Page images
PDF
EPUB

"As regards the United Kingdom of Great Britain, where hardly any Maryland tobacco is imported, it may be sufficient to state that the deliveries of Virginia and Kentucky tobacco, during the last year, amount to 14,133 hds., and that the stocks on 31st December, which, for five years, from 1836 to 1840, averaged 25,833 hhds., have during the last three years exceeded that cypher by about double; on 31st December last, consisting of 49,213 hhds.

"As a basis for ascertaining the actual stock on this continent, the annual consump tion of Virginia and Kentucky tobacco in these parts should be known, and we may take the average sales of seven years, from 1834 to 1840, because within that period, no speculation, which since then, has performed a prominent part in the trade, has been entered into, which was not realized again within a limited time, and we therefore consider this basis a very safe one for our purpose. It may justly be inferred, however, that the consumption of the United States tobacco since 1840, must have materially increased, in consequence of the depressed value of the article and the increase of the population; but those of our traders who are sooner enabled to form a judgment upon this subject, will make no great allowance for the same, because the use of segars annually infringes upon that of smoking tobacco, and because the manufacturers adhere to their system of selling an article containing only part of American tobacco, since experience has taught them that it is easier to keep their customers at a certain price for an inferior article, than otherwise reducing its quality, to which measure an enhancement of the value of United States tobacco might compel them. In order, however, not to flatter our statement, we are going to put down a very liberal allowance, say of 15 per cent, for increase of consumption, and then come at the following result:

[blocks in formation]

While during that period, say from 1840 to 1845, both inclusive, sales in our market, Holland, and Antwerp, according to the foregoing statement, amounted to........

[blocks in formation]

Showing an excess for the latter period of.............

16,609

37,291

Which, therefore, we might consider as a disposable stock in the hands of speculators, and to which must be added the stock in importers' hands, concerning which the statements may be well depended upon, and which, on 31st December last, consisted of............

Forming a total of...........

Against an annual average consumption of....

[blocks in formation]

"Making any reasonable allowance for possible errors in the above statement, so much is provided that the stock now on hand in Europe is fully sufficient for the largest consumption of several years to come, and that upon the ground of actual wants of the article, generally speaking, prospects for adventures are highly unfavorable, while it is probable, that in some instances profits may be realized where purchases may have been made on the other side, with particular attention to the momentary wants of the continental markets. At all events, no dependence should any more be placed upon speculators on this side, because in the course of years they have become accustomed to the very lowest extreme of rates, and have become fully sensible to the fallaciousness of all guess-work upon the failure of crops in the United States. We therefore consider a possibility of a radical cure of the present state of the tobacco trade only arising from a decrease of the production, which can only, however, be expected when the planter in Virginia and the western country of the United States finds better employment for his laborers and lands.

"Our tobacco market has been in a drooping condition, ever since last fall, and thus far has experienced very little animation, leaving prices quite nominal."

Commercial Statistics.

REVIEW OF THE TOBACCO BUSINESS ON THE CONTINENT OF EUROPE.

MARYLAND AND OHIO TOBACCO.

[blocks in formation]

STOCKS, 31ST DEC., 1845.
7,107
Bremen. Hol'd. Antw'p. Total.

...

850 36.264

4,123

341 8,449

9.475 12.913

1843

18,483 11.887

1844

16.178 20.547 1845 21.890 25,198 Total 100,106 91,715 Average 20,021 18,343

445 30×15 15,004 15,924
19.618
351 37.876 18.338
1,066 51,154 25,210 19,199

605 31,533

7,602

4,412

181 12,195

532 38.488

6.242

5,341

11,583

800 45,209

5,922

11,324

266 17,512

4.270 196,071 95,245 88,919
854 39,218 19,049 17,784

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Total 22,001 26,545 20,116 68,062 20,131 19,456 18,182 57,769 10.960 28,438 9,351 48,749

[blocks in formation]

4,924 355 9,170 3.891 5,189 1.199 4,191 10,579 9.197 5,033 7,683 22.043 7,882 23,169 5,712 9.595 6,441 3.647 6,338 16,426 9,138 23,379 7.485 6,756 9.589 4.312 18.848 9.736 4.922 2,854 17.512 1814 5,137 18,354 1845 11.747 5,241 18,865 10.636 1,877

4.976
2,581

844 1,053 550 3,573 1,523 1,032 1,018 2.062 4,632 3,832 10,526 9,176 4,578 2,369 2,229 9,671 3,858 2,473 3,310

2,447

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

We have so often before expressed our opinions that the cotton trade of Western India was undergoing a rapid extinction, that we have hesitated boring our readers with the subject again. A correspondent, however, has handed us the following comparative statement of the exports during the first six months of the last four years, which places the decline in so serious a point of view, that we do not hesitate again calling attention to a question of so vital importance to the whole presidency :

:

SHIPMENTS OF COTTON FROM BOMBAY, FROM 1ST JANUARY TO 30TH JUNE, FROM 1843 TO 1846.

[blocks in formation]

But one conclusion can be drawn from this--that our cotton exports to England must soon be an entire blank; while, looking even at those to China, our prospects are not much more encouraging. During the last three years, so far from the deliveries of Bombay cotton at Canton having increased, they exhibit a gradual decline; showing, we cannot but fear, that cheap British manufactures, produced from cheap American cotton, are destroying our trade, even there, in a raw material.

