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Art. IV. — Trade and Commerce of St. Louis in 1853.

Continuing a plan adopted several years since in regard to the principal commercial cities in the Western and Southern parts of the Union, we are again able to present our readers with the history and statistics of the trade and Commerce of St. Louis for the year ending December 31st, 1853. In a paper which we prepared and published in the Merchants' Magazine for August, 1846, (vol. vi., pp. 162-171,) we gave a brief historical sketch of St. Louis, and its commercial and industrial progress, In March, 1851, (vol. xxiv., pp. 298-316,) we published the annual statement of the Missouri Republican, for the year ending December 31st, 1850; and in March, 1852, (vol. xxvi., pp. 306-325,) the statement for 1851, and again, last year, in April, 1853, (vol. xxviii., pp. 420-438,) a similar history and review for the year 1852. From Alfred Vinton, Esq., the President of the Chamber of Commerce of St. Louis, we have received in pamphlet form, the unusually elaborate annual review and statistics of the trade and Commerce of that city, as originally prepared for and published in the Missouri Republican. The business of St. Louis, as will be seen, "exhibits a gratifying increase over that of any other noticed for several years."

In the immense transactions of the year, involving diversified interests and embracing every department of industrial pursuits, requiring credit and means to an almost unlimited extent, it is gratifying to record the fact that the business men of St. Louis preserved their usual prudence and sagacity unimpaired, and added additional evidences to their high character for probity and honor. Not an instance that can at present be recurred to, throws a shade on the year's business — every promise was met, every reliance supported in good faith, and all the varied interests sub served upon principles of equity and fairness, calculated to impress other communities most favorably. In making these commendatory remarks, we do not design them to be confined to our citizens alone. Shippers to this port, from the various States adjoining, exhibited the same spirit, and perhaps no city and country of the same dimensions, enjoying a trade of similar character, can show less of misunderstanding between parties. Such mutual confidence cannot but result profitably; from such confidence will spring a continued prosperity, and to this will be attributed in the future, in a great degree, the regard this metropolis will enjoy when varied avenues shall have been opened to divert its trade.

Our city improvements are commensurate with the agricultural growth of the

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surrounding country. Commercial buildings have grown up during the year, which for finish and capacity exceed any other erections. Public edifices also adorn the city, devoted as well to secular as religious purposes, heretofore unsurpassed for dimensions and architectural beauty. The borders of the city are extended, and residences dot the eminences far beyond the old boundaries.

The past can show no corresponding period superior to the year just closed for general good health. Not the slightest epidemic prevailed, and our bills of mortality will compare well with the most favored locality in the whole length and breadth of the Union. This health continued during a heavy influx of population, the greater part of which passed through infected regions on the way to St. Louis. The city, too, throughout the year was crowded — scarce a house was tenantless, and it is safe to state, from observation, in the absence of any official data, that the population of St. Louis never was greater. It will appear, when the official census is taken in the spring that a large addition was made during the year to our population.

For the first time in the history of St. Louis we have the statistics and transactions of a railway to add to the river Commerce — and a flattering statement it will be found. The Pacific Railroad is now completed for a distance of only 40 miles. It runs this distance through a portion of country which has not, although contiguous to St. Louis, been brought under cultivation. Hardly a farm is to be observed along the whole route, while the present terminus is in a dense forest, and the facilities for gaining the depot are of the most primitive order. This step in the great line now already begun to connect the Mississippi with the Pacific — St. Louis with San Francisco — has over-paid the expenses of transportation more than ten thousand dollars! Such a result must convince the most incredulous of the importance as well as profit of these improvements. As this road shall progress, penetrating districts already well settled and highly cultivated, and as on either side of it, stimulated by the facilities offered to reach a market cheaply and expeditiously, the country becomes better populated and well improved, the business will, of course, be immeasurably enhanced, and at no distant day the receipts will equal those of one of our upper rivers.

The board of directors of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad announce that that work will be completed to Vincennes, on the Wabash, by next July. St. Louis has a right to expect from this road a heavy accession to her commercial resources. The route traverses a section of country which lies far removed from any navigable stream — too far to admit of land carriage on the products for which the soil and climate are best adapted — and this means of conveyance will, of course, fill up the country with an industrious population. For one hundred and seventy-five miles this road runs through the rich prairies and wood-lands of the opposite State, terminating this division of its course in the Wabash Valley, one of the richest agricultural sections in the whole West.

To show the business of the year, we compare the receipts of some of the leading articles, and give the increase and decrease as follows:

		1852.	1853.
				Increase.	Decrease.
Tobacco	hhds.	14,053	10,102		3,951
"	boxes.	12,386	10,528		1,858
Hemp	bls.	49,122	63,350	14,228
Lead	pigs.	409,314	442,218	32,904
Flour	bbls.	131,333	200,203	68,870
Wheat	bush.	1,591,886	2,077,427	485,541
Corn	sks.	344,720	459,192	114,472
Oats		323,081	464,062	140,981
Barley and malt		47,264	62,885	15,621
Pork	bbls. & trcs.	66,306	78,354	12,048
Lard		42,515	35,168		7,347
"	kgs., cns., &c.	11,815	16,889	5,074
Whisky	bbls.	46,446	51,207	4,761
Hides		97,148	101,440	4,292
Bagging	pcs.	3,650	2,326		1,324
Bale rope	coils	42,121	58,437	16,316

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Taking the business generally of the produce and grocery markets, the of the year just closed over the transactions of last, will range between three and five millions of dollars.

Exchanges. It is generally known that the main bases for exchange a products of the country. The exchanges act as a barometer, as regards and trade. When imports are not excessive and the exports fair, exchange rules' low; and, on the contrary, when the imports are heavy, exceeding the exports of the products of the country, the unhealthfulness of business, with indebtedness, are perceptible. An advance in exchanges, and a necessity for shipments of coin in large sums to liquidate balances and produce an equilibrium, result immediately. When this is effected a decline again takes place. Heavy shipments of corn to foreign countries will soon produce a reaction; but while this reaction is going on, a reaction is also taking place in the business of the country. A check is given to business, and a general system of contraction necessarily follows. The banks — while coin in large amounts is drawn from the vaults and shipped abroad — curtail their loans and discounts, which, if continued but for a short period, produces a stringency in the money market, impairs confidence and excites distrust in the solvency of the business community. This feeling is produced throughout the whole country, and affects all departments of trade. Therefore, every business man, who does not wish to be taken by surprise, should watch closely the course of the exchanges, and shape his transactions accordingly. We have only to look back a few months to observe the truth of the above. It is generally known that our foreign importations have been very heavy during the past year — greatly in excess of exports; as a necessary consequence foreign exchange advanced, and coin in large amounts was sent forward to liquidate the balance. This aspect of affairs alarmed the banking institutions on the sea board, and the result was a contraction and a curtailment of their loans and discounts, in New York alone, to the amount of fifteen millions, which produced a stringency in the money market and high rates of interest. It was almost impossible to convert long time paper into, money, which the importers had taken in payment of their goods, and this checked foreign importers from remitting, owing to their inability to raise money unless at ruinous rates of interest. This development exhibited the inflated and speculative business of the eastern cities, together with the country generally, and the dependence upon the banks for facilities. As the banks relaxed and extended their discounts and loans, coin began again to go forward, and foreign exchange advanced.

The same principle which governs and controls the exchanges of the eastern cities with foreign countries, likewise controls and governs the exchanges of the interior with the eastern and southern cities. Admitting the principle to hold good, and it will be perceived from the following ruling rates for exchange during the past year that the business of our city and the surrounding country has been, and is in a healthy and prosperous condition. The selling rates of exchange on the eastern cities and New Orleans have been as follows: —

	Eastern Cities.	New Orleans.		Eastern Cities.	New Orleans.
January	Par.	˝ Premium.	July	Par.	Par.
February	Par.	˝ Premium.	August	˝ Premium.	Par.
March	Par.	Par.	September	˝ Premium.	Par.
April	˝ Premium.	Par.	October	˝ Premium.	Par.
May	˝ Premium.	Par.	November	˝ Premium.	Par.
June	˝ Premium.	Par.	December	˝ Premium	Par.

The above quoted rates for eastern and New Orleans exchange denote that the exports of the products of the West were abundant to supply the demand, and the low rates at which it was sold also shows the healthfulness of the business of the West. The exchanges also denote the amount of business between the several cities. We estimate the amount of exchanges sold by the Bank of Missouri and private bankers, during the past year at not less than $38,000,000. This does not include the floating exchange, which the bank and bankers

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touch, but is of that description made and remitted by the merchants themselves. This class of exchange we estimate at not less than $4,000,000 additional. These estimates exhibit a great increase in the sales of exchange within the past two years. The Committee of the Chamber of Commerce in their report of January, 1852, in relation to the amount of exchanges sold in our city, remark as follows: "The amount of exchanges sold during the past year we estimate at twenty-two millions of dollars, the bank supplying two million of dollars, whilst the bankers afford the remaining twenty."

