,
15 Sarah Sheaf,........ Chase,
30[Tanaro,.............. Berry,

LO S8 ON
V ESSEL.

SCHOONERS.
1
Healey,
Low,
22
4 J. J. Spencer....... A. Dole,

25SjMauricetown, 1S60 Greenwich,
Portland,
Cardenas,
11C Damariscotta, 1849 Boston,
Bangor,
New-York,
234 Bridgton, N. J 1855 Camden, N. J. New-Orleans, Bordeaux,
126 Morristown, 1847 Morristown, Delaware R., Wrecking,
17 Mariner, (Br.)__ Morris,
240 Cornwallis,
1S60 Cornwallis,
Hillsboro, N.B New-York,
5 Medora,.............. L. Rhoades, 99 Bucksport,
1848 Rockland,
New-York,
Portland,
2 N. & D. Scudder,.. Pinckney,
Barnstable,
Fishing,
97 Mystic, Ct., 1852 Barnstable,
4 Sarah H. Sears,... AEGoodsell 175 Fairhaven,
1859 New-Haven, New-York,
Nassau,
29 Sea Breeze, (Br.) . R. Wilson, 192 Hopewell, N.B 1860 St. Johns,N.B. Matanzas,
New-York,
13 Woodpecker, (Br.)
175 London,
1S60 London,
Columbia E., Victoria,

Put in Holmes’ Hole, leaky, May 29,
Put in Boston, leaky, June 20,
Put in Philadelphia, leaky, May 20,
Total loss at Overalls. Del. Bay,
Abandoned, lat. 40 15, Ion. 69 35, May 28,
Col. sclir. Tarquin, and sunk, June 2,
Put in Liverpool, N. S., leaky, May 15,
Aband. 18 m. from Harbor Island, May 18,
Put in St. Thomas leaky, (2d dis.) June 10,
Total loss on Columbia Bar, May 10,
10 Schooners,........................Totals,

M A R IN E LO SSE S
H

ft

STEAMERS.

M ASTER.

W H E R E B U IL T .

150
1 Jno. R. Thompson, Jas. Colory, 115 Baltimore,
New-York,
6 New World,........ St. John,
2S7 Hoboken,
22 Potomska,........... Nye,

-"J

H A IL FRO M .

W H E R E FROM .

$ 43,700 $ 27,700 $ 71,400

W H E R E TO .

D IS A S T E R S .

LO SS ON
V i^SSE li.

LO SS ON
CARG O.

TO TAL
LO SSE S.

1S5
1852 Philadelphia, New-York,
185 New-York,
New-York,
1854New-Bedford, Portland,

Baltimore,
Albany,
New-York,

$ 25,000
S’k bv wreck of John Truck, Phil. June 28,
Struck sunk, barge, sunk near Stuyvesant,
Ashore on Bears’ Sh’ l, Monomey, July 18,

570 Medford,
Boston,
1849 Boston,
549 Chelsea,
Boston,
1854 Bath, Me.,
1352 Bath, Me.,
1854 Newport, E., Newport, E.
1119 Portsmouth, 1854 London,
Portsmouth,
556;East Boston, 1858 Boston,
Cronstadt,
998 Beverly, Mass. 1853 Beverly, Mass. Callao,
60S Bangor, Me., 1858 Bangor,
Havana,
1225: Rockland,
1854 Rockland,
Cardiff1,
597|Bath, Me.,
1855 Puget Sound, Puget Sound,
1637j Rockland,
Cardiff,
1853 New-York,
592|Wiscassett,
1847 Liverpool, En. Liverpool,
496 Medford,
1840 Princetown, St. Johns,NB.
855 Guernsey,
1845 England,
Tome,
1198lPortsmouth, 1855 Newburyport, London,
875.Castine, Me., 1851 Castine,
Boston,

Shanghae,
Hong Kong,
Madras,
Calcutta,
Boston,
Cork,
Cienfuegos,
Shanghae,
Toulon,
Kurrachee,
Baltimore,
Queenstown,
Liverpool,
Calcutta,
London,

T’w’ d in Singapore May 19, col.with St.M.
Lost on the Prata Shoals, May 15,
Sunk 175 miles S.E. Pernambuco, May 29,
Ashore 30 miles N. Pernambuco, June 8,
Put into Elsinore in distress, June 29,
Put into Valparaiso in distress, Mav 29,
Total loss, burnt by privateer Jeff. Davis,
Put into Queenstown, leaky, June 26,
Total loss by fire at Toulon,
Lost on the Brazilian coast, June 26,
Ashore in Chesapeake B., July 25, tot. loss
Put into Halifax, leaky, June 24,
Put in Falkland Is., fore c’mp’rt full wat’r,
Abandoned at sea, June 15,
Put in Portland, July 29, lost topmasts, &c
15 Ships,............................ Totals,

1,800 $ 10,000
10,000
2,600

$ 25,000
11,800
10,000
2,600

$39,400 $10,000 $ 49,400
$ 5,000
25,000 $ 40,000
52,000
63,500
1,000
6,000
2,000
7,600
4,000
35,000
3,700
i,6oo
30,000
18,000
65,000
10,000
10,000
3,000
3,500
1,000
6,000
10,000
50,000
60,000
1,200

$5,000
65,000
115,500
1,000
8,000
11,600
35,000
4,700
48,000
75,000
13,000
4,500
16,000
110,000
1,200

$ 301,000 $ 212,500 $ 513,500

531




12,000
4.000
2,700

X

4 Steamers,........................Totals,
SHIPS.
20Argonout,........... Norton,
30 Alfred Hill,........ Morse,
9 Edgar Stringer,... Wood,
11 Emily Farnum,... Simes,
17 Ethan Allen,...... Lindburg,
4 Elizabeth Kimbal, Wilson,
18 Golden Rocket,... Powers,
20 J. Wakefield,...... Howe,
6 Lawson,.............. D. Wright,
29 Live Yankee,...... Boyle,
30 Maggie Carie,(Br.) Craig,
11 Middlesex,.......... Merrill,
22 Santiago, (Br.)— Davison,
31 Star of Hope,...... Pearson,
30 Wm. Witherel,... Atwood,

3.000
4.000

$500
900
3,800
1,000
13,000
5.000
1,200
24,800
9.000
12,200

F O R J U L Y , 1 86 1.

PS

H

$ 2,000

July, 1861.

■«<

OQ

$500
900
1,800
1,000
10,000
1,000
1,200
12,800
5,000
9,500

BARKS.

M ASTER.

TO N S.

MARINE LOSSES FOR JULY, 1 8 6 1 .
1
W H E R E B U IL T .

(C o

n t in u e d

.)

d

<

H A IL FRO M .

i B
Cutler,
1851 Boston,
489 Richmond,
Edward Hill,...... J. H. Avery, 499 Warren, R. I., 1S56 Newbury,
Patterson,
3S5
J. Cockerell, (Br.) Ambrose,
853 Sunderland, 1S51[London,
Mystery,.............. Taylor,
328 Duxbury,Mass 1854;Boston,
Mary R. Barny,... Robins,
2S0 Warren, R. I., 1854 Fall River,
Sarah Sheaf,........ Chase,
402 Portsmouth, 1S24 Boston,
Young Greek,__ Taylor,
460 Medford,
lS55,Caldera,

W H E R E FROM .

W H E R E TO .

D IS A S T E R S .

LO SSES.

Havana,
Ash. Chesapeake S’ nd, July 8, Nassau, c., $ 16,000i $10,000 $ 26,000
New-York,
Burnt at Boston, July 4,
2,500
2.500
17.500
90 000
Hussam,
Collision and sunk, July 6, total loss,
43.500
London,
Put back to N. Y., ISOm. E. Sandy H., l’ky,
|New-York,
6,000
7.500
13.500
Burnt at Boston, July 4,
In port,
Boston,
14.000
14,000
Falmouth, E., Put into Bermuda in distress, June 8,
Havana,
2.500
8,000
5.500
Put into Baltimore in distress, condemned
Buenos Ayres, Cork,
7.500
6,000
13.500
Ashore on Wolf Trap, Chesapeake B. (off,)
Baltimore,
ICaldera,
1,000
3.500
2.500

198 Searsport, Me. 1853 Searsport,
Trinidad,
[Philadelphia,
236 E. Boston,
1S50 Belize, Ilond., New-York, Belize,
260 Portsmouth, 1857.New-York,
Philadelphia, [Havana,"
273 Portsmouth, 1854New-York,
Kingston, Ja., New-York,
300 Sarrente,
New-York, ;In port,
1560 Naples,
19S Prospect, Me., 1554 Prospect,
Boston,
|In port,
235 Uckermunde, 1555 Jersey,
Rio Janeiro, Baltimore,
240 Searsport,
1849 Boston,
Boston,
In port,
195 Bangor,
1859 Bangor,
New-York,
Rio Grande,
19S Fall River,
1847 Boston,
Lisbon,
Rio Grande,
300 New-London, 1561 New-York,
Cuba,
Aspinwall,
108 Medford,
1844 Boston,
Fayal,
Boston,
29S Prospect, Me., 1855 Stockton,
Boston,
In port,
176 St. Peters Bay. 1851 Pictou, N. S., St.Jago, Cuba. New-York,
264Risoer,
1S36 Norway,
Montreal,
[Bristol, Eng.,
18i;Orland,
1850,Newpo*rt, R. I. Liverpool,
|Providence,

Ashore near Cape Henelopen,
Abd. in hurricane, lat. 31 28, long. 72 12,
Put back to Philadelphia, cond.^nd sold,
On a reef off Cuba, condemned,
On fire, foot Clinton-st., East River, July,
Burnt at Boston, July 4,
Ashore near Carrituck, N. C., July 4, con.
Burnt at Boston, July 4.
Dmgd in gale, stove galley, cabin doors,
Ab’d and sunk, 12 miles N.E. Pt. Anago,
Ashore near Punta Luena Reef, total loss,
Put into Fayal, leaky, and condemned,
Burnt at Boston, July 4,
Ashore at Bird Rock, May 3, condemned,
Col. and sunk, June 23,
Put into Queenstown for repairs,
16 Brigs,............................ Totals,

$67,0001 $ 55,000
$1,800
9.000
2.600
4.500
3,700
8.000

$ 2,000

10,000

M00

2,000

$8,800
19.000
2,600
10.500
5,700
8,000

5,000!

15.000
7.000

7,000

S00

10.500
15.000
5.000
7.000
28.500
15.000
800

$ 94,400

155,000 $149,400

10,000

7.000

1.000

3.500
15,000
5.000
7.000
7.500
8.000

$600
3.000
3,700,
9.000
7,500.
1,500

i,soo!

16,000
7,000

$ 9,000
2,000

750

1.000

$600
12,000

5,700
9,000
7.500
1.500
2,550

[November,

SCHOONERS.
120 Frankfort,
26Benj. S. TVright,.. Browm,
1S59 Frankfort,
Gloucester, Fishing,
Put into Gloucester for rep., col.July 28,
27:Bodulch,.............. Perkins,
97 Castine, Me. 185S;Castine, Me., New-York,
St. Ann's Bay, Abandoned in a hurricane, July 10,
26 Chas. S. Carstairs, Naylor,
254 Pocomoke,
1854 Philadelphia, Boston,
Philadelphia, Ashore on Rainford Island Rocks, (off.)
213 Perth Amboy, 1857!Perth Amboy,........................................... Total loss, burnt by secessionists,
1 Christiana Keen,.. Stacey,
4 Dashaway,........... Littlefield, 177 Surrey, Me., 1855 Surrey, Me., Boston,
In port,
Burnt at Boston, July 4,
4 Energy,................ J. Mitchell, 67 Maine,
1859 St.Georges,Me St.Georges,Me Boston,
Missing since May 27,
SjEmily C. Horton,. Deming,
110 Cape May,
lS46|New-York,
Port Ewing, New-Bedford, Col. with Str. Metropolis, sunk, July 7,




TO TAL

CARG O.

Marine Losses.

Reed,
Robinson,
Chapman,
Sturtevant,
M. Russo,
Herriman,
Lecroix,
Lampher,
R. N. Seely,
Evans,
Phinney, ...
Cook,........
S. P. Griffin,
Page,
Hansen,
Hammond,

L O S S ON

Liverpool,
Boston,

8 Barks,............................ Totals,
BRIGS.
12 Altevela,..........
27jCreole, (Br.)__
23 Costa Rica,......
17 Elizabeth, (Br.).
22 Errichita, (Ital.)
4 Fanny O. Field,.
17 Gloria, (Br.)__
4 H. Matthews,...
27 John Jeffrey,...
13 J. Nickerson,...
8 Julia,..............
2 Medford,..........
4 Orilla,..............
13 Orient,.............
20 Omen,.............
26,S. P. Brown,__

LO SS ON
VESSEL.

110 Damariscotta, 1S49 Boston,
New-York,
Boston,
100 N. Providence 1840 Baltimore,
Rio Grande, New-York,
Boston,
In port,
122 Noank, L. I., 1848 Eastham,
281 Wilmington, 1S5S Wellfleet,
Boston,
Philadelphia,
1851 Port au Prince Port au Prince Boston,
132 Hampden,
1846 Rockland, Me. New-York,
125 Rockland,
Portsmouth,
147 Trenton, Me., 1854 Trenton,
Trenton, Me., Gibraltar,
Georges Bank,
90 Essex, Mass., 1856 Gloucester,
Gloucester,
270 New-Jersey, 1854 Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Key West,
280 Camden, N. J. 1858 Boston,
Mobile,
Boston,
Turk’s Island, Boston,
96 Baltimore,
1849 Hingham,
13S(Barnstable, 1840 Pittston, Me., Bridget’ n,N.S. Boston,
90|Kingston,
183S Belfast,
Penobscot ltiv
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Salem,
195;Philadelphia,
Gloucester,
Fishing,
84 Essex,
1857 Gloucester,
Kennebunk,
Baltimore,
158 Currituck,
1S53 Baltimore,
1S59 Greenport,
1857 Ellsworth,
J1S60 Lunenburg,

Matanzas,
Falmouth, E.. Put into Halifax, July 21, foremast sprung
Trinidad,Cuba Cork,
At Boston in distress, and burnt July 4,
Cienfuegos,
Halifax,
Ashore on the Isle of Pines, J une 27,
26 Schooners,.....................Totals,

R E C A P IT U L A T IO N
N O . OF
D IS A 8.