DELIVERIES OF BOMBAY COTTON FROM THE WAREHOUSES AT CANTON.

[blocks in formation]

231,510 bales. 229,123 183,719

every trade similarly

The condition of the trade, then, is one of decline; and, like situated, nearly every one engaged in it is in a state of distress. The ryots are impoverished, and overburdened with debt; the banians have made large advances to the ryots, and cannot get them repaid; the dealer, who buys from the banians, has been selling his cotton in Bombay at a loss; while the exporter knows, to his cost, that the chances are many against his making a profit upon shipments to England, and but few in his favor upon those to China or Singapore.

We are now, from time to time, remarking upon the decline of our cotton trade; and, unless something is done soon, it requires no prophetic vision to foresee that, in the course of a few years more, we shall have to write of it as a thing that has ceased to exist. A reduction in the government land tax alone can save it; and we would entreat the consideration of the authorities to this matter, upon which the welfare of so many depends.

CHRONOLOGY OF THE TARIFFS OF THE UNITED STATES. We give below a chronological table of the different tariffs passed by the Congress of the United States, showing the date of passage, character, time of taking effect, and the number of years they were in operation.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

RAILROAD, CANAL, AND STEAMBOAT STATISTICS.

TOWNSEND'S WARMING APPARATUS FOR RAILROAD CARS. We publish below an accurate engraved illustration of an invention of Mr. Tappan Townsend, of Albany, for warming railroad cars. By this simple but efficient contrivance, the heat is equalized throughout the car, obviating the necessity of a stove, and the consequent unpleasant and unhealthy presence of over-heated air, with all its deleterious effects upon the passengers.

[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small]

Through the furnace of the locomotive are passed two cast-iron pipes, which, presenting enlarged orifices in front as seen at A, pass, and if necessary repass, and pass again through the furnace in the midst of the fuel as seen at B, and thence communicate backwards with the reservoir situated in the platform C, upon which the fireman stands. From

[blocks in formation]

thence the heated air is conducted, by means of an elastic and flexible hose D, into continuous air chambers E, which are let into the sleepers of each car, and from these the warm air is received into the cars by register G, in such quantity as is required to render the atmosphere comfortable and pleasant. The elastic and flexible hose are constructed from such materials as to render them durable. These are connected to the cars by bevelled metallic pipes F, with flanges, and are attached to both ends of the hose, which are kept in place by the strength of the spiral spring f. Fig. 4 represents an enlarged view of the hose and end of the air chamber E, with a portion of the register G, with a part of a complete hose D, fully connected to the air chamber at F, and ƒ represents the spiral coil of wire within. Each car is furnished with two registers to accommodate the running of the cars either backwards or forwards. Cap screws, H, are screwed on to the orifices in the ends of the air chambers, in summer, and also on the two orifices in the end of the chamber in the last car of a train in winter, to prevent the escape of the warm air. a in the above cut represents the furnace and pipes in the locomotive, b the tender, с e the baggage car, and d a passenger car.

FIRST ATLANTIC STEAM NAVIGATION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE "MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE AND COMMERCIAL REVIEW."

"Palmam qui meruit ferat."-Dr. JORTIN.

I find in the English Gentleman's Magazine for June, 1845, vol. 23, page 659, the following singular announcement; and as erroneous, as it is singular :

"A cenotaph monument has been erected in Passage Church-yard, near Cork, to the memory of Captain Roberts, the commander of the President steamer," with "the following inscription :

"This stone commemorates in the church-yard of his native parish the merits and premature death of the first officer under whose command a steam vessel ever crossed the Atlantic ocean-undaunted bravery exhibited in the suppression of the slave trade in the African scas, enterprise and consunimate skill in the details of his profession, recommended him for that arduous service.

"Lieutenant Richard Roberts, R. N., in accomplishing it, not only surpassed the wildest visions of former days, but even the warmest anticipations of the present.

"He gave to science triumphs she had not dared to hope, and created an epoch for ever memorable in the history of his country, and of navigation.

"The thousands that shall follow in his track, must not forget who it was that taught the world to traverse with such marvellous rapidity the highway of the ocean, and who, in connecting in a voyage for a few days the eastern and western hemispheres, has for ever linked his name with the greatest achievements of navigation, since Columbus first revealed Europe and America to each other.

"God, having permitted him this distinction, was pleased to decree that the rearer of this great enterprise should be also its martyr. Lieutenant Roberts perished with all on board his ship the President, when, on her return voyage from America to England, she was lost, in the month of March, A. D. 1841.

"As the gallant seaman under whose guidance was accomplished an undertaking the result of which centuries will not exhaust, it is for his country, for the world, to remember him. His widow, who erects this melancholy memorial, may be forgiven, if to her these claims are lost in the recollections of that devotedness of attachment, that uprightness and kindness of spirit, which, alas! for three brief years formed the light and joy of her existence.""

As far as this memorial hands down to posterity the good private qualities of the muchlamented and ill-fated commander, it may be very appropriate. But it is due to the fame of these United States, to historic truth, to science, and to navigation, that the following facts be duly recorded-facts, which, doubtless, his disconsolate widow was not acquainted with.

The first steam-ship which crossed the Atlantic ocean was built in this city, in April, 1819; she was named the Savannah, and to that city she sailed under the command of

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »