Receipts of the United States government from 1789 to 1851.. Shipment and estimated product of California gold from January 1 to June 30, 1852.. JOURNAL OF BANKING, CURRENCY, AND FINANCE. Estimates of the entire product of California gold..... Of reductions made from moneys and credits in Ohio... 482 Of valuing the property of merchants and manufacturers, bankers, exchange brokers, &c., in Ohio 484 Banks and banking companies and other corporations in Ohio... 485 486 457 487 488 488 Damages on bills of exchange in New York............... COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. Statistics of the Trade and Commerce of New Orleans in 1851-52. Receipts of principal articles from the interior at New Orleans in 1851-52.. Exports of cotton from New Orleans in 1851-52.. Exports of molasses from New Orleans in 1850-51 and 1851-52. Arrivals, exports, and stocks of cotton and tobacco at New Orleans for ten years. Ships, barks, &c., arrived at New Orleans in 1850-51 and 1851-52..... .... Production and consumption of coffee... American Commerce with Cadiz, Spain. COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS. Of imports in original packages exported to Mexico-an act of Congress... RAILROAD, CANAL, AND STEAMBOAT STATISTICS. Rates of Toll on the canals of New York in 1852.. Progress of plank-roads in New York and Canada Fatality of inland routes-steamboat propellers.... Appropriations for the United States Mail Ocean Steamers-an act of Congress.. Expulsion from cars.-Mail from New Orleans to Vera Cruz.. JOURNAL OF MINING AND MANUFACTURES. The Manufacture of glass-No. 11. By DEMING JARVIS, Esq., of Massachusetts STATISTICS OF POPULATION. Sources of the population of the United States... Population of the Canadas.-Progress of population in San Francisco...... MERCANTILE MISCELLANIES. An important commercial suggestion...... Ormsby's method of constructing bank notes to prevent forgery Polka nuts: a new article of Commerce... Naval Dry Docks of the United States." The economical hardware merchant.-Payment of debts by bankrupts Maillefert's invention for blasting rocks.—Adulteration of pale ale.-Value of Money..... THE BOOK TRADE. Notices of 26 new Books, or new Editions........ 429 489 490 491 491 491 492 493 493 494 494 495 496 497 498 500 501 502 503 504 504 505 505 505 506 508 509 510 510 511 514 515 517 517 518 519 520 521 523 523 524 525 598 HUNT'S MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE AND COMMERCIAL REVIEW. OCTOBER, 1852. Art. I.-COMMERCE AND RESOURCES OF CHILI. CHILI extends along the Pacific from about 25° to 41° 50' south latitude; the island of Chiloe is separated from the continent by the straits of Chacao, and extends to 43° 30' south latitude. Chili lies between 69° and 72° west longitude; from south to north its length is about 1,170 miles, its breadth varies from 100 to 200 miles. On the north Chili is separated from Bolivia by a desert, the boundaryline on the coast of the Pacific is near the village of Paposo. The Andes, the highest part of which constitutes the eastern boundaryline of Chili, together with the high mountain masses which form the western declivity of the Andes, occupy a great part of the area of Chili; north of the Cuesta de Chacabuco, there are valleys between lofty ridges similar to the valleys of Peru; south of that there are extensive plains, and few ridges of hills except along the coast, where the highlands are almost continuous. The western declivity of the Andes is abrupt and intersected by ravines, through which the rivers descend with impetuosity. The parts fit for cultivation are limited to where these ravines change into vales or plains. Southward the lower declivities are covered with fruit, northward they are generally bare and rocky.* There are silver mines, but few of them are *In the narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, Captain Wilkes observes:-"On approaching the coast of Chili, every one is anxious to get a sight of the Cordilleras. There are only two periods during the day in which they can be seen to advantage; namely, in the morning before sunrise, and in the evening at sunset. The first is the most striking view. The outline is at that time of a golden hue, and may be easily traced, in a long line running north and south. This gradu ally brightens, and is lost the moment the sun is seen. The evening view gives rise to disappointment. The mountains are seen at a great distance, (eighty miles in a bird's flight,) reflecting the setting sun, and, in consequence, appear much lower than