MONEY. At the commencement of the year 1853 our money market was very easy, and continued so during the spring and part of the summer months, and until the period referred to, when the New York city banks became alarmed at the large importations and the heavy indebtedness of the country, and the expected calls for large amounts of coin for shipment to Europe in payment of balances. The banks of the city immediately commenced curtailing, and in fifteen weeks they decreased their loans and discounts, as their weekly reports show fifteen millions of dollars. The banks of Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, also curtailed their discounts in a corresponding ratio. This curtailment produced a stringency in the money market there, and rates of interest ruled in the street from 1 ˝ to 2 per cent per month for good commercial paper. This tightness was immediately felt here, first by our private bankers, in the reduction and loss of their deposits, and the constant calls made upon them for money by their customers to meet obligations in the Atlantic cities — for the facilities heretofore extended had been necessarily cut off by the inability of their eastern friends to obtain the usual banking accommodations. There was a good demand for eastern exchange, and our private bankers' cash balances with their eastern correspondents were soon greatly reduced; and as their time paper, which all held in large sums, could not be used unless at the high current rate of interest, they were not in a position to grant the facilities asked. The results of the stringency has been to induce money from the country to be sent to St. Louis for investment, at the high rate of 1 to 1 ˝ per cent per month. It is generally the case that during the pork season large sums of money are needed to send into the country for investment in that article, which, as a general thing is not returned again, until the spring of the year. The old year just passed closed with a very tight and stringent money market and high rate of interest.

The lands in our immediate vicinity and throughout the western country have advanced within the past two years astonishingly, and enough to make the owners and occupants immensely wealthy. City property has advanced correspondingly, and as necessary consequence rents have also advanced. The prices of grain, and other products of the agriculturists of the West, have maintained and commanded high prices.

The several railroad companies, in the progress of completion in this State and Illinois, have expended many millions of capital for labor, materials, &c., upon them. We estimate the amount of expenditure on the several roads in the immediate vicinity of our city, and within the circuit of trade with us, at ten millions of dollars. The disbursement of this large sum, and the prospective facilities of the easy and cheap rates of transporting to market the products from that part of the country which has heretofore been uncultivated and unsettle, has cause the land to be readily sought after adjacent to the railroads, and the prices have therefore advanced amazingly, and far beyond the sanguine expectations of the projectors of the railroad companies.

The manufacturing establishments in our city have likewise added, and are continuing to add, greatly to its wealth. The capital required to put in operation these establishments is immense, and the labor demanded to conduct and carry on the business appertaining to them is surprising to those not familiar with them, and the money required to be paid out weekly by them for labor only, is likewise very great.

Manufacturing establishments tend greatly to enrich a city, and as necessary consequence the surround country. The necessaries demanded by the laborers

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in manufacturing establishments, create a home market for many articles of produce that would have to be sent to other cities for disposal.

We have a large stock trade with California, by the plains, the proceeds of which are returned to us in gold coin, and adds to the wealth of the West.

The emigrants from the Western States to California, a few years ago, are constantly returning, home with the gold they have dug out of the earth, and it is thus being disseminated throughout the Mississippi Valley.

The emigration from the Eastern and Middle States to the West continues large, and the foreign emigration heavy. We have no data by which to tell the aggregate amount of capital brought to the West by foreigners annually; but that item, doubtless, is immense. Those who do not bring any actual money, but a robust person, and ability to assist in developing the resources of the country, we look upon as actually adding to the wealth of the country.

The Bank of Missouri. We need hardly tell our readers that the Constitution restricts banking operations, by incorporated institutions, to one Bank and five branches. The Parent Bank is located in St. Louis, and the entire capital is about $1,200,000. One-half of this sum is allotted to the branches, and the other half constitutes the active capital of the Bank in this city. This, it will readily be conceded, is a very insufficient banking capital, but it has been used so as to assist vary materially the business of our citizens. On application in the proper quarter, we learn that the "Local Discounts," from January 1, 1853, to Dec. 3lst of the same year, amounted to $5,592,271 61; and the "Exchange purchased" for the same period was $6,343,433 08; making the total business of the Bank for the year, $11,935,704 69. This business has been done upon a capital of $600,000, and safely done. We may be allowed to say, that it shows good management on the part of the President and Directors, and an earnest desire to meet, as far as was in their power, the wants of the community. It will soon be a matter for the consideration of the people of the State, whether these facilities, as well as those which may have been extended by the branches, shall be withdrawn altogether, by a refusal of the Legislature to renew the charter of this Bank, or to create a new one in its stead, if this shall be deemed most advisable. The Constitution provides for a Bank and branches, the capital of which shall not exceed $5,000,000. All this, and more, is wanted for the commercial and business operations of the State, and this extent of capital ought not to be denied to us. We would prefer to see it divided among a number of Banks, so as to induce healthful competition, and to keep each other straight; but as this cannot be done, the use of all the capital provided for by the Constitution should be secured by legislative enactment. There is no city in the Union where money can be so well invested in Banks as St. Louis, as the dividends of our Banks for the past year will establish; and a good charter would insure the subscription of any amount of stock.

Hemp. The increase of receipts over last year, in this important staple, foot up about 14,324 bales, making an aggregate of 63,450, against 49,124 for 1852. When to this is added the enhanced rates at which the article ruled, (a considerable portion of the crop bringing as high as 20 per cent advance on the sales to the previous season,) a money balance in favor of the present year may safely be estimated at from $200,000 to $300,000. The following table shows the comparative prices of 1852 and 1853: —

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	1852.	1853.		1852.	1853.
January	$75 a $92	$90 a $108	July	72 a 85	95 a 120
February	75 a 90	100 a 116	August	68 a 87	100 a 119
March	60 a 85	95 a 112	September	83 a 91	105 a 122
April	60 a 75	85 a 103	October	88 a 100	110 a 127
May	62 a 78	92 a 112	November	92 a 100	105 a 130
June	72 a 82	80 a 105	December	88 a 107	119 a 130

Taking the lowest and highest figure of each year, it will be found that the advance for 1853 is considerably over 20 per cent, but as this method of computing relative values may not hold good, especially under the circumstances of the present case, we give the above sum, which, embracing as it does the increase in the receipts, estimated at $120 per ton, will hardly be considered over the mark — say three hundred thousand dollars.

At the close of 1852, the residue on the market, unsold, amount to 500 bales. This was gradually reduced during January, and about the middle of February the last hundred bales of this residue brought $116. As stated in our prefatory remarks, the rivers above were but temporarily obstructed by ice, and in January the first lot came forward from the Upper Mississippi, consisting of 38 bales, In February 547 bales were received from the Missouri, and 300 from the Mississippi. The good price at which the old stock closed out stimulated shippers, and receipts became heavy at an earlier day than usual. In March the Missouri sent out 8,000 bales, the Upper Mississippi 585, and the Illinois 103; and from this time until the close of August, shipments continued large. We give, for greater convenience, in this connection, a comparative statement of monthly receipts for the past two years:

	1852.	1853.		1852.	1853.
January	17	38	July	8,387	7,303
February	312	847	August	6,311	6,252
March	5,745	8,689	September	3,057	2,332
April	4,737	12,420	October	1,719	1,873
May	7,539	10,637	November	1,030	1,833
June	9,712	10,928	December	558	296
Total	49,124	63,448

The first lots from the Missouri, in February, brought from the levee $100 to $108, the demand good. In the beginning of March receipts very liberal for the season, and sales effected at $95 to $112. During the month the market was depressed in consequence of the difficulty in shipping from New Orleans to northern ports, and several consignments were stored. Added to this, orders from the Ohio, from the low price of baling stuffs, were limited to $90 and $95. A decline resulted, and at the close $87 to $95 were the ruling rates. In April the range from $87 to 103, the market inactive. But little change took place until the middle of May, when reported sales of large parcels of old hemp in New York at $130, depressed prices, and buyers obtained lots at $93 to $95. Subsequently an active demand from the Ohio river enabled holders to realize an advance of $3 to $5 per ton, and the month closed with the market firm — stock in warehouse at the time about 5,000 bales. On the first of June, sales ranged from $86 to $100. About the 4th, several large parcels were on the levee, consigned to farmers; they remained there day after day, and at length went off at a decline — say $94 to $96. Low prices prevailed the balance of the month — lots of good to prime commanding only from $86 to $93 — resulting from the accumulated and increasing stock on the market and exorbitant freight charges to the Ohio River. By the beginning of the ensuing month (July) prices were enhanced by a reported failure of the Kentucky crop. Several buyers from that State came in and took two or three hundred tons at from $92 to $100, on speculation. A farther advance was produced by an apprehended disturbance between Russian and Turkey, and prices reached $100 to $112 by the 15th. On the 25th sales were made at $115 to $117, and on the 28th a lot of strictly

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prime (the result of a little excitement between purchasers) brought $120. After this, a pause ensued for a week or two; but events leading to the belief of a further advance had already transpired, and subsequent transactions show the result. In August the range was $100 to $119, September $105 to $122, October $110 to $127, November $105 to $130, and December principally at $122 to $128. The year closes with between 1,500 and 1,600 bales in warehouse unsold, and holders firm at last quotations.

In last year's report, speaking of the crop then preparing for market, we observed, "It is represented throughout the State as fully an average one as regards quantity and as respects texture is said to be very superior." This representation proved fully correct. The quantity was above the average, and the quality met the anticipations of all.

Bale-rope and Bagging. In addition to the increase in the receipts of hemp this season as compared with last, and the enhanced prices of the article, making a money difference in the operations of the two years, of a quarter of a million and more, as already mentioned, the item of bale-rope comes in to swell the amount to a still greater extent. Receipts this year foot up 58,437 coils, against 41,674 last, showing a difference of 16,763 coils. This difference, at the ruling market rates, gives the sum of $17,000; and when to this is added the advance on the whole receipts, over the prices of the preceding year, a cash increase on operations sums up $60,000. Sales during the year were unusually large. Many Southern orders heretofore sent to the Ohio river, were filled at this point — our market offering equal inducement as far as quality is concerned, and superior claim to the consideration of buyers as regards cheaper transportation. Sales ranged from 6 a 6 ž, the larger portion at 6 ź a 6 ˝; last year 4 ž a 5 ˝ were the ruling rates. The heavy advance in hemp, of course, led to this result. As well as we can ascertain, the quantity manufactured in St. Louis amounts to from 14,000 to 15,000 coils — of this the Lowell Factory, in the northern part of the city, turned out 11,000, the greater part of which found sale in this market. Missouri rope gained its standard the past season for excellence of quality, and was eagerly sought by Southern buyers. Our manufacturers have certainly equal opportunities to compete successfully with others, and superior advantages in the procurement of the raw material. The demand for Missouri hemp on the Ohio river is yearly becoming greater, owing to the heavy establishments in operation there, and still increasing, in this line of business, as well as in that of hackling hemp for the Northern markets; and if these can bear an extra charge of transportation, there is nothing to prevent entire success in this State.

R. W. S. Allen, of Kentucky, and J. H. Alexander & Co., McClelland, Scruggs & Co., and Douglass & Bier, of St. Louis, have purchased of W. A. Richardson, of Louisville, the Perry and Slaughter Patent for making bale-rope and hackling hemp. The right includes the whole of Missouri and the western half of Illinois. Operations will be commenced about the first of April, with machinery sufficient to turn out 100 coils rope and three tons hackled hemp per day. The annual consumption of hemp will be from two to three thousand tons. The intention now is to increase the quantity of machinery during the year, The cost of patent and machinery alone is about $30,000.

We give the prices of the year, embracing Nos. 1 and 2, as follows: —

January	$5 75 a ...	July	$5 75 a 6 50
February	5 75 a 6 25	August	6 25 a 6 50
March	6 00 a 6 50	September	6 25 a 6 75
April	6 00 a 6 50	October	6 50 a 6 75
May	5 50 a 6 25	November	6 50 a 7 00
June	5 50 a 6 50	December	6 50 a 6 75

We believe the entire operations in this department, outside of St. Louis, in this section of country, are confined to the Penitentiaries of Illinois and Missouri. The supply, therefore, is by no means equal to the demand. This difficulty will now be likely met. J. L. Blaine, of St. Louis, erected an establishment during the past summer in this city, which is now in successful operation. With new

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machinery, and the delays and impediments attendant upon an enterprise of the kind, he has already manufactured 100,000 yards. The experiment will prove a successful one, no doubt, the proprietor being experienced in the business. Those throughout the country, therefore, who require bagging, will remember that a manufactory is now established in St. Louis.

Tobacco. Receipts this year show an aggregate of 10,198 hhds., less by 3,855 than those of 1852. Sales at the warehouses (Planters' and State) stand thus: planters, 3,451; State, 1,895 — less than last year, 2,741. The following table exhibits the operations at the two houses for eight years past: —

	Planters.	State Warehouse.
1846	2,573	971
1847	3,854	1,235
1848	3,184	1,083
1849	4,982	867
1850	4,169	62
1851	4,195	796
1852	5,776	2,311
1853	3,451	1,895

This staple alone, we believe, of all the agricultural products of the country, shows an important deficit. The cause is to be traced to the limited attention it received from the regular as well as irregular planters. Other articles, at the time of planting, bore more remunerative prices, and to such the labor of the farmer was principally directed.

We believe, however, that the sales at the warehouses in St. Louis, for the year just closed, realized nearly, if not quite as much money as those of 1852. With the deficit given, and the range of prices for the two seasons as shown in the following statement, the cash receipts, relatively, may be understood with sufficient certainty: —

RANGE OF PRICES FOR 1852.

	Lugs, factory.	Planters' do	Leaf, infer. to common.	Fair to fine	Choice and selected	Manufacturing
January		2 a 2 ˝	2 ˝ a 3	3 a 4	4 a 5
February		2 a 2 ˝	2 ˝ a 3	3 a 4	4 a 5
March		2 ź a 2 ž	2 ž a 3 ź	3 ź a 4	4 a 5	5 a 6
April	2 ź a 2 ˝	2 ˝ a 3	3 a 3 ˝	3 ˝ a 4	4 a 5	5 a 9
May	2 ź a 2 ˝	2 ˝ a 3	3 a 3 ˝	3 ˝ a 4	4 a 5	5 a 15
June	2 ž a 3	3 a 3 ˝	3 ˝ a 3 ž	3 ž a 4	4 a 5	6 a 15
July	2 ž a 3	3 a 3 ˝	3 ˝ a 3 ž	3 ž a 4	4 a 5	6 a 15
August	3 a 3 ˝	3 ˝ a 4	4 a 4 ž	5 a 5 ž	5 ž a 6 ˝	6 a 15
September	3 ˝ a 4 ź	4 a 4 ˝	4 ˝ a 5	5 a 5 ź	5 ź a 5 ž	6 a 15
October	3 ˝ a 4	4 a 4 ˝	4 ˝ a 5	5 a 5 ź	5 ź a 5 ž	6 a 12
November	3 ˝ a 3 ž	3 ž a 4 ź	4 ˝ a 4 ž	4 ž a 5	5 a 5 ź	6 a 12
December			3 ž a 4	4 a 4 ˝	4 ˝ a 4 ž	6 a 12

RANGE OF PRICES FOR 1853.

	Lugs.	Seconds.	Fair to fine shipping.	Manufacturing.
January	$ 3 00 a $4 00	$4 00 a $4 50	$4 75 a $5 50	$8 00 a $10 00
February	3 60 a 3 95
March	3 50 a 4 00	4 25 a 4 80		5 55 a 6 00
April	3 50 a 4 75	4 60 a 5 50	5 75 a 6 50	6 00 a 10 00
May	4 25 a 5 15	5 00 a 5 60	5 75 a 7 00	6 00 a 11 50
June	3 75 a 4 75	4 80 a 5 25	5 50 a 6 75	6 00 a 13 00
July	4 50 a 5 60	5 00 a 6 00	6 00 a 8 50	6 50 a 16 00
August	4 75 a 5 60	5 50 a 6 50	6 25 a 8 25	7 00 a 15 00
September	4 75 a 5 65	5 50 a 6 50	6 50 a 8 00
October	5 00 a 5 75	5 75 a 6 75	7 00 a 8 50
November	4 65 a 5 50

The statement is taken from actual sales. Lugs are quoted from common shipping to manufacturing, and so with seconds. Manufacturing leaf would have brought the extreme price for the same quality at any time to the close.

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In May, 1853, it was generally understood that the growing crop in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri, would prove at least one-third short of that of the preceding season. This stimulated the market — speculators came in bought freely, and prices rose in consequence to very high figures. The expectation of a short crop will be realized, but subsequent events have, in a great measure, neutralized the effects the deficit was calculated to produce. High freights, monetary difficulties, together with European disturbances, have limited the demand. Perhaps 1,000 hogsheads purchased on speculation, are still in store in this city. The quality of the crop was good — fully an average — about one-half lugs, the other half shipping and manufacturing, in the usual proportions. Taking the above tables of the prices of the two years, and estimating a hogshead of lugs at 1,600 pounds net, shipping at 1,500, and manufacturing at 1,200, it will be found that the money derived from the crop just closed out (although deficient 2,741 hogsheads,) will nearly equal the sum obtained for that of the preceding season.

Of the amount received, 8,084 hogsheads came from the Missouri, 1,972 from the Mississippi, 5 from the Illinois, 47 from the Ohio, by the Pacific Railroad 48,

Lead. The product of the Upper Mississippi Mines for the year just closed exhibits but a slight increase on that of 1852 — say 17,186 pigs, equal to 1,203,020 pounds.

The following statistics have been furnished by a gentleman of Galena, who is intimately acquainted with this branch of business. They embrace the amounts produced for twelve years past, from 1842 to 1853, inclusive, together with the entire shipments per river and lakes: —

STATISTICS OF THE LEAD TRADE OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI

	Pigs produced	Equal to pounds	Price 1,000 lbs. minerals.	Price 100 lbs. lead.	Value at Galena
Years.
1842	447,909	31,353,630	$12 85	$2 24	$702,321 31
1843	559,261	39,148,270	12 60	2 34	916,069 51
1844	624,672	43,727,040	16 88	2 80	1,224,357 12
1845	778,798	54,494,860	17 67	2 96	1,613,047 88
1846	732,403	51,268,210	17 33	2 89	1,481,651 26
1847	772,656	54,085,920	19 16	3 17	1,714,523 68
1848	681,969	47,737,830	19 82	3 24	1,546,705 69
1849	628,934	44,025,380	22 18	3 67	1,615,731 44
1850	568,589	39,801,230	24 10	4 20	1,671,651 66
1851	474,115	33,188,050	25 51	4 08	1,354,062 44
1852	408,628	28,603,960	25 87	4 12	1,178,483 05
1853	425,814	29,806,980	34 41	5 50	1,639,383 90
Total	7,103,448	497,241,360			16,657,988 94

SHIPMENTS OF LEAD FROM THE UPPER MINES DURING THE SEASON OF 1853, FROM MARCH 21ST TO DECEMBER 1ST

Ports from whence shipped.
Shipped via the river,	Pigs.	Pounds.	Value.
From Galena	318,543	22,298,010	$1,226,340 55
Dubuque	43,852	3,069,640	168,830 20
Potosi	23,086	1,616,020	88,881 10
Cassville	14,186	993,020	54,616 10
Buena Vista	2,676	187,320	10,352 60
Shipped via the lakes	23,471	1,642,970	90,363 35
Totals.	425,814	29,806,980	$1,639,383 90

The receipts at this port, as given in our general table, aggregate 441,889 pigs against 409,314 last year. Of this, 5,315 came from the Missouri, and the balance from the Upper and Lower Mississippi. The Galena table gives the quantity shipped per river at 402,343 — deduct from this the Missouri receipts, and the balance, it is fair to suppose, came from the lower mines — say 34,231 pigs.

451

Prices are advancing each year, as will be observed by the general statement furnished above. That statement has reference to Galena rates. At this point they are relatively as progressive. In our last annual report we gave a running account of the prices for 1852, as follows: From the first of January to near the close of March $4 25 was the rate, when it fell to $4 20, and at the commencement of April declined to $4 10; about the middle of April it rose to $4 15, and continued to rise gradually until the latter part of May, when it attained $4 50; from this time until the last of June it alternately stood at $4 45 and $4 50, and in July fell to $ 35 and $4 30, and thus remained until the middle of August, when it ruled at $4 40; in the early part of September a permanent advance commenced, and at the close $4 50 was reached, which was held until the middle of November, when it went up to $4 75; during the early part of December it ruled firmly at $4 87 ˝, and towards the middle at $5, at the close $5 25, at which price our report closed, noticing a decided upward tendency.

We give herewith, in a briefer from, the ruling prices of 1851 and the year just closed: —

	1851.		1853.
January	$4 37 ˝ to	$4 40	$5 50 to	$5 75
February	4 37 ˝	4 40	6 00	6 75
March	4 40	4 45	6 50	7 00
April	4 25	4 35	5 50	6 00
May	4 15	4 20	6 05	6 50
June	4 25	4 30	5 40	6 10
July	4 25	4 30	5 35	5 50
August	4 25	4 35	5 30	5 35
September	4 20		5 35	5 87 ˝
October	4 05	4 10	6 00	6 50
November	4 12 ˝	4 50	6 35	6 50
December	4 25	4 30	6 35	6 37 ˝

However slight the increase this year, it is important as showing the first symptom of a favorable reaction noticed for several years. In 1847 the trade exceeded that of the preceding year, (1846,) but since that period the decline has not been gradual, but rapid, falling from 772,656 pigs, in 1847, to 408,628, in 1852. This season this decline was arrested, and it is reasonable to suppose the trade will return to its former magnitude. The causes to which these effects Were traced are becoming less powerful. Mining in California is losing now the attractions it at first wore, and emigration to that region does not swell its ranks, as formerly, with the most enterprising men engaged in the Upper Mississippi lead mines. Remunerative prices, too, will induce a more thorough and extensive system of working; shafts will be sunk below the water level in the small beds of rock; a general interest will be taken by all classes for increasing the product, as well those who work for wages as others, by reason of increased prices; the proper machinery for draining will be procured, and capital and knowledge employed for a better and more extensive prosecution of the business. At the prices which now rule, a marked improvement in this branch of industry may be fully anticipated.

As regards operations at the Lower Mines, we regret that no data has been furnished on which to base a reliable statement.

FLOUR. Transactions in flour, as per table, will be found far in advance of those of last year — say 68,870 bbls., to which must be added 3,393 sks., equal to 1,700 bbls. — making the difference between the two years 70,570 bbls. Total aggregate of receipts per river, 200,203 bbls., and 3,393 sks.; last year 131,333 bbls. Of these receipts, 45,131 bbls. came from the Illinois River, 9,264 do. and 798 sks. from the Missouri, 2,090 do. and 36 sks. by Ohio boats, 143,718 do. And 2,530 sks. from the Mississippi.

Scarcity of cooperage during a portion of the season compelled shipments to be made in bags. So much for the river. Below will be found a comparative statement of the manufacture of flour by St. Louis mills for three years past: —

452

	1851.	1852.	1853.		1851.	1852.	1853.
Nopantum	18,518	6,000		Chouteau	9,700	2,100
Atlantic	27,263	41,284	49,300	Park	32,000	33,323	38,965
Phenix	5,284	6,560	7,500	Washington	13,500	15,000
O'Fallon	12,356	16,943	18,700	Franklin	12,160	16,000	24,500
Pacific	39,760	10,000	15,600	Union	23,909	33,000	39,500
Magnolia	16,300			Missouri	4,873	31,200	42,000
Eagle	31,700	28,564	30,750	Cherry-street	9,000	800	21,000
Saxony	16,700	10,600	12,500	United States	46,000	59,000	55,000
Empire	35,043	5,000	33,350		_______	_______	_______
Star	14,833	38,000	19,800		480,099	383,184	457,076
Planters'	38,200	29,810	48,881

Receipts per wagons, as far as ascertained, aggregate 80,220 bbls., swelling the total brought to and manufactured in St. Louis for 1853, to 737,500. This as before observed, is largely in advance of last year's operations; the amount nearly reaches the trade of 1848.

