THE TRADE OF THE WEST. In the appendix to the report of the Commissioners of Public Works of Canada, published in May, 1857, we find a very able report on the subject of Western trade, which is one of great public interest. We have space for only a few extracts, as follows: It was not until the opening of the Erie Canal, in 1825, cheapened the precarions and expensive means of transport then existing to the lower end of Lake Erie, that the tide of emigration set in with any force to the Northwest. From that period until about 1840, the exports of this region were small-the surplus products being consumed by the ever-increasing crowd of new settlers. During the last fifteen years' time, and the effect of judicious public improvements, have so far developed the resources of this country, that the value of the lake trade had increased, between 1840-50, from 60 to $300,000,000, and if it has continued to increase in the same ratio, must now have attained the value of $450,000,000. The total number of tons arriving at tide water from the Western States, by the Erie Canal, has increased from 158,148 tons, in 1840, to 1.213,690 tons in 1853. It is estimated by J. B. Jervis that this trade will double in the next six, and quadruple in the next fifteen years; so that in 1870 there will be an Eastern movement of five millions of tons, the surplus products of the Northwest; and were all this business done through the Erie Canal, the total annual movement would exceed nine millions of tons. Previous to 1850, by far the largest part of Western Canadian trade was done through Montreal and the St. Lawrence, and the trade with the United States was very insignificant, but with the cessation of protection to Canadian products in British markets, and the repeal of differential duties in favor of the St. Lawrence, a trade began to spring up between the two countries, which has been greatly extended by the operation of the United States bonding act, which came into effect in 1850, and the reciprocity treaty in 1855. The effect of these two measures has been to divert the trade of Canada west from the St. Lawrence to the New York canals and railways. In 1854 the value of imports by the St. Lawrence was. $21,171,752 12,501,372 $33,673,128 $11,494,028 6,975,500 $18,469,528 During the same years the reciprocal trade with the United States was as follows: In 1854 the value of imports from the United States was. Total value of trade ...... In 1855 imports from United States.. Exports to United States... Total value of trade $13,553,096 13,418,000 $23,971,096 $20,825,432 20,002,238 $40,827,720 Thus, in one year, the trade of the St. Lawrence has lost a value of $15,203.600, while the United States trade has gained a value of $16,856,624. Such a revolution in the course of trade is remarkable. A part of this change is due to the Grand Trunk Railway, which enables Lower Canada merchants to make their spring importations through Portland before the opening of navigation on the canals; but this is a trifle in comparison with what has actually been diverted through the State of New York. THE PALM OIL TRADE OF AFRICA. The London News, of July 7, 1857, commenting on the attempt now making to reopen in effect the African slave trade, furnishes some interesting figures going to show that the commerce and industry of Africa has advanced since the slave trade, as carried on by Spanish and Portuguese wickedness, was driven from Whydah. It seems, by the article in the News, that a large and vigorous commerce has sprung up and takes its place. We extract from the article in the News the following statement, chiefly relating to the production and export of palm oil : It is only a few years ago that a British merchant of the name of Hutton, who had sold a cargo of rum there, had to incur a loss of £800 demurrage before he could with difficulty obtain 30 tons of palm oil at Whydah in payment for his spirits. But just as the slave trade has disappeared there, so has palm oil freely made its appearance, until last year, according to the official report of Mr. Consul Campbell, Whydah exported no less than 2,500 tons of palm oil, worth, in England, no less a sum than £112,500. This trade in palm oil is, all things considered, one of the mercantile marvels of our age. It suits the purposes of the projected modified slave trade to picture the negro as leading an useless, lazy, unproductive life in Africa. Nothing can be more unlike reality. Take, for instance, the old seats of the slave trade in the Bight of Benin and its neighborhood. They are now alive with honest industry and lawful commerce. In 1856 the exports in palm oil alone were as follows: Now this enormous trade, the produce of negro industry on one part only of the coast, is all more or less dependent on freedom from the slave trade. Revive the demand for human beings at these ports, and that industry must be disturbed and distracted. And it is at one of these ports-at Whydah-that MM. Regis are, it is reported, disposed to commence their abominable operation. Our material interest as well as our established policy, our trade as well as our honor, are therefore involved in this question. It is one from which there is no escape for Lord Palmerston. It is one which England cannot elude without shame and humiliation. THE COMMERCIAL PROGRESS OF FRANCE. The foreign commerce of France was somewhat affected in the years 1853 and 1854 by the war and the indifferent harvests. But no sooner was there a prospect of peace than the returns of 1855 exhibited an increase of 569,000,000 francs. In 1853 the commerce exterieur amounted to 3,749,000,000 francs; in 1854, to 3,785,000,000 francs, and in 1855, to 4,327,000,000 francs. The maritime commerce of France in 1855, as compared with 1854, increased 16 per cent, and the commerce not sea borne 8 per cent. By far the largest portion of the foreign-or, as it is called, the external -commerce of France is carried on with England. From the last returns, this com merce amounted to 712,000,0000 francs-an increase of 12 per cent on the re turns of 1854. The United States traffic with France comes next to that of Great Britain, amounting, as it does, to 517,000,000 francs. Belgium and Switzerland are in the next rank-the former reaching a figure of 412,000,000 francs, the latter a figure of 332,000,000 francs. The progress of France in navigation has been as considerable as their progress in trade. In 1850, comprising navigation inwards and outwards, there is a return of 31,926 vessels, measuring 3,735,000 tons, with cargoes valued at 1,955,000 francs, whereas in 1855 there were 56,757 vessels, measuring 5,333,000 tons, with cargoes valued at 3,103,500 francs, thus proving, in the short space of five years, an increase in the number of vessels of 15 per cent, in the tonnage of 43 per cent, and in the value of the cargo of 59 per cent. IMPORTS OF SPECIE AND BULLION INTO GREAT BRITAIN IN 1856. The following table shows the monthly arrival of specie and bullion, from all quarters, into Great Britain during the year 1856 :— COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS AT CLEVELAND. At a meeting of the Cleveland Board of Trade, recently held in their rooms in the city of Cleveland, the propriety of adopting uniform and just rates of commission, storage, &c., was considered, and the following Tariff of Prices was adopted, to be observed in the absence of special contracts : .... 5c. per 100 lbs. for heavy goods. 7c. per 100 lbs. for light goods. 8c. per 100 lbs. 3c. per bbl. 8c. per bbl. ... 3c. per 100 lbs. 3c per bbl. 60c. per ton for light, and $1 per ton for heavy, (over 1,000 lbs.) 46 10c. per 100 lbs. The above are rates for one month or under-each subsequent month one-half the above rates. GRAIN FROM BOATS.-One-half cent per bushel for two days, one cent for first fifteen days, and thereafter one-quarter cent for each seven days, except special contracts. Purchasers of rolling freight may have ten days for removal without charge for storage, but the property shall be at the purchaser's risk; after which storage will commence as upon the second month above named. COMMISSION FOR ADVANCES ON PROPERTY. Advances on property, except for usual freights, to be charged two-and-a-half per cent, exclusive of the purchasing or selling commission. The Legislature of Ohio has passed a bill "supplementary to an act entitled an act for the inspection of certain articles therein enumerated." The original act was passed March, 1851. The present act, this year, (1857.) The following are the provisions of the supplementary act : SECTION. 1. That any person acting as inspector of flour, meal, meat, lard, or butter, or other articles sold by weight, in hogshead, cask, box, barrel, or part thereof, the contents of which are by law subject to inspection, are hereby required to inspect and certify the weight therein, in connection with the quality, and brand the same, which shall be conclusive evidence between vendor and vendee, at the time of inspection; and whenever short weight shall be ascertained, or under tare marked, the inspector so finding shall be entitled for every hogshead, cask, or box, containing over one barrel, 20 cents, and for every barrel, and under, 10 cents; the charge for repackage and cooperage to be no more than the average price paid for such work at the time the inspection is had, which shall be paid by the party demanding the inspection, or as parties may agree; but in case of forfeiture, then the parties for whose benefit it shall be condemned, shall pay all such charges, but in case no condemnation takes place, then the inspector shall be entitled to the same for the inspection of weight, he is for quality, and no more. SEC. 2. Any manufacturer of flour, meal, or packer of meat, butter, lard, or any other article sold by weight, and packed, who shall undermark the tare upon any hogshead, cask, box, or barrel, or part thereof, or put therein a less quantity than marked or branded thereon, as specified by law, shall, for such offense, forfeit the hogshead, cask, box, or barrel, or parts thereof, and half the contents therein contained; one-fourth of the contents to go to the party injured, who shall prosecute for the same, together with such other damage he may sustain, and the other fourth to the poor of the township where the conviction is had, the balance to be accounted for to the miller or packer, who shall be notified by the inspector; but such forfeiture shall not take place, or conviction be had, when the light weight shall have been occasioned after leaving the manufacturer or packer, provided such packing is done according to law. EXTRACTS FROM THE RUSSIAN TARIFFS OF 1850 AND 1857. In connection with the leading article in the present number of the Merchants' Magazine, we subjoin a list containing some of the principal items, with the rates of the former and the present tariff. The Berlin correspondent of the London Times, July 4th, says that "such great expedition was used in bringing the new tariff into operation that merchants who had sent in their declarations previously, found on the 24th June, even before it had been published, their amounts of duty charged according to the new scale. Cotton goods are all reduced considerably, and in some cases to one-fourth of the former duty; linen, on the other hand, only to about a half." French, Italian, Spanish, Austrian, Hungarian, Moldavian, Wal 2 45 210 lachian, and Greek wines.. Still wines in bottles, (excepting Burgundy,) per bottle... Snuff, (rappee,) per lb..... Leather gloves and articles of chamois leather, per lb.... Printed linen, pure or mixed with cotton.. Cambric pocket handkerchiefs..... White cotton yarn.. Ditto, dyed.... Ditto, dyed red Ditto, from Adrianople. Cotton wadding. Cotton goods-viz., mescals, calico, jaconet, canvas, pique, &c., mixed goods, whether woven or embroidered, from... Iron, in 1 inch bars and rails, &c., old wrought iron, per lb*. Iron under 1 inch*... Sheet iron for boilers* Raw iron and old cast iron* 0 15 Broadcloth, small cloth, ladies' cloth, castor, and kerseymere, p lb. Raw sugar, which formerly paid from 3r. to 3r. 80c. per pound, is now lowered to 3r. and 2r.; refined sugar, formerly prohibited, now enters at 5r. and 4r. per pound; tobacco, in leaves, is reduced from 12r. to 6r. *Formerly prohibited. |