4
25
20
20
42

APRIL, 1861.
Steamers,...................
Ships,.........................
Barks,.........................
Brigs,.......... ..............
Schooners,.................

111

35




LO SS O N C A R G O .

LOSSES F O R

TOTAL.

N O . OF
D IS A S .

$ 23,500
432,300
168,300
66,700
87,300

$24,000
354,500
179,600
130,100
151,250

$ 47,500
786,800
347.900
196,S00
238,550

5
26
16
17
32

$ 778,100

$ 839,450

*1,617,550

96

$ 425,000
31,000
115,000
43,400
43,700

$ 100,000
14,000
83,700
40,000
27,700

$ 525,000
45.000
198,700
83,400
71,400

4
15
8
16
26

$ 658,100

* 265,400

* 928,500

69

TI1E

YEAR

MAY, 1S61.
Steamers,...................
Ships,........................
Barks,........................
Brigs,.........................
Schooners,.................

JULY, 1861.
Steamers,...................
Ships,........................
Barks,........................
Brigs,........................
Schooners,..................

$2,600
1,000
8,000

300
400

2,600

$ 3,600
2,200
3,000
500
12,500
1,000
3,000
250
1,800
6,500
1,300
2,000
500
600
3,000
1,700
1,600
1^200
9,000
4,100

$ 71,150 $ 27,050 $ 98,200

1861.
LO SS ON V E S S E L
A N D F R E IG H T .

L 0 8S ON CARG O.

TO TAL.

$ 307,000
563,000
131,800
120,200
67,300

$159,000
1,096,500
1S7,100
127,700
66,000

$ 466.000
1,659,500
318,900
247,900
133,300

$ 1,189,300

*1,636,300

$2,825,600

$39,400
301,000
67,000
94,400
71,150

$ 10,000
212,500
55,000
55,000
27,050

$ 49,400
513.500
122,000
149,400
9S,200

$ 572,950

$359,550

$932,500

533

2
5
10
8
10

JUNE, 1861.
Steamers,...................
Ships,.........................
Barks,........................
Brigs..........................
Schooners,.................

LO SS O N V E S S E L
A N D F R E IG H T .

OF

$ 1.000
1,200,
3,000;
500:
4,500!
1,000
3,000'
250
1,800
6,500
1,000
1,600
500
600
3,000
1,700
1,200
1,200
9,000
1,500

July, 1861.

199|Greenport,
233 Ellsworth,
lOOjLunenburg,

Sprung aleak, ash. Vineyard Sd., July 17,
Put in Rio Janeiro, leaky, June 4, cond.,
Burnt at Boston, July 4,
Col. July 19, lost jackstavs, davits & boat,
Total loss at Bird Rock, June 28,
Col. Str. Pennsylvania, put inN.IIaven,
Condemned at Gibraltar, June 12,
Collision, lost cliainplates, rail, &c.,
Put back, damaged in hurricane, July 23,
Burnt at Boston, July 4,
Put back to Grand Turk, cond. and sold,
Missing since April 5,
Ashore at Hampden,
Ashore at Block Island, July 10, (off,)
Missing since June 16,
Put into New-York in distress,

1861.]

20 Envoy,............... Low,
18!Exchange,......... Fuller,
4'F. A. Hawkins,.., Mayo,
22 George S. Green, Cobb,
1 5 Gen. Veaze,........ Gallagher,
20 Gertrude Horton,. Pendleton,
13,Harriet,.............. Young,
20 Harvest Home,. Forbes,
Jane N. Baker,... Handy,
M. A. McNeil,__ Kelly,
Nerissa,.............. Bagnes,
Only Son,............. Jas. Fraser,
8 Red Rover,.......... Baker,
20 Rachel S. Miller,.. Henderson,
23|Rolla,................. Bambrick,
lSjSeeing,................ Sofford,
22,Stony Brk. Packet, (Sloop,)
27|Tamaulipas,........ Buckley,
4lQuindaro,............■Walls,
20(Valorous, (Br.).. .|(Wilson,

534

Rail-Road and Telegraph Statistics.

RAIL-ROAD

I.

AND

TELEGRAPH

[November,

STATISTICS.

TnE TELEGKArn'FEOM Moscow to N e w - Y ork . II. B ritish R a il w a y Statistics . III. N e w
R oute from E u rope to I n d ia . IV. I m portan t to R a il w a y C om panies . Y. Steam on
Common R oads . YI. T iie P a c if ic T e le g r aph . YII. T he A t la n tic C a b l e .

THE

RUSSIAN

PACIFIC

TELEGRAPH.

T h e plan for establishing a telegraphic line connecting Europe through
Siberia with the Pacific Ocean has, during four years, had time to take shape
and form, so that, at the commencement o f the present year, the supreme
sanction was given to the project for constructing a telegraphic line in
the counties bordering on the Am oor and Oussouri, from Nikolaiewsk by
Kabarovka to the port o f Novgorod, (1,900 versts,) the most important
point o f the possessions recently annexed to Russia on the sea o f Japan.
The establishment of this line is undertaken by the Ministry o f Marine
at its cost and under its direction; and at the same time the superior
direction of the means o f communication (Board o f W orks) has com­
menced the construction o f a line starting from Kasan in the direction
of Siberia, which proposes opening at the end o f the present year a tele­
graphic communication from Kasan to Omsk, (1,900 versts,) and continue
it afterwards to Irkutsk, a distance of 2,475 versts from Omsk. Thus,
probably within two or three years, on the one side there will be tele­
graphic communication between Europe and Asia to Irkutsk, and, on the
other hand, our new colonies on the Amoor and Oussouri will be con­
nected with each other, and with our principal ports on the Japanese
waters. Thus o f the extent o f 10,000 versts, which the Siberian tele­
graph will embrace, there only remains the central portion, that of Irkutsk
by Kyachta to Kabarovka, about 3,500 versts, where as yet nothing has
been settled ; but it is beyond a doubt that as soon as the works actually
projected shall have been successfully completed, this intermediate line
will be constructed, and thus, within four or five years at the latest, the
gigantic project of a telegraph from Europe to the distant lands on the
shores o f the Pacific Ocean will be realized. The year 1861 promises to
be a memorable one, if we consider the great questions which will receive
a solution. Among those questions we must place the commencement
o f a durable connection and the establishment o f rapid communication
between Siberia and civilized Europe, and the apparatus o f the electric
telegraph on the virgin shores o f the Am oor and Sea of Japan. It
seems needless to point out the importance and usefulness o f so vast an
•extension o f improved communication by the promoters of civilization
and commerce.— St. Petersburgh Gazette.

Colonel R o m a n o f f , o f the imperial Russian engineers, was introduced
to the members o f the New-York Chamber o f Commerce, October 11th,
to lay before them the project o f a telegraph line to run from St. Peters­
burgh to some point on the eastern shore of Siberia, and from thence to
the Russian possessions on this continent.




535

Rail-Road and Telegraph Statistics.

1861.]

The great overland telegraph to be erected will, when completed, form
a direct chain o f communication throughout the world. It was first
started in accordance with an ukase from the Emperor o f Russia, issued
in 1858, since which time three thousand miles of it have been laid from
St. Petersburgh to Omsk, in Eastern Siberia. Moscow, three thousand
five hundred miles from that point, will be the principal station. The
wires will go over Behring’s Straits, a distance of forty miles, the cur­
rents of which depend on the winds, and are never beyond three miles.
The widest gap in the Straits is eight miles. The line will cross from
Omsk to Orkutsk, thence to Kyachta— the great entrepdt o f commerce
from Siberia to China; from that point it will be continued to the Altai
Mountains to Cheta, and thence to Nicoleisk, atthe mouth o f the Amoor
River. This will end the Russian project which has been guaranteed by
the government. The propriety o f continuing the line to the United
States is now under advisement, and the project is considered easily prac­
ticable, involving only an additional outlay o f $1,000,000 or $3,000,000,
according to the route taken. The following table shows the number of
miles to be embraced by the whole line :
Miles.

St. Louis to San Francisco, (1,800 miles finished,)...................
San Francisco to Prince of Wales’ Cape,......................................
Behring’s Straits (submerged,)......................................................
East Cape to mouth of Amoor River,..........................................
Amoor River to Moscow, (1,200 miles finished,).........................

2,000
2,500
40
2,400
'7,000

Total,....................................................................................... 13,940

Count R o m a n o f f states that the line will be completed to Irkutsh in
about a year, which will enable the merchants of London to communi­
cate with Pekin in fourteen days. It has been proposed to extend it
from the mouth of the Amoor to Jeddo, Japan, which will involve but
three submerges— one of six miles, one of eight and another of twelve.
Count R o m anoff also stated that the cable sunk in the Red Sea by the
British government, to communicate with India, was eaten by insects,
with which the water abounds, after it had successfully operated for
about three months, and it is now considered impracticable to renew the
enterprise at that point. The British government had appointed a com­
mission to inquire into the causes o f the failure.
American vessels frequently sail to the Amoor with spices, tea, coffee,
iron, &c., and the establishment o f telegraphic communication between
the United States and that point, and Russia in general, must tend to
increase the trade between both countries.
Col. R o m anoff will prosecute his inquiries in the United States for
about two months, and then return to Russia. Mr. C o llin s , in the mean
time, will give him many o f the facilities necessary to his mission.
The proposed line will unite all the telegraphs in the world, without
crossing the Atlantic Ocean, so that the great “ cable” enterprise need
not be resuscitated. The cost is set down for two wires at $3,000,000.
To maintain this line, one thousand men, at $300 each per annum, would
become necessary, making a total o f $300,000. To this force it is pro­
posed to add one hundred stations, at $1,000 per annum ; two supply ves­
sels at $40,000 ; interest on capital at 74 per cent, per annum, $210,000 ;
contingencies, $100,000. Total, $750,000. It is calculated that 300,000
messages, at $5 each, would be received, making a total o f $1,500,000
revenue.




536

Rail-Road and Telegraph Statistics.
BRITISH

RAILWAY

[November,

STATISTICS.

Returns just issued cover two years— 1859 and 1860— and show the
annual traffic of all kinds, and the annual working expenditure, in the
bulk and in detail. The first thing we remark is the largeness of the
totals, showing immense social and commercial activity. There were at
the end of 1860, 10,433 miles of railway in use, or 431 miles more than
in the previous year. The total passenger traffic over these lines was
163,435,678, or 13,678,384 more than in 1859. If we analyze this we
find that third-class passengers constitute more than one-half of the
whole, a fact pointing to the influence o f low fares and the development
o f excursion traffic. If we take the separate returns of England, Ire­
land and Scotland, we find that in England the proportion of third to
second-class passengers is less than two to one, whereas in Scotland it is
six to one ; but Ireland only one and a third to one. There would,
therefore, appear to be a wide field for the development of third-class
traffic in England, and still more in Ireland, while in Scotland third-class
travelling is general, for even the second-class passengers are outnumbered
by the first. Another characteristic o f the returns is brought out by a
contrast between the movement of goods and of live stock. In each of
the three great divisions of the United Kingdom there was an increase of
goods traffic in 1860 over goods traffic in 1859. But in the transport of
live stock there was, on the whole, a decided falling off. Fewer cattle,
fewer sheep and pigs were carried over the English lines. In Scotland
there was a similar decrease, except in pigs. In Ireland alone the transit
o f cattle exceeded that of the previous year, but the sheep and pigs were
fewer. These figures speak plainly of the severity o f the winter of
1859-60. In Ireland alone there were 76,520 pigs and 18,650 sheep
less transported by railway than in 1859. The deficiency o f traffic from
these sources was made up by an increase in all others— more passengers,
more minerals, more merchandise o f all kinds. The figures show that
the severity of the winter decreased, but did not arrest the tide o f gen­
eral prosperity.
The total returns from all sources o f traffic in 1859 was £25,743,502,
and in 1860 this was increased to £27,766,622. If we turn to the table
showing the working expenditure, we find some striking figures. The
actual cost o f working 10,433 miles of railway in the United Kingdom
is £13,189,368. In this item are included £2,437,362 for maintenance of
way; £3,801,282 for locomotive power ; £3,699,708 for traffic charges,
(coaching and merchandise ;) and no less than £181,170 for “ compensa­
tion,” a charge alone of 1.37 per cent. The great items o f expense are
thus :— maintenance o f way, locomotive power and traffic charges ; but
repairs and renewals o f carriages and wagons sw'allowupthe£l,118,784,
and there is a comprehensive item o f £1,068,521 for our old acquaint­
ance, “ sundries.” Thus it comes about that the proportion per cent, o f
expenditure to the total revenue is, in England, 48, in Scotland, 44, in
Ireland, 45 per cent. Scotland, therefore, seems to have the most cheaply
managed lines, and Ireland, where railways pay no government duty,
exceeds by one per cent, the Scottish cost o f management. These enor­
mous figures explain the comparatively low dividends of railway compa­
nies; for the £14,561,118 available for division has to be distributed
among the shareholders who have contributed the £330,000,000 of capi­
tal sunk in our railways.— Globe.




1861.]

537

Rail-Road and Telegraph Statistics.

IMPORTANT

TO

RAILWAY

COMPANIES.

A case of great importance to railway companies and railway travel­
lers has been finally decided, after protracted litigation.
A person
named D a v id K e y s brought an action against the Belfast and Ballymena
and the Londonderry and Coleraine Railway Companies for the sum o f
£1,890, the value o f a box o f watches which he had entrusted to the
care of the guard, and which could not be found when he arrived
at the end of his journey. The companies resisted the claim, on the
ground that the plaintiff was a second-class passenger, entitled to carry
only ordinary passenger’s luggage, and that they could not be responsi­
ble for property not booked in their office. A jury gave K e y s a verdict
for £1,261. An appeal was made to the Court o f Common Pleas, which
confirmed the verdict, and then to the Court o f Exchequer, which agreed
with the judgment of the Common Pleas. The companies then ap­
pealed to the House o f Lords, who have decided that the companies
were not responsible ; thus reversing the judgment of the courts below,
and giving a lesson to travellers not to run risks for the sake of a small
charge on booking valuable parcels.

STEAM

ON

COMMON

ROADS.

The bill to regulate the use o f locomotives on common roads in Eng­
land has now become law, and is expected to lead to important results
in cheapening the transit o f heavy goods. During the last thirty years
great efforts have been made to use steam on common roads; but, in­
credible as it may seem in a country whose prosperity is inseparably
connected with an early use of every such facility, they have been perseveringly defeated by the opposition of the local trustees, who have im­
posed prohibitory tolls. Two years back, an experiment to convey coal
by a traction engine from Little Hulton to Manchester, a distance of
seven miles, is understood to have proved not only that an immense
saving could be effected, but that the wear and tear o f the road was
diminished ; yet the toll charged amounted to 4s. per ton, against 3£d.
per ton for coal drawn by horses ; and this, o f course, effectually pre­
vented the introduction o f the system. The new bill assimilates the
tolls to be charged, in a great degree, to those charged for horse traffic;
and, although it comprises various regulations, which will probably be
found to be more or less needless or vexatious, it seems sufficiently wide
to enable the method to have at last a fair field.— London Times,
August, 1861.
EUPHRATES

VALLEY — THE

ROUTE

TO

INDIA.

It is not too much to say that there is no existing or projected rail­
road that can for a moment compare, in point o f interest and importance,
with that of the Euphrates Valley. It brings two quarters o f the globe
into juxtaposition, and three continents, Europe, Asia and Australia, into
co-relation. It binds the vast population o f Hindostan by an iron link
with the people o f Europe; it inevitably entails the colonization and
civilization of the great valleys of the Euphrates and Tigris ; the resusci­




538

Rail-Road and Telegraph Statistics.

[November,

tation, in a modern shape, o f Babylon and Nineveh, and the re-awakening
of Ctesiphon and Bagdad o f old. It will also settle the mail route to
and from Australia and China— an element o f prosperity o f very great
importance— for the passenger traffic from the Australian colonies ex­
ceeds one hundred weekly, and, ere the railway can be completed, will
be five times that number; of whom more than half will take the short­
est route, while the number o f emigrants from this country, who will
prefer a passage of forty to over eighty days, may also be fairly expected
to be very large.
According to Sir J ohn M a c n e il l , who was assisted in the survey by
Captain B u r g e ss and the officers of Her Majesty’s steamship S t r o m b o l i ,
there is every facility for making a harbor in the vicinity o f the ancient
port of Sileucia, near the mouth o f the Orontes, and the country via
Antioch, Killes and Ailam, to Aleppo, ninety miles in length, pre­
sents no engineering difficulty. B y making a detour, a rich settled
country, dotted over with towns and villages, is accommodated, and
branch lines would be unnecessary. A large traffic is already in exist­
ence, as the toll books at a bridge on the Orontes show' that about 1,200
camels and horses laden pass each day. This will be the most important
portion of the railway from the Mediterranean to the Persian G u lf; the
link from Sileucia to Aleppo is in itself a complete work, having a port
at one end and the chief emporium of Mesopotamia at the other, to
which the traffic from India, Bagdad, &c., converges. Or, should the
railway be carried on to the Euphrates, sixty miles beyond Aleppo, by
the route recommended by General C h e s n e y and Sir J ohn M a c n e il l ,
there would be a still more perfect work o f about one hundred and fifty
miles in length, beginning at a port in a great sea and ending at the
head o f a navigable river in a greater ocean. This would be o f itself,
and by itself, a complete, perfect and profitable enterprise ; not only
would a new country be opened up to European enterprise, but a direct­
ness in the route to India obtained, which few would believe who do
not work it out on the map.
Taking the line of the Austrian railways to Trieste ; thence by rail to
Jabor Castle, down the stream o f the Euphrates and by the Persian
Gulf to Ivurrachee, where the Scinde, the first complete Indian project,
commences the future network o f Indian lines, the traveller will follow a
route as direct as any railway can be expected to afford. Eight days
and six hours will take the traveller through Trieste to Sileucia; thence
the railway will take him, in five hours, to the head of the navigable
waters of the Euphrates. Three days and three hours more will see the
river voyage completed to Bussorah ; and three more days— making in
all fourteen—-bring the traveller to Kurrachee, where the Scinde keeps
the western door of the railways o f our Indian empire. Like most o f
the other railways for which India is indebted to Mr. A n d r e w , this line
from Sileucia to Jabor Castle, though complete in itself, is regarded by
him as the parent of further projects, whose construction will depend on
the success of the parent line, and will gradually lessen the distance be­
tween the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. Thus he would extend
his works by degrees along the valley o f the river by Phumsah, the
ancient Thapsacus ; cross thence into Mesopotamia, working down the
valley by Annah and Hit to the environs o f Bagdad, and thence by
Babylon and Hillah to the point where the Tigris and the Euphrates




1861.]

Rail-Road and Telegraph Statistics.

539

join at Kumah, and the united stream becomes deep enough for steamers
o f the largest size. Other branches, too, might top the Persian Gulf at
Scherster, or at Bussorah, -where the trade is extensive, and the accom­
modation for ships o f large tonnage already ample.— London and China
Telegraph.
THE

TELEGRAPH

TO

THE

PACIFIC.

According to recent accounts o f the progress o f the Pacific Telegraph
line -west o f Great Salt Lake City, it appears probable that the entire line
will be in full operation in November, 1861. It is the intention to estab­
lish twenty regular operating offices between Salt Lake and the frontier
offices, to be ever prepared for accident or unfortunate malice that might
cut the line. It is said that the Mormon chief and his counsellors and
immediate friends have turned on this Western line every team and man
at their disposal, to secure the completion of it before the first fall of
snow, if possible.
The line was completed from Port Kearney to
Julesburg in October, making 350 miles from Fort Kearney and
1,050 from St. Louis. The section between Julesburg and Salt Lake
City wras in operation on the 18th o f October. Prom Fort Churchill,
in the Territory of Nevada, to which the lines already extend from
the Pacific coast, the gap towards Salt Lake City is rapidly closing, and
the western section will doubtless be completed as soon as the eastern
section. The only hindrance yet caused by the war has been the neces­
sity o f sending wire, for about 200 miles o f the line, around by way of
Nevada, instead o f through Missouri.
THE

ATLANTIC

CABLE.

The report of the Atlantic Telegraph Company states that in the cable
recovered and brought home by Captain K e l l , there was not the slightest
symptom of deterioration or decay in the gutta percha. It had been
subjected to a very severe electrical test, and a comparison between its
present state o f insulation and the records o f original tests o f the most
perfect portions of the cable when it left the gutta-percha works, three
years ago, showed that an actual improvement had taken place in its
condition since it wras laid down.— Chemical News.

THE

MALTA

AND

ALEXANDRIA

CABLE.

The following is an extract from a letter dated Malta, June 8th : “ The
first section o f the Malta and Alexandria cable, 230 miles in length, was
laid without a single accident or check o f any description. After joining
the cable to the shore end at Tripoli, which had been previously laid by
the steam-tug B u l l d o g , despatched a wreek in advance, the M a l a c c a , ac­
companied by the M e d in a and S c o u r g e , proceeded along the coast east­
ward towards Benghazi, which is to be the next station. Nearly 300
miles more o f cable were thus laid eastward, forming a part o f the second
section, the end being hermetically sealed, carried into shallow water and
buoyed. This operation was as successfully performed as the first. The
entire length of between 500 and 600 miles has since been carefully
tested, and found to work admirably it is even said, with a smaller amount
o f electric power than any cable yet submerged.




540

Statistics o f Trade and Commerce.

STATISTICS

I.

OF

TRADE

AND

[November,

COMMERCE.

T he L a k e T r ad e . II. C ommerce of B u ffa lo . III. T he Cork T r a d e . IY. T r ad e of T u r ­
Y. E x po r ts of P e n a n g . YI. T r ad e a n d N a v ig a t io n of F ran ce . YII. T he L in en
T r a d e . YIII. C h in a T r ad e . IX. T he T obacco T r ad e . X. P h il a d e l p h ia G r a in M a r k e t .
XI. P rice of P otatoes , 1854—1861. XII. B a n g o r L um ber M a rk et .

key.

THE

LAKE

TRADE.

T h e statistics o f vessels arriving and clearing at Buffalo during the
quarter ending September 30, 1861, make up a larger exhibit than has
ever before been recorded in the history o f that city for a single quarter.
The figures are as follow s:
Vessels.

Tonnage.

Entered,.......................................... 2,320
Cleared,........................................... 2,297

831,951
825,345

No. Crews.

24,630
25,285

Aggregate,............................. 4,617

1,663,302

49,905

The following is a statement o f the number o f vessels which have
passed by or in the vicinity o f the light-house at W ind Mill Point dur­
ing the quarter ending September 30th, 1861: Barks, 189 ; brigs, 177;
schooners, 1,449; sloops, 189; steamers, 799. Total, 2,797.
The
greatest number o f vessels passed in one day is 114.
The Secretary of the Treasury has forwarded the following circular
to collectors at the lake ports :
“ Treasury Department, August 16, 1861.
“ Sir,— I have been officially informed that it is customary at several
ports on the lakes to issue clearances to vessels after their departure, and
to send them by mail to the masters, so that they may receive the same
on arrival at the place o f destination. A rigid enforcement of the strict
letter of existing laws, not adapted, in some respects, to the peculiar exi­
gencies o f the trade on the lakes, would doubtless place it under many
embarrassing restrictions. I can, therefore, perceive no objection to
officers of the customs extending every facility and convenience consistent
with the laws, and not incompatible with the interests of the revenue.
“ The practice, however, o f granting clearances under the circum­
stances stated, involves a serious departure from the law, and you are ac­
cordingly directed immediately to discontinue the same if prevailing at
your ports, and to conform to the sixteenth and seventeenth sections of
the Coasting A ct o f 1793, and insist upon a faithful compliance there­
with by the masters o f the vessels engaged in the trade between the
several ports o f the United States on the lakes.




“ I am, very respectfully,
“ S. P. C h a s e , Secretary o f the Treasury."

1861.]

Statistics o f Trade and Commerce.
COMMERCE

541

OF B U F F A L O .

The following comparative table shows the receipts o f lake flour and
grain at Buffalo for the month o f September in each o f the following
years:

1859.
Flour,...........................bbls.

1860.

236,399

____

Wheat,......................... bush. 1,600,856
Corn,............................ bush.
290,148
Oats,.............................bush.
148,961
Barley,.........................bush.
18,905
R ye ,..............................bush.
27,710
Totals grain one month, 2,086,575

194,092

1861.
___

4,803,939
1,316,342
133,209
69,098
2,535
....

6,325,123

328,611
3,983,612
4,741,141
336,801
8,673
29,593

....

9,099,820

And from the opening o f navigation to September 30th, in the years

1859.
Flour,......................... bbls.

1860.

876,934

___

W heat,......................... bush. 3,571,402
Corn,............................. bush. 2,393,977
Oats,............................. bush.
725,297
Barley.......................... bush.
78,343
R y e ,..............................bush.
40,264
Total grain,..................... 6,809,283
THE

729,322
9,772,250
9,995,763
857,832
78,766
35,567

___ 20,690,178

CORK

1861.
____

1,338,414
15,539,364
15,227,596
1,643,024
115,098
268,193

___

32,793,275

TRADE.

The cork trade in Portugal is reported to be on the increase. The
annual exportation now amounts to upwards o f 10,000,000f. It takes
place principally from Sines, the only port o f the province o f Alemtejo,
where the largest quantity o f cork trees grow. The greatest amount is
sent to London, where, on the average, the consumption amounts to
10,000 lbs. per day o f Portuguese corks. A considerable quantity is also
sent to France, America and the Baltic. The Portuguese cork is inferior
to the French, but superior to that o f Italy.
THE

TRADE

OF

TURKEY.

The following statistics relative to the trade of the Turkish empire are
not without interest: The general trade o f Turkey with foreign countries
amounts to about £41,000,000 sterling. Its traffic with Great Britain
and Franco amounts to about 40 per cent, o f its entire foreign trade.
That with Austria, 15 per cent.; with other parts o f Germany, 10 ; with
Russia, 5 ; Belgium, 2 ; and all other countries, 28 per cent. In 1857 the
trade between Turkey and France amounted, for exports, to 84,901,748f.,
and for imports to 110,422,893f. In the year 1858 the imports amounted
to only 84,901,748f., and the exports to 69,923,746f. France has chiefly
imported from Turkey corn, raw silk, cocoons, silk-worms’ eggs, wool,
cotton and seeds for crushing. The exports from France to Turkey con­
sist of stuffs, refined sugar, dressed skins, with a variety o f manufactured
goods. Turkey supplied France, within the 19 years between 1841 and
1859, with 300,000,000f. worth o f corn, equal to about 21 per cent, of
the entire of the exports from that country during the same period.




542

Statistics o f Trade and Commerce.

EXPORTS

FROM

PENANG
F or

the

rO

THE

UNITED

[November,
STATES,

Y ears 1859 AND 1860.

1860.
1859.
Articles.
1860.
1859.
Articles.
....
Camphor,.........
9,051
3,447
261 Sugar,.................
Cinnamon,........
3,268 1,480
41
22 Tapioca,.............
Cutch...............
22,138 17,370
6,791
4,066 Tin......................
Gum Benjamin,
1
22
47 Tortoise S h ell,..
Gutta Percha,.
22
Essential O il,. . .
103
109
H ides,...............
2,648 3,909 Cassia,.................
Horns,..............
11 Tea,....................
67
India Rubber,.
1,521 C hina,.................
55
3,178
M a ce ,...............
244 W ild Cinnamon,
471
287
Nutmegs,..........
68
2,390 7,556 Fire Crackers,..
5
Black Pepper,
20,627 38,510 Gum Hamar,. . . .
25
White Pepper,.
18 P ep per,............. . .bags,
R atan,..............
1
3,243 2,580 Mace Paste,___
Rum,................. . -galls.,
60 Ratan Chairs,__
8

TRADE

AND

NAVIGATION

OF

FRANCE.

The French Board o f Trade returns for the first quarter o f this year
give the duties on imports at 25,931,000f., against 38,346,000f. in the
corresponding period in 1860, and 41,991,000f. in 1859, showing a con­
siderable falling off, arising from alterations in the tariff, in accordance
with the Anglo-French commercial treaty. A t the same time, however,
there is a considerable increase in the quantities o f imported produce and
manufactures, such as wines, spirits, cocoa, coffee, grain and flour, cochi­
neal, cotton, oil-seeds, tallow and lard, coal, coke, wool and machinery.
The latter has increased in value from 870,290f. last year, to l,643,980f.
this year; pig iron from England from 62,364 quintals last year, has in­
creased to 164,255 quintals; copper from England from 13,601 quintals
last year has increased to 24,518 quintals ; lead, zinc, salt, from 87 quin­
tals last year from England, has increased to 5,739 quintals. Sugars, both
foreign and colonial, and flax and hemp fabrics.
The exports from France show a falling off this year, as compared with
last year, in oxen and sheep, inferior wines, grain, flour, machinery, mil­
linery, porcelain, salt, refined sugar, glass; but there is an increase in
woollen fabrics and oil-cake.
The returns relating to shipping give the following results :
F rench V essels.
ls£ quarter.
Inwards.
1861,........................................................... 370,184
1860, ........................................................ 324,941
1859, ........................................................ 343,659

Outwards.
318,718
316,678
344,416

F oreign V essels.
1861, ........................................................ 511,666
1860, ........................................................ 511,406
1859,.......................................................... 484,304

289,559
345,984
363,677

Although foreign trade in France continues to be in a depressed state,
the increased receipts o f the railway companies indicate an improvement
in the home trade. Accounts from St. Dizier mention a brisk demand
for cast iron, o f which 1,200,000 kilogrammes were disposed o f within a




1861.]

643

Statistics o f Trade and Commerce.

few days. The price, which a short time since was only 121 f., rose to
125f. This rise in the present dull season astonishes some parties. The
depression in the foreign trade is attributed in a great measure to the
civil war in the United States. This assertion is confirmed by the official
returns, which show that the exportation of wine to the States has de­
clined during the present year to 63,769 hectolitres from 131,000 hecto­
litres in the corresponding period o f the year 1859; brandy, to 13,428
hectolitres from 50,297 ; millinery, the value reduced to 112,521f. from
547,862f. The export o f silks from France, which in the corresponding
period of the year 1859 amounted to 20,719 metrical quintals o f 2241pounds weight, has, during the present year, declined to 15,903. The
metrical quintal o f silk is worth 10,000f., which makes a diminution of
nearly 150,000,000f. in that article alone.

TH E
E xports

of

L inens

from the

LINEN

TRADE.

U nited K ingdom for

tiie

Six Months E nding J uly 30.

To
1859.
Hanse Towns,................. ....y a r d s , 3,583,366
United States,............... .................31,170,751
C u ba,................................ ................. 5,188,146
933,044
St. Thomas,................... .................
Brazil,............................... ................. 4,909,415
British West Indies,___ ................. 1,770,583
British East Indies,. . . . ................. 1,392,850
Australia,....................... ................. 1,920,652
Other countries,............... .................14,738,163

1860.
___
5,154,565
___ 23,815,079
. . . 4,022,631
___
707,005
___
4,544,674
___
2,469,916
___
1,336,577
___
2,612,291
___ 17,102,190

Total yards,................. .................65,606,970

60,764,918

CHINA

___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___

1861.
5,560,246
12,059,993
4,431,291
1,709,607
4,688,841
2,336,941
1,453,381
2,134,231
26,478,059
60,852,590

TRADE.

From New-Ckwang, the newly-opened port in Manchuria, accounts
have been received, describing it as situated in a low, flat, swampy coun­
try. The town stands on a creek eight miles from the main river, and
eighty from its mouth. It is approached by a very tortuous river, which
is full o f sand banks. About fifteen miles below New-Chwang, the river
forms into two branches, one of which, called Wy-leaou-ho, runs on
about 330 miles to Le-mun-tun, a place o f great trade. The other
branch, called the Le-leaou-ho, goes on to Mard-ka. A t Tai-tsze, the
Tien-tsin and Shangtung junks load, while those from Ningpo and Shang­
hai load at Yenko. There is a large junk trade at both these places,
which export peas, beans, tobacco, pea-cake, oil and drugs. Yenko is a
filthy place of mud huts, built in a swamp, the streets so full o f uncleanli­
ness that it is difficult to walk about, and nothing is to be seen but pov­
erty and d irt; the country all around is flat, with not a blade o f grass to
relieve the eye. Cattle, and a few fruits, arc procurable with difficulty.
Altogether, the prospects o f this port are not encouraging.

THE

TOBACCO

TRADE.

The last annual report on foreign commerce from the State Depart­
ment gives very full and explicit information upon the subject o f the




544

Statistics o f Trade and Commerce.

[November,

growth, manufacture and consumption o f tobacco in foreign countries,
where we have also a market for our own tobacco. The low prices of
the wine crop for some years, and also the failures o f that crop, induced
many large owners o f vineyards in Germany to convert, at a great ex­
pense, their vineyards into tobacco fields, tobacco then bearing a good
price. But the last three years have proved good wine years, and the
prices of tobacco have been considerably reduced. So the tobacco fields
are being turned back into vineyards.
German tobacco has been bought by American speculators and export­
ed to the United States, where it is manufactured into segars and re­
exported to Europe as American tobacco. The American traders found
after awhile that they were not buying even German tobacco, but beet
and turnip leaves, with which it is extensively adulterated. German se­
gars, made partly of beet and turnip leaves, are also exported into the
United States and to other countries. Belgium and Holland and the
Zollverein are the chief consumers o f the beet and turnip-leaf tobacco,
and the article stands in the way o f the consumption o f the pure Ameri­
can tobacco. The quantity o f German tobacco now on hand, including
the beet and turnip-leaf crops, is represented as immense. It is held
back for higher prices. One single house has five hundred quintals of
leaves on hand, waiting for a rise in the leaf market.
The American tobacco which is manufactured into snuff is mixed with
five per cent, of German tobacco, in consequence o f which, all snuff
manufactured at Bingen, &c., is subject to a transit duty when exported
to Northern Germany. Thus the American tobacco, which has already
paid duty, pays duty a second time.
In this report there are fifty consular despatches respecting the to­
bacco trade o f the United States in various parts of the world. The
tariffs upon tobacco, and the monopoly regulations concerning it, and
laws affecting its price to the consumer, are given in this report with
much detail.— National Intelligencer.

PHILADELPHIA
Hour, (extra,)..
Flour, (superfine
Rye flour,...........
Corn m eal,.........
Corn, (y e llo w ,)..
Corn, (w h ite,).. .
O a ts ,...................
R ye.......................
Wheat, (red,) . . .
Wheat, (white,)..

PRICE

Sept.
.per bbl. $ 5
)
“
5
4
.
“
4
.per bush.
.
“
.
«
.
“
.
“
1
.
“
1

OF

GRAIN

MARKET.

28,1858.
Sept. 28,1859.
Sept. 28, 1860. Sept. 28,1861.
50
. . . . $ 5 50
___
$5 88
___
$ 5 50
___
5 62
37
___
4 87
___
5 25
00
___
4 00
___
4 25
___
3 25
00
___
3 50
___
3 50
___
2 81
93
...............
75
___
56
83
...............
___
73
___
54^
44
___
40
___
36
___
31
83
___
85
___
80
___
60
30
...............
___
1 33
___
1 24
40
.................
___
1 45
___
1 35

POTATOES

FROM

1 854

to

1861.

The following table, carefully prepared for the American Agriculturist,
by Mr. H e n r y B. W a l k e r , a large dealer in New-York, will be found
interesting and useful. The statistics have reference to the best potatoes
at wholesale prices; it will be noticed that the price has fallen every
year, with but one exception, since 1854:




1861.]

Statistics o f Trade and Commerce.

545

A verage P rice of P otatoes per B ushel.
1854.

1855.

1856.

1857.

January,
$ 1 07 . . $ 1 22 . . 8 0 72
February, . . .
1 18 . . 1 25
72
M a rch ,......... 1 12 . . 1 25
80
A p ril,............ 1 50 . . 1 43
63
M ay,.............. 1 44 . 1 26
60
June,............. 1 50 . 1 34
60
1 00 . 1 00 . . 1 00
July,..............
August,.........
1 50
63
69
September,..
1 22
69
70
October,........
1 00
69
75
November, . . 1 89
84
66
December, .. 1 02
65
94
Average,. . $ 1 22 . . $ 1 01
B AN GO R

..$
..
..
..
..
..

0
1
1
1
1
1

1858.

1859.

97 . . $ 0 91 . . $ 0
03 . .
1 00
00
88
35
77
41
58
25
55
62
61
64
61
83
57
83
54
96
53
95
55

1860.

93 . . $ 0
58
95
83
68
70
47
49
50
65
60
45

45
58
64
55
60
59
63
52
63
45
64
63

. $ 0 75 . . $ 1 00 . . 8 0 72 . . | 0 59 . . $ 0 56
L U M B E R

M A R K E T .

Amount o f lumber surveyed from January 1st to September 1st, 1861,
compared with the amount surveyed during the same period in 1859 and
1860 :
1859.

1860.

1861.

Green pine,.........feet, 36,500,687
D ry pine,....................
6,957,048
Spruce, ......................... 50,778,315
Hemlock, &c.,............... 11,148,414

___

32,421,759
6,910,215
60,671,908
12,264,641

___

20,058,281
5,269,408
43,770,971
7,506,969

Total,...................... 105,384,464

____

112,568,523

____

76,605,559

LA KE

R E C E I P T S

OP

B R E A D S T U F F S .

The total receipts of flour, wheat and corn, (flour reduced to wheat,)
at the four leading ports, for the week ending September 21st, and since
1st January last, were as follows :
Week ending Sept. 21.

C h ica g o ,........................... bushels,
T o le d o ,............................................
Milwaukie,........................................
D etroit,............................................
B R E A D S T U F F S

1,702,907
918,783
559,640
250,992
IN

Since Jan. 1.

___

37,679,895
10,881,914
9,790,671
4,886,758

F R A N C E .

The last important movement is thus announced under official caption
in the M oniteur: “ From the 15th of the present month (October) till
the 30th o f September, 1862, the cargoes o f grain and flour, rice, pota­
toes or dry vegetables, carried on rivers and canals, not conceded to pub­
lic companies, will be exempted from all internal navigation dues levied
by the State. The same exemption will be extended to the dues levied
on canals that have been so conceded, and which may be re-purchased,
under the authority o f the laws of the 28th o f July and the 1st o f Au­
gust, 1860. Foreign vessels may, till the same date, and under the
same conditions as French vessels, navigate all the rivers and canals of
France exempt from these dues, wherever their cargoes may have been
grown, provided they consist of grain and cereals, as specified in the for­
mer article.”
35
VOL. x l v .— no. v.




[November,

Commercial Chronicle and Review.

546

COMMERCIAL

CHRONICLE

AND

REVIEW.

Progress of B usiness—I mports—E xports—D omestic P roduce—D ry Goods T rade—CustomH ouse R evenue—L arger P ortion of B readstuffs—T able of E xports—Grain at the
W est—Grain for F reights—B ank L oans—R ates of E xchange—A dvance in R a il -R oad
F reights—I ncrease of Canal T olls—T elegraph Communication—I mports and Stocks
of Sugar and Coffee—T reasury L oan—T he B anking M ovement—Clearing -H ouse for
E ight Y ears.
G r e a t activity has prevailed during the month in shipping at this port.
The foreign demand for breadstuffs has given an impulse to prices and to
freights. The canals and rail-roads are overburdened with freight for the
Atlantic ports, at prices more remunerative than hitherto.
Tide-W ater Receipts.— The receipts at tide-water o f flour, wheat, corn
and barley, for the years 1860 and 1861, have been as follows :

Nine Months.

Flour.

Wheat.

Corn.

bbls.

bushels.

bushels.

.........................739,100
......................... 871,100

..
..

10,393,600
18,174,000

..
..

Increase, 1 8 6 1 ,... 132,600

..

7,780,400

..

1860,
1861,

Barley.
bushels.

12,020,900 . .
16,673,200 . .

942,800
522,300

4,652,300 Dec. 420,500

Reducing the wheat to flour, the excess in the receipts of 1861 is equal
to 1,688,680 barrels o f flour.
The receipts at tide-water o f the principal articles o f produce, from the
opening of the canals to and including October 14th, have been as follow s:
Ca n a l open , ......................................

F lou r,............................... bbls.,
W h ea t,............................... bushels,
Corn,.....................................
“
B arley,.................................
“
E ye,.......................................
“
O ats,.....................................
“

1859.

1860.

1861.

A pril 15.

A pril 25.

May 1.

360,000
..
1,745,100
..
2,379,000 . .
670,900 . .
176,700 . .
3,425,500 . .