Last year closed with country superfine at $4 50, and city brands superfine nominally at $4 75 to $5. The following table shows the range for 1851 and 1852: —

	1851.	1852.		1851.	1852.
Jan.	$3 87 ˝ a 4 50	$3 75 a 4 00	July	$3 75 a 4 50	$3 25 a 3 35
Feb.	3 75 a 4 60	3 75 a 3 87 ˝	Aug.	3 75 a 4 50	3 60 a 3 65
March.	3 60 a 4 50	3 65 a 3 75	Sept.	3 60 a 4 37	3 35 a 3 50
April.	3 50 a 4 50	3 50 a 3 75	Oct.	3 50 a 4 50	3 40 a 3 60
May.	3 50 a 4 50	3 55 a 4 75	Nov.	3 40 a 4 50	3 65 a 3 90
June.	3 60 a 4 50	3 75 a 4 00	Dec.	3 75 a 4 75	4 00 a 4 50

The range for the year just closed, (1853,) compiled from our semi-weekly reviews, predicated on actual sales, is as follows: —

	City superfine.	Country superfine.	City extra.	Country extra.
January	$4 62 ˝ to $4 80	4 35 to 4 75	5 00 to . . .	4 75 to 5 00
February	4 10 to 4 37 ˝	4 00 to 4 25	. . . to . . .	4 75 to 5 00
March	3 80 to 4 00	3 55 to 4 00	4 75 to . . .	4 20 to 4 75
April	3 80 to 4 00	3 75 to 3 90	4 75 to 5 00	4 25 to 4 50
May	3 85 to 4 25	3 75 to 4 15	4 75 to 5 00	4 37 ˝ to 4 75
June	3 90 to 4 12 ˝	3 75 to 4 10	4 50 to 5 25	4 25 to 4 50
July	4 25 to 5 00	4 00 to 4 70	4 75 to 5 25	4 50 to 5 00
August	4 50 to 5 25	4 25 to 5 00	5 50 to 5 75	4 50 to 5 12 ˝
September	. . . to . . .	4 15 to 4 75	. . . to . . .	4 75 to 5 25
October	5 50 to 6 00	5 00 to 5 80	6 00 to 6 50	5 50 to 6 12 ˝
November	5 75 to 6 00	5 50 to 5 75	6 25 to 6 50	5 75 to 6 00
December	5 50 to 6 00	5 25 to 6 00	6 00 to 6 50	5 75 to 6 25

Occasional fluctuations are observable, but a steady advance has distinguished the market since May. Intelligence of short crops in Europe was at first exceedingly contradictory, at one time raising and at another depressing prices, and this will account for the variableness, to some extent, which the history of the season sets forth. After the fact was established that a heavy deficit marked the European supply, impediments were presented at home in the way of low waters, and consequent high freights, made still more formidable by a terrible epidemic at New Orleans, and thus were continued, until the close of the year, the shades of difference which rates show. That a demand exists in England and on the continent for the whole American surplus, is hardly now questioned; and it is not probable, under such circumstances, that flour can fail below closing rates until the coming harvest.

For a greater portion of the summer the Ohio River was too low for navigation, and the Southern demand drew its supplies almost entirely from this section. This sustained the market materially under the high transportation charges which ruled at the time, and the depression occasioned by the yellow fever.

453

The latest steamer from Europe brings favorable news. Previous advices, during the month just closed, had a depressing effect, two consecutive arrivals having announced a decline. This, with high freights, checked speculation to a considerable extent, and rates went down to $5 25 for superfine inspected. St. Louis brands maintain their high reputation. Coast orders are generally filled by these qualities. The coast trade is steadily on the increase, deserving the attention of our business men, and will doubtless elicit an interest commensurate with its increasing importance. On the market, at the close, 130,000 bushels wheat and 40,000 barrels flour.

Wheat. Good crops and a heavy demand have this year brought forward a much larger amount than last year's statistics show — the increase approaches half a million of bushels. Total amount of receipts per river foot up 1,007,467 sks. and 17,267 bbls. Estimating a sack at 2, and a barrel at 3˝ bushels, the result is 2,072,491 bushels. Last year's receipts, 1,663,422; difference, 409,069. The Illinois River sent out this season 455.375 sks. and 13,412 bbls., the Missouri 104,917 sks. and 529 bbls. The Mississippi, 436,937 sks. and 2,139 bbls. Ohio River boats brought, (from the Wabash, we presume, principally,) 10,238 sks. and 1,187 bbls. In 1847 and 1848 receipts were 2,432,377 and 2,194,780 bushels respectively. Since then, until arrested this year, trade in this grain has shown a falling off. We give the statement, commencing with 1846: —

1846.	1847.	1848.	1849.	1850.	1851.	1852.	1853.
1,838,925	2,432,377	2,194,786	1,792,535	1,900,088	1,700,708	1,663,422	2,068,893

It is generally conceded that the growing crop bids fair to be a good one — more than an average. Should the present European disturbances continue and become more widely spread, supplies will be drawn liberally from this country without a doubt, and the transactions of 1854 will equal, perhaps exceed to a considerable extent, those of the year just terminated. At any rate, the country will have been stripped of its surplus, and the new crop will have nothing in this way to contend with. Although the navigation of the upper streams was suspended by ice several days in the past month, the receipts for the fractional portion of December aggregate a large amount, showing that the supplies above are not yet exhausted. Remunerative prices justify an extensive land carriage, and sections remote from navigable rivers, under this influence, contribute large additions to the market.

The new crop came forward in good time; the first samples commanded from $l to $1 05. During the season large orders were received on foreign account; they were promptly filled in several instances, embracing the best qualities, at from 115 to 125c. including sacks. Buyers were limited, and the temporary depressions in the market enabled them to obtain suitable lots at the requited figures. The year closes with an unusually light stock in the hands of millers, and in store — say 130,000 bushels.

Herewith will bo-found a monthly statement of receipts in sacks and barrels for1852 and 1853: —

	1852.		1853.
	Sacks.	bbls.	Sacks.	bbls.
January	17,190	58	60,319	2,270
February	70,428	1,546	43,044	2,456
March	102,140	1,826	60,181	1,874
April	94,914	1,725	79,186	2,052
May	58,736	1,878	87,225	898
June	63,089	2,397	84,906	1,051
July	44,799	863	88,051	1,079
August	51,237	375	90,291	482
September	61,772	2,316	72,332	962
October	74,259	1,452	107,354	636
November	104,661	1,783	116,816	1,123
December	58,703	1,651	119,483	2,384
Total	801,928	17,870	1,009,188	17,267

454

RULING RATES OF THE MARKET FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, EMBRACING THE HIGHEST AND LOWEST SALES: —

	1851.		1852.		1853.			1851.		1852.		1853.
Jan.	75 to	80	70 to	85	85 to	100	July.	65 to	80	65 to	70	50 to	105
Feb.	70	80	62	85	65	90	Aug.	70	80	62	79	65	94
March.	70	90	65	80	64	95	Sept.	60	70	69	75	63	100
April.	60	80	55	80	50	90	Oct.	70	76	70	75	75	125
May.	70	85	70	81	60	105	Nov.	70	75	65	75	75	120
June.	65	78	75	82	55	105	Dec.	75	82	85	100	85	125

From the above table it will be observed that prices ruled much higher for 1853 than for the two preceding years. In making the money difference between the transactions of the three seasons, therefore, the result in favor of the year just closed becomes more apparent. The lowest figures for 1853 were for a comparatively small amount; good and prime red commanded steadily, on an average, the last six months, from 100 to 110c. per bushel, and white 101 to 125c.

Corn. Our table of receipts shows an increase this year over last of 114,472 sacks. The total amount is 459,192 sacks, against 344,720 for 1852. Of this the Illinois River furnished 163,813, the Missouri 31,378, the Mississippi, 264,001. The following statement exhibits the monthly receipts for the two years mentioned: —

	1852.	1853.		1852.	1853.
January		17,310	July	33,003	56,648
February	30,031	14,074	August	17,160	74,838
March	53,502	27,211	September	7,324	35,322
April	54,487	43,785	October	9,791	24,496
May	42,397	51,084	November	22,057	21,541
June	58,093	64,395	December	16,875	30,488
Total	344,720	459,192

For the sake of convenience we give in this connection the range of prices for three years past: —

	1851.		1852.		1853.			1851.		1852.		1853.
Jan.	44 to	48 c.	38 to	41 c.	35 to	45 c.	July.	38 to	43 c.	35 to	48 c.	36 to	58 c.
Feb.	41	46	30	42	32	39	August.	35	40	40	45	39	61
March	35	40	32	37	31	37	Sept.	33	38	40	45	39	50
April.	35	40	33	36	30	42	October	35	40	40	45	38	54
May.	34	38	30	43	35	44	Nov.	31	36	43	50	37 ˝	46
June.	33	36	35	44	37	48	Dec.	35	40	41	43	34	44

It will be observed that prices for 1853 ruled generally higher throughout the entire year, with the exception of December. Operations would, without doubt, have been on a more extended scale, but for the impediments of which we have already spoken in another place, viz., low water, and the epidemic below, with consequent high freights. In August freights attained to 40c. per sack, while previous to that they ranged from 12 ˝ to 25. Shipments became limited, as rates below afforded no margin for profits, and with the want of a general supply at New Orleans, and the prevailing sickness, the usual orders to that port were transferred, and the trade became dull. This dullness continued to the close, and holders here stored for a better time. During the season a good demand sprung up on the Ohio River. Distillers in that section bought heavy lots, and by this means, to some extent, the trade was enlarged, and prices maintained, as shown in the above tables.

Oats. This grain also shows a heavy increase on the receipts of l852 — say over 141,000 sacks. Annexed are the monthly statements for the two seasons: —

455

	1852.	1853.		1852.	1853.
January	873	13,369	July	35,389	28,937
February	12,650	16,295	August	36,338	48,555
March	12,612	23,891	September	15,275	40,603
April	40,736	40,343	October	20,803	45,195
May	52,112	42,129	November	27,866	61,990
June	56,621	47,994	December	10,735	54,458
Total	322,110	463,760

Leaving a balance in favor of the year just expired of 141,750 sacks. The Illinois contributed to this aggregate 121,939 sacks, the Missouri, 3,910, the Mississippi 337,820, and 93 sacks came by Ohio River boats. We append a table exhibiting the range of prices for three years past: —

	1851.		1852.		1853.			1851.		1852.		1853.
Jan.	45 to	50 c.	29 to	30 c.	36 to	43 c.	July.	3 to	31 c.	30 to	32 c.	34 to	41 c.
Feb.	52	53	22	26	30	37	August.	25	26	25	29	29	40
March.	45	47	22	26	31	36	Sept.	26	27	28	29	30	34
April.	36	40	24	27	32	35	Oct.	25	26	31	41	31	39
May.	35	37	26	29	33	38	Nov.	26	27	31	41	35	40
June.	31	33	29	30	32	39	Dec.	30	32	41	42	34 ˝	37 ˝

Prices improved, it will be observed, with the accession of supplies, ranging above the general rates of both preceding years. A light demand came from the Ohio River, and some shipments were made in that direction. High freights with the prostration of business of the South during the summer months, affected oats materially, but for which these transactions would have been much larger.

Barley. A monthly exhibit of the amount of this grain received for the two past years, although the article adds comparatively little to the Commerce of the city, may not be uninteresting: —

	1852.	1853.		1852.	1853.
January	594	5,220	July	584	322
February	903	676	August	2,355	1,965
March	6,500	3,830	September	5,139	6,148
April	5,427	17,986	October	4,653	4,693
May	2,807	7,934	November	12,023	7,723
June	376	2,254	December	4,470	3,281
Total				45,831	62,032

Showing a difference in favor of the year just closed of 16,201 sacks. Of the amount received, the Illinois River furnished 2,572 sacks, the Missouri 226, the Ohio, 6,221, the Mississippi 53,013. The soil and climate of Iowa are well adapted to the cultivation of barley, and hence the comparatively large receipts from the Upper Mississippi. During the year, an impetus was given to the article by the purchase of large lots for the New York market, and prices advanced from the low rates ruling at the time.

Subjoined will be noticed the ruling monthly prices for the year 1853; the prices of 1852 were not given in the last annual report: —

1853.

January	50 to	58	July	38 to	45
February	50		August	50	55
March	45	46	September	47	55
April	30	50	October	47	55
May	37 ˝	40	November	60	62 ˝
June	37 ˝	45 ˝	December	58	60

Our city manufacturers are not able as yet, it appears, to appropriate the stock which reaches this market, limited as it is. Large lots of receipts this year were shipped to New York, and it seems the Ohio furnished us over 6,221 sacks of barley, and 10,000 bbls. ale.

RYE. The table of monthly receipts herewith given shows a large increase in this cereal also: —

456

		1853.			1853.
January	sacks.	49	July	sacks.	713
February		59	August		2,109
March		938	September		1,335
April		1,882	October		1,380
May		2,560	November		1,273
June		2,017	December		432
Total					17,747

Of this amount, 797 sacks came by the Illinois River, 120 by the Missouri, 42 by the Ohio, and the balance, 13,788, by the Mississippi. Last year (1852) receipts were stated at 6,904 bushels. According to this, the year just closed has more than quadrupled the amount; and rye, in the way of accession, comparatively, is in advance of other grains.

We give the monthly prices, taken from actual transactions during the year:--

	1853.			1853.
January	40 to	50	July	50 to	54
February	45		August	45	50
March	50	55	September	46	43
April	47	55	October	50	53
May	50	55	November	55	60
June	50	62	December	48	58

Last year (1852) the range was from 48 to 55. With the greater difference, therefore, in supplies, rates were much higher during the season just closed.

Bran. We refer to the general table of receipts for the amount of this article brought forward, per river, during the year just ended. No data is preserved by which to institute a comparison with the business of former years; but from the increase in flour already noticed for 1853, it may be supposed a corresponding increase was also effected in bran.

The ruling monthly prices for the year will be found in the following table: —

	1853.			1853.
January	65 to	70	July	67 ˝ to	73
February	55	70	August	50	70
March	55	60	September	46	55
April	65		October	54	68
May			November	62 ˝	70
June	65	75	December	62 ˝	75

The above prices are per 100 lbs., including sacks. No sale during the month of May is to be found in our reviews of the market.

Provisions and Lard. Operations in this department of trade do not show so favorably for the year just closed as those in others already noticed. Farmers realized high prices for their hogs, but buyers generally sunk money on the products. The history of the season's transactions is a very plain one, and can be given in few words.

A prevalent opinion was entertained at the opening, that the stock of hogs in the country did not exceed to any great extent the amount of the previous year, and that this excess would be counterbalanced by a deficiency in weight, supposed to exist, of some 10 to 15 per cent. The result showed an increase of 480,000 hogs, with a deduction of only 5 per cent for light weight — equal to a difference, as compared with the crop of 1851-2, of 380,000 head. The number packed in the following different States, for the two past seasons, is thus given by the Cincinnati Price Current: —

		1851-2.	1852-3.			1851-2.	1852-3.
Ohio	No.	547,373	603,152	Illinois	No.	231,519	324,850
Indiana		447,352	590,945	Iowa		40,500	52,850
Kentucky		205,600	338,200	Missouri		69,436	87.200
Tennessee		10,000	36,500	Michigan		10,800	10,400
Total						1,562,580	2,044,097

457

Hogs. Prices, at the beginning, opened at $4 75 to $5, and by the 1st of December reached $6; from this they gradually rose to $6 10, $6 25, $6 30, and $6 40, and the year (1852) closed with rates as high as $6 50. Mess pork, which had ruled high from June to October, (say $18 to $20 per bbl.,) encountered a temporary check in the latter month, but rallied again to its highest price about the beginning of the packing season, and closed out briskly and firmly at this figure. This gave an impulse to the speculative feeling abroad, which was further stimulated by an unprecedented Eastern demand for green meats. Buyers from the Atlantic cities operated largely. They purchased the products at an advance on the price of hogs, and by this means the rates were buoyed up and sustained. It is hardly necessary to say that all these eastern speculators were more or less injured by such operations, and many of them ruined. Several lots of meat purchased by them in this market, were subsequently resold here at a loss of 25 to 30 per cent. As soon as this demand subsided, a general panic pervaded the market, and prices toppled lower and lower, as the range given in our tabular statement will show. Several operators at this point, as well as elsewhere, made purchases at the early decline, for the purpose of grading the cost of their stock to a saving point; but they only became the more deeply involved in their struggle at extrication, and finally wound up with a net loss of about 33 per cent. The money lost, however, remained in the country — in the hands of the agriculturists.

The present season commenced under entirely different circumstances from those that marked the opening of the last. Operators had just emerged from disastrous transactions — the hog crop was believed to be large — old meats closed out at a decline, with a dull market, and money was difficult to obtain. To this time these considerations still have weight. Buyers have been unwilling, so far, to pay over $4 net, and but few lots have commanded higher rates. Sellers were and are still, in a great many instances, unwilling to submit to this price, and the number of hogs killed is not equal to that of last year at the same time. This effect is apparent in many other places. Business this season may equal that of last, (60,000 head,) but to go beyond this to any extent will require no little activity during the lime yet remaining for operations.

For future reference, we give the amounts packed at the different prominent points in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri: —

ILLINOIS.