is anticipated." worked. The hilly country is, in many parts, sandy or rocky, without any vegetation excepting some patches of cactus and coarse grass. The crops of maize in the mountain districts are said not to be sufficient for the inhabitants, who derive their chief means of subsistence from the labor in, and produce of, the silver and copper mines, and partly also from the fruits of the upper valleys. The plains, in most parts, afford ood pastures. Some districts are fit for agriculture, and the remaining portions are sandy flats. The arable districts of Chili supply the countries of South America on the Pacific with grain, and the pastures with jerked beef and hides. The undulated country between the plains and the sea is, in many parts, covered with stunted trees; but grapes, and other delicious fruits, are also grown in the hilly countries. RIVERS. The rivers of Chili, north of the Maypù, bring down little water; none are navigable; they serve, however, the important purpose of irrigating the lands. South of the Maypù, in 34°, the rain falls in sufficient quantities, and the rivers, though deeper, are not used for irrigation. The River Maule is navigable for vessels drawing about seven feet of water; it is navigable for river barges for about twenty miles. The Biobio, the largest of the rivers of Chili, flows a course of nearly 200 miles; at its mouth it is two miles wide, but too shallow for large vessels to enter. It is navigable for river craft to Nacimiento, about 100 miles from its mouth. The River Callacalla is deep enough for large vessels to enter its mouth. There are no lakes of any importance in the valleys and plains. In the Andes there are some lakes, but, as far as known, the largest is not more than fifteen miles in length. CLIMATE. Extending from north to south for sixteen degrees, with a very irregular surface, the temperature of the climate of Chili is consequently variable. In the valleys, especially in that of Copiabo, years pass over without rain falling. Further south showers occur only during three or four years, after which a rainy season drenches these southern valleys. In Aconcagua, still further south, the number of rainy days do not generally exceed fourteen to twenty-one. South of the River Maypù rain falls sufficient for the cultivation of grain. At and near the River Biobio, rain falls regularly in winter, otherwise the sky is cloudless during six or seven months of the year; south of that river the rains are irregular, and fall heavily. The regions where rain falls are covered with forests; many of the trees afford excellent timber. In the arid regions, a few shrubs, stunted trees, and cactus, are the chief natural products. The vegetable productions cultivated are similar to those of Southern Europe. Maize is cultivated in the northern parts of Chili; wheat and barley are generally grown in the southern plains; and wheat and flour are exported to Peru and other places. Grapes, fruits, and such vegetables as are common in Southern Europe, are produced abundantly in the valleys as far south as the River Biobio. The wines, of tolerable quality, are made for home use. Timber is exported from Chili and other parts. The pastures of the southern provinces feed large herds of cattle; jerked beef, tallow, hides, and live stock are exported. Guanacoes and llamas abound in the northern provinces. MINERALS. Gold is found in the sands of the rivers. It was formerly, but not at present, collected. Silver mines exist in the Andes, south of 33°; north of that parallel they are numerous in the ridges between the valleys. In the arid and sterile desert between the valleys of Copiabo and Huasco, they are worked to a considerable extent. Copper ore abounds in the same region, and is imported into England, chiefly into Swansea, to be smelted. Lead and iron exist, but they are not worked. In the country on the northern banks of the River Biobio there are extensive coal-fields partially worked. Salt is made from the water of a salt lake; it is also imported, partly from Peru, by sea, and from the native tribes of Patagonia, who make it from the salt lakes of that country. POPULATION. The population of Chili consists of the descendants of the Spaniards, and aboriginal tribes. All the inhabitants, north of the River Biobio, are of European race, with scarcely any mixture of Indian blood. The aboriginals occupy almost exclusively the country south of the River Biobio. South of the Biobio the inhabitants known under the name of Araucanians, have preserved their independence