739,100
10,393,600
12,020,900
942,800
213,800
4,758,800

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

871,700
18,174,000
16,673,200
522,300
536,200
3,806,100

The rail-roads and canals have been tested, during the last two months,
to their utmost capacity. The following is the new tariff o f the roads
from Chicago on East-bound freights, which took effect this m onth:
C hicago

to

Suspension Bridge, 17. Y ., rail,
Buffalo, 17. Y ., r a il,..................
“
“
lake,...................
Albany and Troy, 17. Y ., rail,.
Albany, lake,.............................
New-York, r a il,.........................
“
lake,.........................
Boston, via Albany, r a il,........
“
“
“
lake,........
“
“ Grand Trunk, rail,
Portland, rail,.............................
Pittsburg, Pa., r a il,.................
“
lake,.................
Philadelphia, Pa., ra il,............
“
lake,............




W i class.

$0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

45
45
40
87£
824
904
874
974
924
974
974
43
40
874
824

Flour in lots ,
fi ft y bbls.
and over.

. . $0 90
..
0 90
..
0 80
..
1 75
..
1 65
..
1 85
..
1 75
..
1 95
..
1 85
..
1 95
..
1 95
..
0 85
..
0 80
..
1 75
..
1 65

Wood,

. . $0 90
..
0 90
..
0 75
..
1 50
..
1 45
..
1 60
..
1 45
..
1 70
..
1 50
..
X 75
..
1 75
..
0 90
..
0 88
..
1 50
..
1 35

1861.]

547

Commercial Chronicle and Review.

The increased business on the New-York State canals is shown in the
fact that the tolls have increased twenty-five per cent, compared with last
year, v iz.:
April 25 to October 14, 1860,.................................................................. $2,284,084
May
1 to October 14, 1861,.................................................................. 2,845,572

According to the official returns, the foreign imports, of all descriptions,
landed at the port o f New-York during the month o f September, were
but a little over seven millions o f dollars, of which one and a quarter
million were specie ; so that the total imports for the month, in produce
and merchandise, were but six millions of dollars, against sixteen millions
for the same month in each o f the last two years :
F oreign I m ports
E ntered.

For consumption,..
For warehousing,..
Free goods,............
Specie and bullion,
Total entered,.. .
AVithdrawn,.......

at

N e w - Y o rk

1858.

$11,180,523
2,900,700
1,253,829
138,243

in

S eptember .

1859.

..
..
..
..

$15,473,295 . .
2,905,062 . .

1860.

$ 12,470,440
2,177,966
1,810,626
184,553

1861.

..
..
..
..

$11,516,137..
2,835,734 . .
2,652,332 . .
255,695 . .

$3,106,298
1,390,766
1,577,385
' 1,231,012

$ 16,643,585 ..
2,898,441 ..

$16,260,450..
4,007,272 . .

$7,305,461
2,938,464

This decline has excited surprise, since it is unprecedented in the his­
tory of the trade. The imports of specie from foreign ports, since Jan­
uary 1st, are a little over thirty-five millions. If this be deducted from
the total imports, the aggregate o f merchandise and produce received for
nine months will fall below one hundred millions, which is but little over
half the corresponding total in the last two years. W e annex a com­
parative summary for the nine months ending October 1st:
F oreign I m ports

at

E ntered.

For consumption,..
For warehousing,..
Freegoods,............
Specie and bullion,

N e w - Y ork

1858.

fo r

N in e M onths,

1859.

from

J an uary 1 st .

1860.

1861.

$76,582,434 . . $144,397,670 . . $129,786,408 . . $41,657,913
20,232,150 . .
28,351,768..
32,395,925..
34,492,899
16,552,095..
23,160,678 . .
21,469,063 . .
23,651,574
2,021,173..
1,834,054..
1,147,633..
35,186,730

Total entered,.. . $115,387,852 . . $197,744,170 . . $184,799,029 . . $134,989,116
AVithdrawn,----31,097,577..
20,305,309..
24,090,639..
31,549,666

This decline is a marked one throughout the year, although it is greatest
for the last quarter. W e have compiled a quarterly summary, leaving out
the imports of specie, which have been insignificant in former seasons :
Q u a rter ly S tatement

of

F oreign I mports

1858.

First quarter,........
Second quarter,. . .
Third quarter,-----

at

N e w - Y o rk ,

1859.

$ 2 9 ,044,464.. $59 ,1 1 6 ,7 8 8 ..
32,740,170.. 70,048,086..
53,603,218..
68,579,298..

from

1860.

J a n u ary 1 st .
1861.

$ 6 4,702,778.. $46,290,767
53,025,238..
31,658,441
67,081,000..
21,853,178

Total, 9 months, $115,387,852 . . $197,744,170 . . $184,809,016 . .

$99,802,386

The importations of foreign dry goods at New-York for the month of
September were less than two millions, the bulk being in woollen goods,
wanted for fall and winter consumption ; the total goods on the market
being only $3,403,976, or less than half what it was in the month of
September, 1860. The stocks in warehouse are now much reduced, and
also the stocks in first and second hands in the market.




548

Commercial Chronicle and Review.

[N ov em b er,

I mports of F oreign D ry G oods at N ew -Y ork for the M onth of S eptember.
E n te re d f o r Consum ption.

Manufactures of

W o o l,.....................
Cotton,...................
S ilk ,.......................
Flax,.......................
Miscellaneous,. . . .
Total...................

1858.

81,910,232
881,692
2,077,703
404,768
301,912

1860.

1861.

..
.
.
.
.

$2,431,129
746,431
2,039,271
544,315
512,969

$943,070
194,273
375,830
145,788
98,237

$5,990,973 . .

$6,274,115

1859.

..
..
..
..
..

$5,576,307 . .

$2,005,381
862,065
1,998,329
614,930
518,268

.

$1,757,198

.
.
.
.
.

$451,803
161,113
134,334 . .
76,925 .
51,458 .

$826,357
209,492
* 423,973
155,800
31,156

$875,633 . .
6,274,115 .

$1,646,778
1,757,198

$7,149,748. .

$3,403,976

W ithdraw n f r o m W arehouse.

Manufactures of

1858.

W o o l,.....................
Cotton,...................
S ilk ,.......................
Flax,.......................
Miscellaneous,. . . .

$484,900
128,765
178,456
121,410
107,745

T o ta l,.................
For consumption,..

$1,021,276 . .
5,576,307 . .

$640,932 .
5,990,973 .

Total on market,

$6,597,583 . .

$6,631,905 . .

1859.

..
..
..
..
..

$317,469
96,581
76,672
109,614
40,596

1860.

1861.

E n tered f o r W arehousing.

Manufactures of

1858.

W o o l,.....................
Cotton,...................
S ilk ,.......................
Flax,.......................
Miscellaneous,. . . .

$178,150
100,492
44,416
79,043
46,607

T ota l,.................
For consumption,..
Entered at port,

1859.

..
..
..
..
..

$185,812
115,460
67,446
130,088
38,287

1860.

1861.

.
.
.
.
.

$160,150.
176,704 .
46,468 .
48,329 .
34,419 .

$ 144,823
61,368
99,324
19,957
19,394

$448,708 . .
5,576,307 . .

$537,093 .
5,990,973 .

$466,070 .
6,274,115 .

$ 344,866
1,757,198

$6,025,015 . .

$6,528,066 . .

$6,740,185 . .

$2,102,064

I mports of F oreign D ry G oods at the P ort of N ew -Y ork for N ine M onths
FROM J anuary 1 st.
E n tered f o r C onsum ption.

Manufactures of

1858.

W o o l,.....................
Cotton,...................
S ilk ,.......................
Flax,.......................
Miscellaneous,. . . .

$13,890,836
7,557,996
14,459,562
3,359,963
2,698,170

Total, .................

1859.

..
..
..
..
..

$41,966,527 . .

1861.

1860,

.
.
.
.
.

$26,379,832. .
12,653,087 .
28,530,675 .
5,428,610 .
4,815,331 .

$7,235,754
2,844,499
7,370,310
1,517,549
1,738,588

$87,503,193 .

$77,807,535 . .

$ 20,706,700

$28,375,357
18,866,286
27,476,406
8,089,840
4,695,304

W ithdraw n fr o m W arehouse.

Manufactures of

1858.

W o o l,.....................
Cotton,...................
Silk..........................
Flax.........................
Miscellaneous,. . . .

$4,003,246
3,280,663
3,065,465
1,868,026
1,136,379

1860.

1859.

..
..
..
..
..

$2,578,390
1,404,902
796,003
880,313
354,466

.
.
.
.
.

$2,869,485
2,248,651
1,423,510
729,296
501,240

1861.

..
.
.
.
.

$5,390,458
3,748,918
4,381,136
1,576,928
693,767

$13,353,779 . .
41,966,527 . .

$6,014,074 .
87,503,193 .

$7,772,182 . .
77,807,535 .

$15,791,207
20,706,700

Total on market, $55,320,306 . .

$93,517,267 .

$85,579,717 . .

$ 36,497,907

Total...................
For consumption,..




1861.]

549

Commercial Chronicle and Review.
E n tered f o r W arehousing.

Manufactures

of

1858.

W o o l,.....................
Cotton,...................
S ilk ,.......................
Flax.........................
Miscellaneous,___

$ 1 ,90 9 ,6 4 2 ..
1,648,030..
1,032,557 . .
728,273 . .
483,884 . .

T o ta l,.................
For consumption,..
Entered at port,

1859.

1860.

1861.

$ 2 ,88 6 ,0 5 3 ..
1,264,009..
734,493 . .
689,330 . .
380,879 . .

$2,92 2 ,2 1 0 ..
2,139,212..
1,312,614 . .
410,382 . .
499,993 . .

$ 5,577,828
3,130,936
4,912,349
1,359,351
866,839

$5,802,386 . .
41,966,527 . .

$ 5 ,9 5 4 ,7 6 4 ..
87,503,193 . .

$7,28 4 ,4 1 1 ..
77,807,535 . .

$16,477,303
20,706,700

$47,768,913..

$93,457,957 . .

$85,091,946..

$37,184,003

The contrast for the nine months ending 1st October is still stronger,
the importation o f dry goods being about one-fourth the amount reported
for 1859 or 1860; but the quantities withdrawn from warehouse and
placed upon the market are more than double those of the nine months of
1860, thus making the total upon the market thirty-six millions, or fortythree per cent, of last year, and only thirty-nine per cent, of 1859.
The Custom-House revenue has fallen off, relatively, on the one hand,
by the greater proportion o f free goods landed to take advantage o f the
old tariff, and increased, on the other hand, by the higher rates of duty,
as fixed by the tariff act o f August 5, 1861, and the greater total with­
drawn from warehouse. Included in the receipts from customs in Sep­
tember were $1,449,096 o f Treasury Notes, or nearly seven-eighths o f the
whole amount. O f the duties since 1st January, $7,487,997, or nearly
half, were paid in these government obligations. The payments in these
notes are about over, as the Treasury now receives them at par for sub­
scriptions to the new loan, and the duties will hereafter mostly he paid
in specie. The cash duties received at New-York for the nine months
were as follow :
Cash D uties R eceived at N ew -Y ork for N ine M onths.
1858.

1859.

1860.

1861.

First six months,..
In J u ly ,.................
In August,.............
In September,___

$ 1 1 ,0 8 9 ,1 1 2 ..
3,387,305 . .
3 ,545,119..
2,672,935 . .

$ 19,912,181..
4,851,246 . .
4 ,2 4 3 ,0 1 0 ..
2,908,509..

$18,339,679..
4,504,066 . .
4 ,496,243..
3,038,803 . .

$10,585,335
2,069,591
1,558,824
1,642,382

Total, 9 months,

$20,694)472..

$ 31,514,949..

$30,378,781 . .

$15,856,132

The exports for September have been very large. The corresponding
total last year (i. e., the exports for September, 1860) was larger, exclusive
o f specie, than the total for any previous month of any year since NewYork was settled. The advices from Europe serve to show that the
export trade for the remainder o f the year will be quite as heavy. It
will be seen that the shipments of specie for the last month hardly
amount to a noticeable item :
E xports from N e w -Y ork to F oreign P orts for the M onto of S eptember.
1858.

Domestic produce,
For. mdse., (free,)..
For. mdse., (dut.,)..
Specie and bullion,
Total exports,..
Total, ex. specie,




$3,521,992 . .
1 6 9 ,8 6 3 ..
2 0 4 ,3 9 0 ..
3,239,591 . .
$ 7,135,836 . .
3,896,245 . .

1859.

1860.

1861.

$ 4 .94 6 ,6 1 2 ..
188,0 7 2 ..
6 3 5 ,1 3 2 ..
8,267,681 . .

$9,232,931 . .
4 6 ,6 2 0 ..
6 2 0 ,3 9 4 ..
3 ,758,734..

$9,877,909
30,013
264,168
15,756

$ 14,037,497 . .
5,769,816 . .

$13,658,679 . .
9,899,945 . .

$10,187,846
10,172,092

550

[November,

Commercial Chronicle and Review.

The exports, exclusive o f specie, since January 1st, 1861, are ninety-six
millions, against sixty-nine millions for the same period of last year, and
forty-nine millions for the same time in 1859. W e annex a comparative
summary:
E xports

from

N e w -Y o r k

to

F oreign P orts

fo r

N in e M onths,

1859.

1858.

Domestic produce, $41,534,618 . .
For. mdse., (free,)..
1,125,561 .
For. mdse., (dut.,)..
2,986,672.
Specie and bullion,
20,602,848.

J an u ary 1 st .

from

1860.

$43,470,969
2,327,879
3,447,668
57,926,455

..
.
.
..

1861.

$63,527,320.. . $90,560,438
1,976,632
1,983,127..
4,136,725 ..
4,140,079
39,357,284 ..
3,279,814

Total exp orts,.. $66,249,699 . . $107,172,971 . . $ 109,004,456 ..
Total, ex. specie,
45,646,851 . .
49,246,561 .
69,647,172 ..

$99,956,963
96,777,149

These heavy exports are made up largely of corn, (8,613,811 bushels,!
wheat, (over seventeen million bushels,) and of flour (two million barrels.)
Provisions, too, form a very important part of the aggregates. Cut meats
have been shipped this year to the extent of three times that of 1860,
and eight times that o f the corresponding period o f 1859.
Receipts o f Produce.— W e have compiled our usual monthly summary
of the movements o f produce at the port o f New-York. The receipts
show a large increase in flour, an immense gain in the arrivals o f wheat
and corn, and a considerable increase, also, in meat provisions. There is,
for obvious reasons, a decrease in the supply o f cotton and naval stores.
The following will show the comparative receipts during the first nine
months in each of the last four years :
Receipts o f Certain Articles o f Produce at the Port o f Neic-York f o r the first Nine
Months o f the Years 1858— 1861.
Ashes,.......................
Breadstuffs:
tt
Wheat flour, . . . .
Corn meal,........... . 11
W heat,.................
it
R y e ,.....................
it
Oats,....................
“
Barley,................ . ,
“
Corn,....................
Cotton,.....................
Naval stores:
Crude turpentine, . .bbls.,
tt
Spirits
“
it
Rosin,...................
tt
Tar,........................
tt
Pitch,...................
Provisions:
Pork..................... ■-Pkg s->
tt
B eef,....................
Cut meats,............ . “
tt
Butter,................. .
tt
Cheese,..................
Lard, . . . . . . .tcs. and bbls.,
**
W hiskey,................. .




1858.

1859.

1860.

13,962 .

17,855 .

18,351 .

2,695,656
69,797
2,716,488
238,033
1,463,785
72,203
6,295,038
307,250

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

1,621,732
6,490
1,204,541
126,417
2,255,585
468,662
2,160,723
317,082

82,515
111,925
430,750
29,172
3,270

.
..
..
.
.

71,490
116,196
586,834
31,156
2,667

..
..
..
..
..

45,581
119,972
526,276
42,759
5,585

.
.
.
.
.

32,254
45,081
193,334
48,467
2,137

123,762
34,632
76,758
258,191
250,769
80,141

..
.
.
..
..
.

136,557
46,900
55,206
182,023
253,938
57,292
18,970
81,801

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

73,340
29,868
47,001
256,683
428,532
42,517
24,514
140,164

.
.
.
.
.
..
.,
..

89,908
23,285
72,479
265,923
396,719
81,907
35,887
213,308

106,991 .

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

1861.

16,092

2,162,667
86,401
8,361,821
142,552
2,957,886
421,180
9,433,165
331,286

. . 2,933,329
.
71,815
. . 15,752,583
.
465,662
. . 2,628,509
.
808,091
. . 13,470,107
.
242,094

1861.]

551

Commercial Chronicle and Review.

E xp orts o f C ertain L ea d in g A r tic le s o f D om estic P rod u ce f r o m N ew -Y o rk to F o reig n
P o r ts f o r the fir s t N in e M on th s o f the Year.
1858.

Ashes, pots,................ . .bbls.,
it
“
p e a r ls ......
Beeswax,................. ..lbs.,
Breadstuff's:
Wheat flour......... . .bbls.,
it
Rye flour,............
it
Corn meal,...........
W heat,.................
it
R y e ,.....................
“
Oats,....................
“
Barley,................
if
Corn,....................
Candles, mould.......
“
sperm, . . . . . “
Coal,.........................
Cotton,.....................
It
H ay,.........................
H ops,....................... . . “
N aval stores:
Crude turpentine, . .bbls.,
ft
Spirits
“
it
Rosin,..................
ft
Tar,......................
it
P itch,...................
Oils:
Whale,.................
it
Sperm,.................
a
L a r d ,...................
“
Linseed,...............
Provisions :
Pork,..................... . .bbls.,
ti
Beef,.....................
Cut meats,...........
Butter,.................
Cheese,................
Lard,....................
R ice,.........................
“ .........................
Tallow ,....................
Tobacco, crude,.. . .
“
manuf.,.. .
Whalebone,.............

. .lbs.,

1 ,1 3 9 ,6 2 1
5 ,4 3 4
6 1 ,9 8 0
3 ,0 1 7 ,6 5 3
1 2 ,4 8 7
2 7 ,9 6 1

. .
.
.
.
.
.

1 ,3 3 5 ,6 6 2
4 3 ,7 6 3
5 ,9 4 2
1 9 ,4 1 3
1 0 9 ,4 5 3
2 4 ,2 5 8
1 ,8 8 9

a

,. “
. .bbls.,
. .lbs.,
• -phgs.,
“

1 4 3 ,0 1 7 . .
..
..
..
..

. .
.
.
.
. .
.
.

9 ,2 0 8
6 ,5 5 0
1 6 8 ,7 4 8
3 9 ,7 3 3
9 ,8 0 5
4 9 ,8 7 6
1 4 9 ,0 1 1
2 2 ,8 2 2
185

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

7 2 ,4 7 3
5 2 ,0 5 2
3 4 7 ,3 8 5
9 ,5 5 2
3 ,9 4 3

.
.
. .
.
.

6 5 ,5 1 2
5 5 ,5 1 1
4 5 7 ,0 1 3
2 1 ,4 4 2
4 ,9 1 3

..
. .
. .
..
. .

3 2 4 ,3 2 8
8 6 3 ,3 7 0
2 4 ,2 9 6
3 2 ,3 5 8

. .
1 4 1 ,9 1 4
. . 1 ,1 4 2 ,4 2 9
.
3 1 ,7 9 7
2 3 ,2 7 9
.

. .
. .

1 1 ,3 7 5
2 ,5 6 0
1 9 5 ,4 6 4

1 2 ,0 1 6 .
2 ,7 4 0 .
1 7 9 ,6 6 9 .

. . 1 ,9 8 0 ,8 3 4
8 ,9 5 3
.
.
8 6 ,1 7 1
. . 1 7 ,1 5 2 ,8 3 8
4 5 0 ,1 8 8
.
1 4 5 ,8 3 2
.
1 ,0 0 0
.
. . 8 ,6 1 3 ,8 1 1
5 3 ,3 6 1
.
1 0 ,8 6 2
.
2 2 ,7 2 3
.
1 5 1 ,3 3 4
.
1 3 ,3 8 0
1 6 ,6 7 1 .
2 2 ,1 4 2
6 ,6 8 8 .

1 ,1 8 8 ,5 7 7
6 ,4 6 9
7 2 ,8 8 9
6 ,6 7 2 ,0 0 2
100
1 0 1 ,6 2 4
8 ,2 8 0
2 ,1 3 7 ,5 5 2
4 6 ,7 3 4
1 5 ,4 4 2
2 7 ,9 4 1
1 3 5 ,0 9 6

2 1 ,5 6 5
1 8 ,7 1 4
1 8 9 ,1 6 6
2 5 ,7 0 4
2 ,5 0 4

4 3 ,7 9 0 .
5 5 ,5 9 7 .
4 0 6 ,2 2 2 .
2 0 ,0 8 7 .
5 ,0 1 3 .
2 4 8 ,1 7 1
9 5 5 ,7 2 9
4 7 ,7 4 5
2 9 ,4 3 4

.
.
.
.

6 7 4 ,5 4 2
8 6 5 ,5 0 1
9 2 ,8 6 0

7 2 ,9 5 5
3 0 ,4 3 1
4 9 ,3 0 9
. . 5 ,0 3 5 ,5 5 0 . . 1 3 ,9 8 9 ,9 2 2
. . 2 ,0 8 3 ,8 7 4 . . 7 ,3 2 8 ,0 2 5
. . 4 ,7 8 6 ,7 4 1 . . 1 6 ,4 2 7 ,4 9 4
. . 8 ,1 8 5 ,1 8 3 . . 1 5 ,2 4 4 ,5 1 9
3 1 ,1 9 9 . .
2 0 ,8 1 8
.
2 2 ,6 9 6
. . 1 ,9 3 7 ,3 7 8 . . 9 ,9 3 0 ,6 0 6
.
5 2 ,5 4 0 ..
6 5 ,5 8 6
. . 4 ,3 1 2 ,7 9 1 . . 5 ,2 6 1 ,1 5 9
. . 1 ,4 8 3 ,1 9 3 ..
5 5 5 ,3 9 1

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

8 2 ,7 2 1
2 3 ,0 4 8
2 4 ,6 7 3
. 4 1 ,5 9 3 ,2 6 6

6 2 ,1 8 0 . .
6 0 ,4 7 3 .

1 ,1 1 1 ,1 9 0
4 6 ,7 9 3
3 ,4 1 9 ,7 5 0
9 2 6 ,1 5 9

1861.

1860.

1 1 ,6 6 7 . .
1 ,6 1 1 . .

5 3 3 ,4 6 4
4 ,2 8 7
6 2 ,2 5 7
3 3 ,7 6 1

1 5 ,1 4 8 ,0 4 3
1 ,3 7 8 ,7 9 0
4 ,0 0 9 ,3 2 1
9 ,9 4 0 ,1 1 9
3 2 ,2 0 9

it

..

1859.

9 ,8 3 4 .
1 ,3 6 8 .
1 6 2 ,6 4 6 . .

..
..

1 0 7 ,5 8 7 . .
7 9 ,9 7 6 . .

3 0 ,1 3 7

. 1 0 ,8 4 3 ,2 5 7
. 2 1 ,8 1 0 ,9 5 2
. 3 3 ,3 0 8 ,2 9 8
1 5 ,9 1 1
1 4 ,6 2 8
.
.
1
8
,3
4
7 ,0 3 6
.
7
9 ,6 8 4
.
. . 2 ,7 7 2 ,5 7 1
.
7 5 1 ,1 6 3

The importations o f coffee since the passage of the tariff bill have been
materially below the average, v iz.:
1858.

New-York,.................
Boston,.......................
Philadelphia,.............
Baltimore,.................
New-Orleans,............
Nine mos.,...............
Three m os.,.............
Twelve m os.,..........
Monthly average,..




ti
it

a

1860.

1859.

1861.

30,021
5,006
7,002
9,844
13,867

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

34,633
5,739
10,404
13,099
18,463

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

22,028
3,697
4,857
7,897
12,795

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

40,029
3,111
6,065
9,137
9,620

65,740
32,782

.
. ..

82,338
21,932

. . ..
.. ..

51,274
25,243

. . ..
..

67,962

98,522
8,210

...
..;

104,270
8,688

.. . .
..

76,517
6,376

..
..

5,663

552

[November,

Commercial Chronicle and Review.

The stock o f coffee at New-York on the 1st October was less than the
average m o n t h ly imports o f the year 1858 or 1859, viz. :
Stock o f Coffee at the five principal Ports o f the United States o f America on the 1st
o f October, 1858— 1861.
T otal T onb.
S tock

1858.

in

New-York,...............
Boston.......................
Philadelphia............
Baltim ore,...............
New-Orleans,...........

it
it

.

“

Total 1st October,.
Increase,..................

..
..
..
..
..

5,861

....

1861.

1860.

1859.

1,670
250
686
755
2,500

6,465
835
296
2,123
1,786

___
___
___
___
___

866
303
71
193
1,286

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

7,140
985
49
1,571
none.

11,505

___

2,719

..

9,745
4,138

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

...........

.

European ports have five-fold the stock that our ports have.
Stocks o f Coffee in the six principal Depots o f Europe, up to ls< September.
Stock 1st September.

In Holland,. . .
A n tw erp,...
Hamburg,. .
Trieste,........
Havre,.......... .
Great Britain,

tt
tc
tc

“
“

Total Sept. 1st,. . tons,

1858.

48,950
3,650
8,750
3,700
2,800
11,900

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

Average.
1859.
1860.
1861.
. . 41,550 . . . . 31,500 . . . . 22,150 . . . . 36,037
. . 2,700 . . . . 2,450 . . . 2,600 . . . 2,850
. . 6,750 . . . . 4,000 . . . 9,000 . . . 7,125
. . 1,800 . . . . 1,850 . . . 3,300 . . . 2,662
. . 4,550 . . . . 5,450 . . . . 7,250 . . . . 5,012
. . 7,900 . . . . 7.750 . . . . 7,400 . . . . 8,738

79,750 . . . . 65,250 . . . . 53,000 . . . . 51,700 . . . . 62,424

The stock of sugar in New-York on the first o f October, 1861, was
about one-half what it was at the same date in 1860. The new tariff
o f August, 1861, has reduced the importations to a low figure. W e find
that the importations o f sugar for nine months of the year 1861, com­
pared with three previous years, are as follow :
1858.

1859.

New-York,.............. ...........tons, 177,996 . .
Boston,...................
Philadelphia,......... .............“
22,464 .
Baltimore,.............. ............. “
21,127 .
9 m os.,................... ...........tons, 251,148
3 m os.,...................
12 m os.,................... ........... “

281,064

1860.

1861.

189,629
28,968
29,253
19,925

..
..
.
.

224,345
42,385
29,286
28,309

..
.
.
..

180,882
26,802
18,895
10,746

. .

267,775
27,654

..
..

324,325
40,138

..
.

237,325

..

295,429

..

364,463

..

....

In the leading ports of Europe the stock, on 1st September, was four
times that o f the United States, (from E. H. Mo r i n g ’ s N. Y. Circular,)
v iz.:
Stocks o f Sugar in the six principal Depots o f Europe, up to 1st September.
1858.

1859.

1860.

1861.

Average.
. . 16,250
.
1,900
.
5,037
.
3,800
.
5,975
. . 121,337

In H olland,...............
Antwerp,............... . .
Hamburg............... . .
Trieste,.................
H avre,...................
Great Britain,. . . .