	1851-2.	1852-3.		1851-2.	1852-3.
Shawncetown	4,000	16,000	Barry	3,400	3,500
Beardstown	24,400	37,700	Pittsfield	1,500	2,000
Knoxville	650	200	Perry	4,276	5,173
Quincy	17,500	15,000	Locon	11,350	6,500
Lawrenceville	1,100	2,650	Henry	600	4,000
Naples	2,880	1,157	Peoria	17,000	38,000
Exeter	1,400	600	Rushville	2,600	2,750
Macomb	3,000	3,900	Frederick	1,200	1,500
Blandinville	1,100	500	Springfield	10,000	22,000
Middletown	600	none.	Lagrange	1,930	2,500
Alton	25,000	27,000	Oquawka	6,500	5,300
Ottawa	1,355	1,344	Warsaw and Hamilton	3,500	7,000
Pekin	16,000	10,000
Graysville	2,990	5,456	Monmouth	7,967	8,400
Albion	3,000	2,200	Galena	5,000	6,000
Phillipstown	900	600	meredosia	5,257	2,000
Canton	8,378	8,361	Peru	1,400	3,000
Rockport	2,678	2,965	Fulton County	17,100	18,100
New Canton	none.	1,500	Chicago	13,000	50,000
Total	231,569	324,856

458

IOWA.

	1851-2.	1852-3.		1851-2.	1852-3.
Dubuque	5,800	7,500	Iowa City	4,000	5,500
Muscatine	8,000	13,000	Fort Madison	500	4,500
Davenport	2,000	3,000	Burlington	11,000	6,000
Keokuk	10,000	14,000
Total	40,500	53,500

MISSOURI.

	1851-2.	1852-3.		1851-2.	1852-3.
St. Louis	47,000	60,000	Lagrange	3,500	2,500
Hannibal	7,876	11,500	Palmyra	2,000	3,200
Alexandria	5,000	7,000	Louisiana	3,000	3,000
Frankford	80	none.
Total	69,436	87,200

Whisky. A comparative statement of the receipts of 1852 and 1853, exhibits an increase in the transactions of the latter. The following is the monthly statement: —

	1852.	1853.		1852.	1853.
January	666	2,858	July	3,943	3,764
February	4,702	4,401	August	2,501	4,188
March	6,631	5,908	September	1,835	3,756
April	4,814	5,835	October	5,064	3,519
May	4,647	4,916	November	4,390	4,706
June	3,472	3,255	December	2,903	2,668
				45,568	49,774

Prices for the year just ended ruled much higher, also, as the following statement proves: —

	1852.	1853.
January	16 to 18	19 to 19 ž
February	18 ž to 16	18 to 19
March	15 ž to 16 ˝	17 ˝ to 19 ˝
April	15 ž to . .	17 ž to 18 ˝
May	16 ˝ to 17	18 ˝ to 19
June	16 to 17 ž	19 to 22
July	16˝ to 17 ˝	22 to 24
August	17 to 20	22 to 24
September	18 ˝ to 19	22 to 22 ˝
October	16 to 18 ˝	22 ˝ to 26
November	18 ˝ to 20	20 ˝ to 23 ˝
December	19 ž to . .	20 to 22 ˝

Of the amount received for 1853, 20,335 barrels came from the Illinois River, 291 from the Missouri, 2,127 from the Ohio, and 27,021 from the Mississippi.

Groceries. Under this head are included sugars, molasses, syrup, and coffee. As per table it will be observed that the importations of the year embrace 50,774 hhds., 13,993 bbls., and 40,257 boxes and bags of sugar, 53,554 bbls. and hhds. molasses, 868 bbls. Syrup and 104,467 bags of coffee. This is largely in advance of last year's imports, given as follows: Sugars 35,283 hhds., 27,672 bbls. and boxes, 31,745 bags; coffee 96,240 sks.; molasses 54,933 bbls. and hhds. The crop of sugar for the year 1852 was a heavy one, and a large part of the surplus was forwarded to this section. Navigation being unobstructed in the early part of the season, gave opportunity for shipments. The receipts exhibit large amounts during the first months of the year — say for January 6,539, February 5 546, March 12,615 hhds. We refer to the general table for facts in relation to monthly imports and the aggregate amount brought forward.

459

New Sugar was received at this point about the 24th of October, 1852, and brought 6c. By the first of December it declined to 4fc. at which it remained until January, 1853, when it fell still further, say to 4 ź and 4 ˝c. for fair, and continued thus until the 1st of February; it then gradually advanced, and by the close of that month reached 5c. when the market became full and the rate went to 4 ž, then to 4 ˝, at which it ruled until about the middle of August, when it rallied again and sold during September as high as 5 ź; in October prices once more declined, and by the last of November sales of old were made at 4 ź for prime. Operations for sugar during the year resulted in a net loss of 25 per cent. The crop for 1853-4 is said to be equal to that of the preceding season.

Molasses opened at 30c. in November, but in December and January it had declined to 26; it rallied again and touched 30 in February, after which it went down, and during the spring and summer ranged at 28, and 25 at close; and in the fail a further decline was affected, until in November it reached 21c.

Coffee started at 9 ˝c. in January, and advanced to 11 by February, holding this position through March; after this it declined to 9 ˝ and 10c. and thus remained until September, when it went up gradually, and at the close has reached the price of 13c.

As regards salt, we refer to table of receipts and general prices.

FRUIT. Receipts will be found heavy. We give below the number of sacks received, referring to the general table for other particulars under this head. Large quantities of dried fruit came in barrels and boxes, but as no distinction was made in manifests between green and dried apples in such packages, we confine the statement in this place to sacks.

January	1,385	July	235
February	1,904	August	350
March	3,856	September	2,024
April	3,656	October	3,362
May	1,655	November	3,237
June	499	December	3,280
Total	25,443

It may not prove uninteresting, as showing the progress of fruit culture in this region, to give the different amounts from the different rivers. From the Missouri were received 6,287 sacks, from the Mississippi 8,874, the Ohio 10,014, and the Illinois 268. A very large proportion from the Mississippi was from points below St. Louis, brought principally by the Cairo packets. This State appears to be in advance of that of any other adjacent section in this line. Fruit from the Missouri River is held in higher reputation, and the cultivation of apple orchards particularly has evidently received from the farmers on that stream deserved and early attention. The following are the ruling rates of the year: —

DRIED APPLES.

January	$1 45 to	1 50	July	. . . to	. . .
February	1 40 to	1 62	August	75 to	. . .
March	1 35 to	1 50	September	60 to	75
April	90 to	1 35	October	70 to	75
May	70 to	1 00	November	70 to	85
June	75 to	80	December	85 to	95

DRIED PEACHES.

January	$1 82 ˝ to	2 75	July	. . . to	. . .
February	2 75 to	. . .	August	. . . to	. . .
March	2 75 to	. . .	September	$1 00 to	1 05
April	2 37 ˝ to	2 75	October	1 00 to	1 25
May	2 25 to	2 37 ˝	November	1 00 to	1 10
June	2 25 to	. . .	December	1 15 to	1 20

SEED AND BEANS. The general table above will show the receipts of seed per river. From the principal oil manufactory in St. Louis we learn that 22,931

460

bushels of flaxseed were received during the year just closed, by wagons, and that the increase over the previous year's receipts amounts to 8,880 bushels. This article is likely to become one of great importance to the agriculturist. We annex an account of a new method already discovered for rendering the stalk available.

Three or four weeks since we published an article on the subject of flax and flaxseed, and its cultivation in this and adjoining States, not for the seed alone — which, it seems, makes in itself a good crop — but with a view to the sale of the fiber. We then stated that gentlemen had appeared in this market ready to give the highest prices for flax in its prepared state — $250 per ton — and that this price ought to insure its increased cultivation. Since then, numerous letters have been addressed to us, showing the interest taken by farmers in the subject — making inquiries which we think it best to answer in this general way. The gentleman who was then more particularly referred to as being ready to make contracts, is now in Philadelphia, where he is a partner in the "American Linen Manufacturing Company," with a capital of $500,000, of which sum $350,000 is paid in and invested in the buildings and machinery.

This gentleman — Mr. Thomas/Kimber, Jr. — will gladly, we are assured, answer all inquiries addressed to him on the subject of the cultivation of flax, and its preparation for market. He has made it the subject of his study for some years, and is very familiar with it. There are several machines in use for the preparation of flax for market, and we have before said that inquiries addressed to any one in Washington County, N. Y., where flax is extensively raised and prepared, would be satisfactorily answered. The price of the machines in use there, we believe, is about $400. But we do not suppose they are so good as Buchanan's Patent, recommended by Mr. Kimber, and which will cost, about $1,000. It is very simple, but complete; and the process of change is so rapid under the influence of the steam as applied, that the fiber is completely separated from the stalk and all glutinous substance, dried and ready for the market in less than a half a day. One of these machines, it will readily be perceived, could prepare a vast amount of flax for use in a little while. Rights to use this patent have already been sold for Wisconsin and Indiana, but not for Iowa, Illinois, or Missouri. Communications in relation to these machines, addressed to Mr. Kimber, at Philadelphia, will be promptly responded to, and we refer our correspondents to him for detailed information on the whole subject.

In 1851 the heaviest decline occurred in castor beans. An attempt was made at that period to encourage the growth by liberal prices, but large importations of East India oil checked this movement at once, and every subsequent effort has failed to bring our farmers back to the culture. Indiana and Illinois consequently ceased, in a great measure, to pay any attention to this plant. The efforts of farmers have been directed to wheat, corn, hogs, and other products, while this article is comparatively abandoned. We refer to the table of receipts per river, and range of prices given in another place. In 1852, receipts per wagons amounted to 96,612 bushels, 1853 shows only 55,163 — decrease 41,449.

Coal The annexed table exhibits, so far as it was possible to ascertain, the consumption of this article for the year 1853. It embraces all the coal weighed by the scales belonging to the city and private individuals, and so far as they are an indication of the amount consumed, is perfectly correct.

South Market scales	bus.	609,791	St. Geogre's scales	379,285
Market street scales		261,847	North Market scales	84,605
Soulard Market scales		752,290
Total				2,087,818

Add to this amount the coal consumed by the Messrs. Belcher & Bro., at their sugar refinery, which is weighed by themselves, and estimated at 300,000 bushels and the amount used by the Iron Rolling Mill Company, which is not included in the above table, and set down at 450,000, making in all 2,837,818 bushels of coal.

Cooperage. Receipts show, for the season just closed, 98,141 pieces — 34,296

461

from the Illinois, 16,140 from the Missouri, 3,915 from the Ohio, and 44,790 from the Mississippi. An extra demand has evidently existed for flour barrels, and prices have ranged high accordingly. The appended table exhibits the rates at which whisky and flour barrels ruled during the year: —

FLOUR BARRELS.

January	37 ˝ a . .	July	40 a 45
February	37 ˝ a 42	August	50 a 65
March	42 a 45	September	46 a 55
April	40 a 45	October	50 a 53
May	40 a 45	November	55 a 65
June	35 a 45	December	56 a 60

WHISKY BARRELS.

January	$0 95 a . . .	July	$1 00 a $1 20
February	0 80 a . . .	August	1 00 a 1 20
March	1 00 a $1 20	September	1 10 a 1 25
April	1 10 a 1 20	October	1 20 a . . .
May	1 00 a 1 15	November	1 20 a . . .
June	87 ˝ a 1 00	December	1 30 a . . .

Pork barrels this season opened with $1 25 to $1 35, bacon casks $1 50, and lard kegs 50 to 55c.

STATEMENT OF THE FOREIGN VALUE OF GOODS, WARES AND MERCHANDISE IMPORTED INTO ST. LOUIS, AND THE DUTIES COLLECTED IN THE YEAR ENDING 31ST DECEMBER, 1853, VIZ: —

Amounts during	Dutiable Value.	Duties Collected.
First Quarter, ending 31st March, 1853	$156,183 17	$46,862 79
Second " " 3d June, "	332,869 24	101,783 10
Third " " 30th September, 1853	170,330 50	57,493 45
Fourth " " 31st December, "	257,892 50	83,121 10
	$917,275 71	$289,260 44
Foreign value and the duties thereon remaining in public store on 31st December, 1853	$14,107 70	$14,107 70
Entered for consumption, constructive warehoused, viz: Various goods, ware, and merchandise	42,611 00	13,676 70
Sugar and molasses (part to arrive)	269,144 00	80,740 20
Railroad iron	193,843 00	59,861 50
	$519,705 70	$168,386 10

With reference to the first statement, the importations were as follows, viz: —

From	Dutiable Value.	Duties Collected.
England	$487,750 88	$134,965 67
France	47,855 40	38,616 48
Germany and Holland	79,500 48	23,670 14
Spain and certain of her dependencies	96,248 00	29,053 90
Matanzas and Manilla	78,985 00	23,685 50
Pernambuco and Bahia	124,606 00	37,381 80
Various other places and ports	2,329 95	1,876 95
	$917,275 71	$280,260 44

The general description of said importations, in reference to the various foreign ports, were as follows, viz: —

From England — Hardware, cutlery, railroad iron, earthen, glass, and china ware, tin plates, tin, iron, and copper, including dry and fancy goods in a small ratio.

From France — Brandy, wine cigars, cordials, sardines, &c.,(but chiefly brandy.)

462

From Germany and Holland — Fancy goods, patent leather, toys, and other articles in great variety.

From Manilla and Matanzas, Bahia and Pernambueo — Principally sugar and molasses.

From Spain and dependencies the same.

From various other places and ports, comprises almost every article of trade.

Hospital moneys collected were as follows, viz: —

First Quarter of 1853	$529 28	Third Quarter of 1853	$715 63
Second Quarter of 1853	769 37	Fourth Quarter of 1853	776 25
Total			$2,787 53
Amount expended for the relief of sick and disable seamen and boatmen			$4,000 00
Amount collected from passenger steamers and for licenses to pilots and engineers, under Act of Congress approved 30th August, 1852			2,176 50
Tonnage of steam vessels belonging to this district, and remaining 31st December, 1853	tons.		36,714 23-95

It is worthy of remark to state, in reference to the seemingly small increase during the year just closed, that there had been an accumulated tonnage reported heretofore, which were not abated — for the lack of official information as to their loss and the manner thereof — which was deducted at the close of the year, and amounted to upwards of 10,000 tons.

The duties collected in the years 1849 to 1853 inclusive, were as follows, viz:

1849	$73,970 87-100	1851	$239,318 68-100	1853	$289,260 41-100
1850	175,001 16-100	1852	290,168 85-100

N. B. The falling off of duties collected during the year 1853, compared with 1852, is consequent upon the detention of sugar, molasses, and railroad iron not arriving at this port under warehouse and transportation entries — attributable to the recent sickness, &c. at the original port of entry, and the continued low stage of water. Otherwise the aggregate of duties would have been nestrly $400,000.

Wood. The following is a table showing the amount of wood landed and measured at the wharf, for the year 1853: —

	Cords.	Fees.		Cords.	Fees.
January	2,968	$177 57	July	4,878 ˝	$240 65
February	1,584	89 04	August	3,122	165 62 ˝
March	3,519	184 95	September	2,437	191 24
April	4,214	215 41	October	6,620 ˝	350 25
May	4,112	213 47	November	4,703	228 44
June	2,331	108 45	December	3,791 ˝	182 40
Total				44,280 ˝	$2,362 39 ˝

The fees charged in the above table are paid into the city treasury, as the cer receives a regular salary.

This table embraces the wood actually landed and measured by the office appointed by the city, and within the city limits. There is a considerable quantity of which we have no data, landed north of the city, and within the jurisdiction of Bremen.

Lumber. We have from Mr. John H. Ferguson, late an Inspector and Measurer of Lumber, the following report of the lumber received in St. Louis during the year. It has been personally obtained from the merchants and manufacturers, engaged in the business, and may be relied upon: —

463

LUMBER RECEIVED IN 1853, FROM ALL QUARTERS, BY THE MERCHANTS.

Lumber, sawed	feet	36,412,451
Shingles		30,462,700
Laths		6,947,000
Cedar posts		22,748

During the year, there have been purchased by the city mills, the following:

Logs	feet	23,636,808
Lumber manufactured therefrom		23,095,545
Laths from same	No.	7,975,500
Plank road stuff received by the county fro roads by way of rafts andthe river is	feet	1,278,336

The above shows, in the receipt and consumption of sawed lumber, 60,786,332 feet. This at aleast is some evidence of the advance of building, &c. &c. in the city of St. Louis.

nts

Notes.

1. Since the above was written the Bank statement has been published, and the dividend declared for the past six months of the year. It amply sustains our position, that in no section of the Union can a Bank make so much money as in St. Louis and Missouri, and nowhere is banking capital more necessary for actual business operations. For the six months ending the 31st of December, the Bank declared a dividend of ten per cent on its capital; and for the first six months of the year, a dividend of SEVEN per cent was declared — making the dividend for the year seventeen per cent. This was done, too, after passing $24,308 10 to the Contingent Fund, as required by the charter, being one per cent upon the capital stock tor each six months — and making the accumulated Contingent Fund a fraction less than $100,000. Even alter declaring this dividend, and setting aside this one per cent there is still an undivided surplus of $25,249 53, placed to the credit of "Interest and Exchange." It may be added, that out of the $256,176 40, earned during the year, the sum of $186,978 66 was earned by the Parent Bank alone.

2. For this table see "Commercial Statistics " in present number of the Merchants' Magazine.

3. For a statement of imports into St. Louis by the river, see "Commercial Statistics" in the present number of the Merchants' Magazine.