in defiance of the Spaniards. They derive their subsistence chiefly from cultivating maize, potatoes, beans, and vegetables; and they rear large herds of cattle and horses. During the war of independence they made destructive inroads upon the country north of the Biobio; a successful war was afterwards carried on against them, which ended in a peaceful agreement. As no census, that we know of, has been ever taken of the population, we can only state that, by an estimate made some years ago, the population was stated at 1,200,000 souls. The present population is considered to exceed 1,300,000 souls, exclusive of the Araucanians. Chili is divided into eight provinces, the area of which is estimated in square miles as follows: Coquimbo.......square miles 48,000 Concepcion Aconcagua. Santiago.. Colchagua. ..... .square miles 18,000 40,000 11,000 170,000 14,000 Valdivia.. Towns. Copiabo, in the valley of the same name, about forty-five miles from the sea, has nearly 3,000 inhabitants. Its port on the coast is bad, as the surf rolls in heavily, and the landing is very difficult; copper, copper ore, and silver are laden at this port, which has a village with about 1,100 inhabitants. Ballenar, in the valley of the River Huasco, about forty-five miles from the sea, owes its rise to some silver mines in the neighborhood. It contains about 7,000 inhabitants, and takes its name from Ballenagh, in Ireland, the birth-place of the family of O'Higgins. La Serena, or Coquimbo, the capital of the province of the same name, is situated in the valley of the same name, about seven miles from the sea; it contains nearly 8,000 inhabitants, and exports silver and copper ore; the harbor, which is at the mouth of the river, is one of the best on this coast. Illapel, with about 1,500 inhabitants, is situated in the neighborhood of copper mines. Concepcion, about two miles from the bank of the Biobio, and six miles from its mouth, was once the capital of Chili. It has been repeatedly destroyed by earthquakes, and devastated by the invasion of the Araucanians. Since its destruction by the great earthquake of 1835, it is nearly all in ruins. Timber and cattle are exported. Valdivia, the capital of the prov ince of the same name, has an excellent harbor, well fortified, and contains about 2,000 inhabitants. The Island of Chiloe is about 100 miles long, and, on an average, forty miles wide. The western shores of the island are rocky masses rising abruptly from the ocean to the hight of 1,500 to 3,000 feet. The eastern shores are of moderate elevation, and in their natural state, covered with forests, among which are magnificent timber-trees. Rocky islands are scattered over the Gulf of Anud, most of which are inhabited; Quinchao and Lemuy are populous. The inhabitants of the settlements of Calubco and Carelmapú are chiefly Indians, few in number, and occupied chiefly in cultivating timber. The majority of the inhabitants of Chiloe and of the adjacent islands are aborigines. The whole population of the province of Chiloe in 1832 amounted to 43,000. They export timber, wheat, hams, &c. The shores and bays abound in varieties of excellent fish. The shellfish is described as delicious. San Carlos is the capital of the province of the same name, with a good harbor, and about 4,000 inhabitants. COMMERCE. The editor of the Merchants' Magazine is indebted to an official source for the subjoined summary of the Commerce of Chili in the years 1850 and 1851; Imports into Chili for home consumption in 1850.... Imports into Chili for home consumption in 1851— $11,788,198 In the first six months of 1851... $6,542,795 In the second six months.. 9,342,177 15,884,972 Increase in 1851... $4,096,779 Exports from Chili to foreign countries of home produce and manufactures in 1850 $11,392,452 Exports from Chili to foreign countries of home produce and manufactures in 1851 Exports from Chili to foreign countries of imported merchandise, 1850 $1,033,817 In first six months $897,456 In second six months 1,582,581 2,480,037 Increase in 1851...... $1,446,220 From the preceding statements it appears that the gross value of the foreign Commerce of Chili in 1851 was $28,031,363, which, compared with that of 1850, shows an increase of $3,816,901. Thus : Imports for home consumption..... $11,788,193 $15,884,972 $4,096,779 Calculating the population of Chili at 1,400,000 inhabitants, and dividing the foreign Commerce among them, there falls to the share of each in 1850, $17%, and in 1851, $20, which is greater than many European States can show. |