“
“
Ct
ti

16,000
1,600
2,400
5,550
850
110,150

Total, Sept. 1st,...
United States,..........

tc

136,550 . . 148,000 . . 147,300 . . 185,350 . . 154,299
40,517 . . 55,912 . . 89,458 . . 42,377 .




. . 13,500
..
2,700
..
4,000
..
5,500
..
8,950
. . 113,350

. . 12,000
.
600
..
6,000
..
2,550
..
5,450
. . 120,700

. . 23,500
..
2,700
..
7,750
..
1,600
..
8,650
. . 141,150

553

Commercial Chronicle and Review.

1861.]

The stock on hand in New-York, on 1st October, was only 32,820
tons, or about equal to the average of forty-five days’ imports, and about
one-half what it was in October, in 1860, viz.:
Stock o f Sugar on hand at four Principal Ports, October lsf.
T otal T ons.
Stock

1858.

in

1859.

N ew -Y ork,.................................
Boston.........................................
Philadelphia,.............................
Baltimore,..................................

29,508
5,344
2,380
3,285

..
..
..
..

42,395
6,563
3,784
3,170

Total, 1st October,...............
“
1st September,..........

40,517
46,749

..
..

55,912
78,289

Decrease,...............................

6,232

..

22,377

1860.

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

61,427
14,423
4,466
9,142

1861.

..
..
..
..

32,820
7,126
80
2,351

89,458
109,106

..
..

42,377
63,557

19,648

..

21,180

One of the most interesting items o f the month is the completion of
the telegraphic line o f communication from New-York City to Salt Lake
City, via St. Louis. The first message was published at New-York on
Saturday, October 19th, dated Salt Lake City, October 18th. The line
from the latter city to San Francisco, was completed on the 24th of
O ctober; thus giving us a direct communication between the Atlantic
and the Pacific.
Measures have been taken by the Russian government to extend the
telegraphic line from Moscow, eastwardly, to the mouth of the Amoor.
Of this line, some fifteen hundred miles have been completed. From
the Amoor, the line will be further extended through Asiatic Russia to
Behring’s Straits; thence across to Russian America, where a connec­
tion will be formed with the British territory, and to the extreme north­
ern point of the United States on the Pacific, and thence to San Fran­
cisco ; thus giving, at an early day, a complete telegraphic communica­
tion from New-York, westwardly, to Asia, and to Russia in Europe and
to other portions of the European continent.
W e reported in our September number, (page 331,) that the banks of
New-York, Philadelphia and Boston had agreed in convention to take
the new loan of the general government to the extent of fifty millions of
dollars, with the option of taking fifty millions further on the 15th of
October, and fifty millions on the 15th o f December. The first subscrip­
tion of fifty millions was allotted as follows, showing the capital and
specie of the banks of the three cities, August 17 :
No. o f Hanks. Aggregate Capital.

N e w -Y o rk ,............
Boston,...................
Philadelphia,........

54
46
19

..
..
..

$ 69,900,000
38,000,000
11,811,000

..
..
..

Loan allotted,.

$ 35,000,000
10,000,000
5,000,000

Specie.

..
..
..

$ 49,733,000
7,000,000
6,400,000

The effect of this upon the New-York banks was to increase the loans
from 108 millions, as reported on the 17th August, to a weekly average
of 137 millions on the 24th, the specie funds becoming reduced there­
after according to the instalments drawn for by the treasury. The
changes in the aggregate movements of the banks are indicated in the
following table of loans, specie, circulation, deposits and exchanges, at
the beginning of each month, since January last:




554

[November,

Commercial Chronicle and Review.

1861
Jan. 5, $
Feb. 2,
Mch. 2,
Apl. 6,
May 4,
June 1,
July 6,
Aug. 3,
Aug. 17,
Sept. 7,
Sept. It,
Sept. 28,
Oct. 5,
Oct. 12,
Oct. 19,

Loans.

Specie.

Weekly
Clearings.

Circulation . Deposits.

129,625,465 $ 24,839,475 1$8,698,283
121,907,024 31,054,509 8,099,376
121,893,963 34,480,407 8,290,755
122,113,496 41,705,558 8,930,141
124,610,166 38,054,254 9,296,399
118,290,181 37,502,402 8,683,780
112,134,668 45,630,025 8,862,799
111,719,111 46,226,181 8,585,574
108,717,434 49,733,990 8,521,426
139,158,230 41,887,230 8,890,581
136,565,624 37,529,412 8,792,620
126,128,326 38,123,552 8,638,780
148,545,488 39,809,901 8,884,056
156,318,914 41,139,606 8,733,090
151,828,438 42,282,884 8,583,673

$86,454,430
87,879,743
89,635,298
94,859,810
94,977,381
90,197,459
90,579,753
92,229,384
92,046,308
114,091,061
106,760,876
96,551,898
120,607,549
129,188,487
126,433,063

SubTreasury.

$ 95,994,868 j; 3,645,500
122,138,525 4,328,000
126,728,832 9,166,030
123,277,671 8,486,494
106,413,316 9,761,752
88,847,249 11,468,789
88,313,230 4,616,620
81,415,525 6,738,059
80,172,670 4,380,239
89,058,896 13,094,909
95,611,078 14,293,222
85,685,514 13,103,484
110,687,377 10,629,098
113,981,352 10,802,803
122,803,544 9,508,649

The receipts and shipments o f wheat at Milwaukee last week were the
largest ever known for a single week at that city, amounting to more
than six hundred thousand bushels received, and over a million bushels
forwarded. The receipts were, for the yea r:
Flour.
bbls.

Wheat.
bush.

Oats.
bush.

Corn.
bush.

Barley.
bush.

Rye.
bush.

Total since Jan. 1, 376,181 . . 10,615,559 . . <70,118 . . 81,858 . . 35,429 . . 62,285
Same time in 1860, 107,860 . .
6,093,329 . . 148,864 . . 107,355 . . 64,253 . . 34,234
Same time in 1859, 1 42,871.. 3,314,290 . . 201,236 . . 137,450 . . 101,178 . . 9,654

Shipments of flour and wheat from January 1st to October 19th, in
the years 1860 and 1861, compare as follow :
1860,
1861,

........................................ flour, bbls. 287,550 wheat, bush, 4,794,815
........................................................... 530,380
____
10,694,586

Increase,..................................................... 242,630

....

5,898,771

The annual meeting o f the Clearing-House Association o f the banks o f
this city was held October 15th, when T h o m a s T ile s to n was re-elected
Chairman, and W il l ia m B . M e e k e r , Secretary. The following commit­
tee was elected and appointed :
C learin g-H ou se Com m ittee. — J. D. V e r m il y e , G e o r g e S. C o e , J. M.
M o r r is o n , E. D . B r o w n and J. M. P r ic e .
Com m ittee on Conference.— J a m e s G a l l a t in , J a c o b C a m p b e l l , Jr.,
G e o r g e W . D c e r , A. S. F r a s e r and R . H . H a y d o c k .
Com m ittee on A d m ission s. — D. R. M a r t in , C. F. H u n te r , H . B l y d e n b u r g , J. Q. J ones and M. M. F r e e m a n .
Com m ittee on A rb itra tio n . — H. H. J a c q u e s , J ohn T h o m p so n , J. W .
D u e r , W . L . J en k in s a n d F. A . P l a tt .
M r. G. D. L y m a n was re-a p p oin ted m anager.
C learing-H ouse T ransactions from O ctober 1 1 , 1 8 5 3 , to O ctober 1 , 1 8 6 1 .
A gg rega te balances.
1 8 5 3 - 4 ........................................................... $ 2 9 7 ,4 1 1 ,4 9 3 69
18545 ,.............................................. 289,694,137 14
18556................................................ 334,714,489 33
18567 ...............................................
365,313,901 69
18578 ,.............................................. 314,238,910 60
18589................................................
363,984,682 56
18596 0 ,...........................................
308,693,438 37
18606 1 ,...........................................
353,383,944 41

A gg rega te exchanges.
$ 5 ,7 5 0 ,4 5 5 ,9 8 7 06
5,362,912,098 33
6,906,213,328 4 7
8,333,226,718 06
4,756,664,386 09
6,448,005,956 01
7,231,143,056 69
5,915,742,758 05

$2,627,434,997 79
$ 50,704,365,288 81
Total transactions for eight years,........................................ 53,331,799,286 60




1861.]

555

Foreign Correspondence.

FOREIGN

CORRESPONDENCE

OF THE MERCHANTS’ M AGAZINE AND COMMERCIAL REVIEW .

L o n d o n , October 5th, 1861.

tlic Bank of France and its branches have felt the necessity of
curtailing their loans on commercial paper, owing to the drain of gold
from the country, the Bank o f England pursues an opposite policy, by
reducing the minimum rate o f discount.
From the 16th of May to the 1st o f August the Bank o f England
rate stood at 6 per cent.; at the latter date it was reduced to 5 per
cen t.; on the 15th o f August, to 4£, and on the 29th to 4 per cent. On
the 19th September a further reduction to 3Is- per cent, was made.
On the 26th of September the Bank of France advanced their rate of
discount from 5 per cent., at which it had stood since the 22d o f March,
to 5\ per cent. This movement was partly anticipated, a belief having
been entertained in Paris during the previous week that an increased de­
mand for money would soon be felt from the continued grain purchases.
On Tuesday, October 1st, the Bank o f France raised the rate of dis­
count to 6 per cent., the former rise, on the 26th ult., not having been
found effectual in arresting the efflux o f bullion. Advices from Paris
state that the condition o f the Bourse on the 2d was such as has not
been paralleled for many years. The uncertainty and agitation were ex­
treme, and at one time it was almost impossible to transact business.
This was, in part, produced by the Bank of France having borrowed, till
the next settlement at the end of the month, an amount equal to about
a million sterling, upon French rentes, at the rate of 5^ per cent, per an­
num. The scarcity o f money thus produced caused the general terms
for carrying on transactions from account to account to advance, until be­
tween 8 and 10 per cent, were the minimum rates.
The following is an abstract o f the gross revenue o f the United King­
dom in the year and quarter ending September 30,1861, compared with
the corresponding periods o f the preceding year :
W

h ile

Q u ar t er en d in g Se pt . 30.
1860.

Customs,............. . £5,888,000
Excise,................
5,089,000
Stamps................
2,053,000
Taxes...................
166,000
Property ta x ,__
2,281,000
Post-office,..........
800,000
Crown lands,___
65,568
Miscellaneous,...
315,598
Total income,. . £16,658,166

1861.

..
..

Y e a r en d in g S ept . 30.
1860.

1861.

£5,982,000
4,221,000
2,013,000
160,000
991,000
810,000
66,479
297,753

. . £23,396,395
. . 20,070,000
8,267,258
3,257,000
. . 10,309,816
3,370,000
289,568
1,849,940

. . £23,488,000
. . 18,624,000
8,426,170
3,130,000
. . 11,133,000
..
3,470,000
292,479
1,242,511

. . £14,601,232

..£ 7 0,8 0 9 ,9 77

. . £69,806,160

Subjoined are the imports o f wheat and flour into Great Britain, in
quarters, for the three previous harvest years, ending 1st August, with




556

[November,

Foreign Correspondence.

quarterly and annual im ports; flour reduced into wheat at the rate o f
three and a half cwts. per quarter :

First quarter,....................................
Second quarter,................................
Third quarter,...................................
Fourth quarter,.................................

1858-59.

1859 60.

qrs.
1,142,000
1,019,000
1,032,000
1,914,000

qrs.
916,000
954,000
491,000
1,653,000

Yearly totals,................ quarters, 5,161,000

..
..
..
..
..

4,020,000

1860-61.
qrs.
2,610,000
2,994,000
2,462,000
2,430,000

..
..
..
..
..

10,556,000

The first month of the present season shows a falling off, not only in
regard to the months immediately preceding it, but also with respect to
the corresponding month o f last year, and is below the monthly average
o f last season by 115,000 quarters. In regard to actual available supply,
it is even more deficient, as compared with August, 1860, than shown
from the shipments to France from England.
Subjoined are the values o f the exports of British produce and manu­
factures for the month and eight months ending 31st August, for the
present and two previous years, and o f the values o f the principal articles
imported in the month and seven months ending 31st July, the importa­
tions being one month behind the exportations, as requiring much greater
labor to compute :
1859.

E xpo rts.

1860.

1831.

Month of August,..................................... £12,111,215 ..£13,535,205 ..£12,331,441
Eight months ending 31st A u gu st,.. . . 86,405,885.. 88,011,892 . . 82,515,126
Im ports.

Month of July,..........................................
Seven months ending 31st July,...........

15,551,616..
16,361,153..

15,200,442.. 11,148,952
90,569,648.. 100,015,301

The decrease in the value o f the exports is more than accounted for by
the diminution of our shipments to the United States; at the same time
it is worthy o f remark, that the exports to India, in regard to cotton goods,
with which those markets were supposed to be saturated, exhibit no fall­
ing off, but, on the contrary, an increase; the value for the month o f
August being £1,122,170, against £842,167 in August, 1860, and
£1,116,769 in August, 1859. In cotton yam it is otherwise, being
respectively £119,728, £142,767 and £228,927.
Subjoined is the value of our exports to the United States for the
month of August in the present and two previous years:
Cotton manufactures,.....................
Linen
“
Woollen
“
Silk
«
Metals,..................
Earthenware,..................................
Haberdashery and m illinery,.. . .
Hardware and cutlery,...................
Soda..................................................
Spirits,..............................................
Coals,.................................................
Salt,..................................................
Totals,




1859.

1860.

£211,511
122,432
301,189
31,183
419,810
63,593
112,089
99,618
46,411
9,935
22,416
8,218

£441,175
228,119
489,363
31,886
434,431
19,318
138,720
141,463
54,230
13,486
25,414
9,904

£1,416,851

___ £2,094,309

1861.
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___

£38,564
42,279
111,693
13,665
101,811
16,514
33,659
11,679
20,198
665
26,052
5,809

___

£483,174

1861.]

Foreign Correspondence.

557

The falling off in our total exports is only £1,197,764, while to the
United States alone, as compared with August, 1860, it is £1,611,135.
It appears that the shipments o f cotton from Liverpool to the United
States amounted, during the past month, to 3,703 bales, o f which the
whole were American, except 321 bales o f East Indian. The principal
portion was conveyed in steamers.
B y the ship A s ia , o f New-York, a cargo o f crust guano has lately been
imported from the island of Sombrero, and landed in the West India
docks. Sombrero is situate near the Dutch island o f St. Martin, in the
W est Indies, and is the property o f Messrs. W ood & S ons , of NewYork, who are said to hold it under the protection o f the United States
government. The discovery o f the guano deposits on the island is of
recent date. Hitherto the shipments have been chiefly to the southern
ports of the States; but, as those are now blockaded, the supply may
probably be directed towards England.
A prospectus has been issued o f the General Tram Rail-Koad Com­
pany, with a capital of £200,000, in £5 shares. The first object is to
carry out a concession which has been granted by the Emperor o f the
French, for a horse rail-road in France, between Clermont and Eiom, a
distance o f twelve miles.
It is curious to witness the changes that have taken place in the values
o f some o f the principal articles largely imported from the United States.
W e subjoin the comparative prices in this market at the present time,
compared with those ruling in September, 1860, from which it will be
seen that the articles more immediately affected by the blockade have
materially advanced in value :
P r ic e s .
D e s c r ip t io x o p P r o d u c e .

1860,

Tobacco, Virginia, Kentucky and M ary-)
land, ranging, per lb............................ )
Average about, per lb .,.......................
7d.
Rice, Carolina, per cw t.,.............................
18s. to 26s.
Bark, Philadelphia, per cwt.,..................... 8s. 6d. to 9s.
“
Baltimore,
“
.......... .......... 7s. 6d. to 8s.
Linseed cake, American, thin, per ton,.. . £9 los. to £10.
Rosin, common, per cw t.,...........................
5s. 2d.
“
medium to fine, per cw t.,...............
6s. to 16s.
Turpentine, American, rough, per c w t .,.. 7s. 6d. to 8s.
“
spirits,
“
..
32s.
Tar, American, per bbl.,............................. 17s. 6d. to 18s.

1861.
6d. to 14d.
101d.
26s. to 31s.
11s. to 12s.
9s. 3d.
£ 1 0 12s. 6d. to £10 15s.
12s. 3d. to 12s. 6d.
13s. to 20s.
nominal.
60s.
nominal.

The first cargo o f new teas has arrived from China, in the F i e r y C r o ss ,
Captain D a l l a s , from Foo-chow ; she passed through the Downs for Lon­
don 23d September. There is always considerable competition in getting
the first cargo to market, and, in addition to the ordinary freight, a further
sum is usually engaged to be paid to the successful ship, which prize the
F i e r y C ross carries off this season, in the shape of an extra 10s. per ton.
O f French commercial affairs it may be said, that while no crisis is
imminent, yet the wants o f the country will probably be very large.
Speaking o f the commercial treaty between England and France, which
took effect on 1st October, the Paris correspondent of the T im es says :
“ In spite of the increase in the importation o f raw material, which shows
increased production and the falling off o f exportation, there is no trace
o f manufacturing distress. What can one do but conclude that France




558

Foreign Correspondence.

[November,

has found consumers at home for her manufactures ? The first beneficial
effect of the new commercial policy was, therefore, to make many articles
accessible to people who were before deprived o f them. As for the
financial drain, it has absolutely nothing to do with the national indus­
try and manufactures.”
The Moniteur contains an imperial decree, dated the 1st o f October,
according to which the ports o f Marseilles, Bordeaux, Nantes, Rouen,
Havre, Dieppe, Boulogne, Calais and Dunkirk, and the custom-houses of
Tourcoing, Roubaix, Lille, Valenciennes, Mulhouse and Lyons, are, dating
from the 1st inst., open for the importation o f cotton and woollen yarns
of every description, either of English or Belgian manufacture. B y the
same decree, the following articles o f English or Belgian origin or manu­
facture cannot be imported into France, either by land or sea, except
through the custom-houses appointed : A ll goods paying a duty of twenty
francs per one hundred kilogrammes; also, coaches, playing-cards, chicory,
roasted or ground, cutlery, skin and leather work, articles made of horse
or cow’s hair, pure or mixed chemicals, ordinary soaps, drinking glasses
and crystals, white and colored, window glass, colored glass, polished or
engraved, watch and optical glasses, and all other glassware not men­
tioned in this category, sea-going vessels, hulls o f sea-going vessels, river
craft, alpaca, lama and Vienna wool, and camel’ s-hair yarn.
The French Foreign Office is engaged with several new commercial
treaties, suggested by that which comes into operation this month be­
tween England and France. The Zollverein negotiants progress towards
conclusions, contrary to the assertions o f a Belgian journal.
A letter from Cognac, dated the 18th of September, says : The vintage
throughout this district will be quite as bad, and even worse, than was
sometimes since apprehended. In many vineyards there are no grapes
at all. A few vines show a little fruit, but, on the whole, the result will
be very bad indeed. The quantity o f wine that will be made this year
in the Cognac district will not be sufficient for the requirements of the
people inhabiting the neighborhood. No Cognac brandy can, therefore,
he expected to be distilled this year, and the wants o f the trade must be
entirely supplied from the old stocks o f 1860,1859 and 1858. The vin­
tage has commenced in the neighborhood of Lyons. The quality o f the
wine is excellent, and the grape ferments readily. The celebrated white
wine of Condrieu, o f this year, is already offered for sale in the wineshops
o f Lyons. It is calculated that the rain which fell last week will increase
the wine crop by full 25 per cent.
The leading items o f the past week are as follow :
September 26.— The prospectus o f the Metropolitan and Provincial
Bank (limited) published. Capital, £1,000,000. (England.)
Bank o f France advanced rate o f discount from 5 to 5^ per cent.
September 27.— The Commercial Union Fire Assurance Company an­
nounce the commencement o f business in London.
September 28.— Bills o f Messrs. R a p h a e l , G a r d in e r & Co. protested.
October 1.— The prospectus o f the Queensland Cotton Company (lim­
ited) published. Capital, £100,000.
Advance of the rate o f discount by the Bank o f France to 6 per cent.
October 2.— The prospectus o f the General Tram Rail-Road Company
(limited) published. Capital, £20,000.




THE

MERCHANTS’ MAGAZINE
AND

C O M M E R C I A L

R E V I E W .

E s t a b li s h e d J u l y , 1 8 3 9 .

•

E D IT E D

BY

J . S M IT H H O M A N S , (S E C R E T A E Y O F T H E C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E O F T H E S T A T E O F N E W - Y O R K ,)
A N D W IL L IA M

VOLUME X L V .

B . D A N A , ATTORN EY A T L A W .

NO VEM BER,

CONTENTS

OF

No.

1861.

V.,

A rt.

YOL.

NUMBER V.

XLY.
p a g e

I. OUR MERCANTILE MARINE.—The Tone of the Service Degenerating—Cause of
the Degeneracy—Evidence of the same—Fraudulent Shipwrecks—Opinions of Damburg Underwriters—Comparison of per centage of Disasters in English Service with
our own—Certificates of Service and Competency issued in these Countries—A simi­
lar System necessary here—Advantages of this System to Shipmasters, Shipowners
and Underwriters—Suggestions about the Collection of Statistics of Disasters, and
Benefits to be derived therefrom—Recapitulation and Conclusion,........................... 449
II.

THE HIDES OF THE RIVER PLATA.—Wholesale Slaughter of Mares—Oxen—
Salting—Refuse—Statistics,...................................................................................... 458

I I I.

THE OIL-SEEDS OF COMMERCE.—1. Linseed. 2. Rape Seed. 3. Ground Nut.
4. Cotton-Seed Oil. 5. Dodder Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Cress Seed, Niger Seed,
Eamtil, Radish Seed, Safflower Seed,......................................................................... 460

IV .

THE SEAL FISHERY OF LABRADOR AND SPITZBERGEN.—Statistics—Seal­
ing Vessels—Varieties of Seals—Seal Blubber used for Machinery,........................... 462

V.

THE COTTON CULTURE OF CHINA.—Yellow Cotton—Nanking Cottons—Chinese
Cotton Picking—Spinning Wheels of the Chinese,....................................................465

VI.

THE MANCHESTER COTTON SUPPLY ASSOCIATION.—Annual Report for the
Year 1860—1861.—Prospective Supply—Brazil—Peru—Chili—Africa—Egypt—India
—Indian Railways,.................................................................................................. 470

VII. THE COMMERCE AND NAVY OF BELGIUM.—1. The Flemings in the Ninth
Century. 2. Maritime Law of the Eleventh Century. 3. Flax and Hemp Cultiva­
tion in the Twelfth Century. 4. Trade of England, Scotland and Deland with the
Flemings,................................................................................................................
VIII. THE COTTON QUESTION.—Remarks of Mr.
of August, 1861,.....................

B azley

477

before the British Association
479

IX. THE BREADSTUFFS TRADE OF THE UNITED STATES.—Annual Report on
the Supply and Export of Flour, Wheat, Com, Corn-Meal—Extraordinary Foreign
Demand for the year 1861,..................................................................................
484




Contents o f November No., 1861.

560

X. COTTON CHOP OF THE UNITED STATES.—1. Statement and Total Amount for
the Year ending 31st August, 1861. 2. Production of each State in 1850 and in 1861.
8. Per Centage of Production in each State. 4. Export from each Port. 5. Con­
sumption in the United States, 1847-1861,.................................................... ••••••• 497
XI. HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TARIFF.—1. Tariff of March, 1861. 2.
Method of Levy for Protection. 3. Failure as a Revenue Measure. 4. Diminished
Consumption. 5. Decline in Importations. 6. Monthly Customs, Port of New-York.
7. Congressional Discussions. 8. Outbreak of War. 9. Extra Session. 10. Free
Articles Taxed. 11. Tea and Coffee. 12. Estimated Revenue. 13. Northern Con­
sumption. 14. Yield of the Three Tariffs. 15. Bonded Goods. 16. Exports of the
Country. 17. Return of Specie. 18. Grain Exports—Cotton Imports—Effect of
Loan upon Customs—Probable Change,................................................................... 502

JOURNAL

OF

AGRICULTURE.

1. The British Harvest. 2. The Importance of a Good Harvest. 3. Guano Discoveries. 4.
Flax Culture,........................................................................................................................ 487

JOURNAL

OF

MINING

AND

MANUFACTURES.

1. The new Patent Law of the United States. 2. Patent Laws of European Governments. 3.
Quicksilver. 4. Cocoanut Oil. 5. India Rubber Varnish,................................................ 489

BOARDS

OF

TRADE

AND

CHAMBERS

OF

COMMERCE.

1. New-York Chamberof Commerce, October, 1861—Letter from Professor L i b b e r —New-York
Produce Exchange,............................................................................................................. 509

JOURNAL

OF

NAUTICAL

INTELLIGENCE.

1. The American Shipmasters’ Association. 2. British Steam Vessels for China. 3. British
Steamers for Peru. 4. An Incident of the Sea. 5. The Lake Trade to Liverpool. 6. Sur­
veys in Australasia. 7. The Sandwich Islands. 8. Light-Houses in Scotland—Cape of Good
Hope—South Pacific—Coast of Brazil—Bay of Biscay. 9. Iron-Plated Ships,...................... 517

COMMERCIAL

REGULATIONS.

1. The Confiscation Act of August, 1861. 2. Results of Confiscation Acts. 3. Commercial
Treaty between France and Italy. 4. Free Importations into France. 5. Treaty between
England and France. 6. Treaty with Turkey. 7. Treaty between Russia and China. 8.
Decisions of the Secretary of the Treasury on Hollow Ware—Woollen Card Cloth—Printed
Cotton Handkerchiefs,........................................................................................................ 525

JOURNAL

OF M A R I N E

INSURANCE.

List of Marine Losses in the months of April, May, June and July, 1861,............................... 530

RAIL-ROAD,

CANAL

AND

TELEGRAPH

STATISTICS.

1. The Telegraph from Moscow to New-York. 2. British Railway Statistics. 3. New Route
from Europe to India. 4. Important to Railway Companies. 5. Steam on Common Roads.
6 . The Pacific Telegraph. 7. The Atlantic Cable,.............................................................. 534

STATISTICS

OF T R A D E

AND

COMMERCE.

1. The Lake 'trade. 2. Commerce of Buffalo. 3. The Cork Trade. 4. Trade of Turkey. 5.
Exports of Penang. 6 . Trade and Navigation of France. 7. The Linen Trade. S. China
Trade. 9. The Tobacco Trade. 10. Philadelphia Grain Market. 11. Price of Potatoes,
1854—1861. 12. Bangor Lumber Market,........................................................................... 540

COMMERCIAL

CHRONICLE

AND R E V I E W .

Progress of Business—Imports—Exports—Domestic Produce—Dry Goods Trade—CustomHouse Revenue—Larger Portion of Breadstuff’s—Table of Exports—Grain at the WestGrain for Freights—Bank Loans—Rates of Exchange—Advance in Rail-Road Freights—In­
crease of Canal Tolls—Telegraph Communication—Imports and Stocks of Sugar and Coffee, 546

F O R E I G N C O R R E S P O N D E N C E OF T H E M E R C H A N T S ’ M A G A Z I N E .
Rates of Discount of Bank of England and Bank of France—Revenue of the United Kingdom—
Imports of Wheat and Flour into Great Britain—Exports—Shipments of Cotton—Guano—
Horse Rail-Road in France—Changes in value of principal articles Imported from the United
States—New Teas—Commercial Treaty—Free Ports of France for the Importation of Cotton
and Woollen Yarns—Cognac Vintage,................................................................................ 5 5 5