STATISTICS OF AGRICULTURE, &

THE GROWTH OF COTTON IN INDIA.

FROM REPORTS ADDRESSED TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF MANCHESTER, LIVERPOOL, BLACKBURN, AND GLASGOW, BY THE LATE ALEXANDER MACKAY, ESQ.

I am prepared for being met with the assertion that Indian cotton can be laid down in Liverpool at a cheaper rate than 4d. per pound. How far that may be the case with cotton produced in other parts of the country, I am not prepared to say; nor do I doubt that cotton from Guzerat has been frequently imported at a lower rate than that specified. But that entirely depends upon cotton being parted with on the Bombay Green at a sacrifice. If cotton is bought there at 75 rupees per candy, it may be laid down in Liverpool at 3d. per pound; but were such to continue its price for two or three consecutive years, cotton would soon disappear from the Bombay Green as an article of export. Guzerat cotton cannot at present be laid down in Liverpool at 3d. a pound, without entailing heavy losses upom some or all of those engaged in the trade antecedent to the shipper in Bombay. In such case, the losses which might at first be distributed, would soon be made to accumulate upon the cultivator, who would speedily sink under them, unless government came forward and shared them by granting him remissions. The losses of one year, when cotton sells at 75 rupees per candy, may be made up the next, when its price may be from 100 to 120 rupees. But unless, taking one year with another (in view of the outlays to which the cultivator is at present subjected.) its average price rose to upwards of 90 rupees, the production of cotton in Guzerat would speedily be annihilated.

In the eight years from 1834 to 1841 both inclusive, it only once dipped below 90, viz.:-in February and March, 1840, having been up as high as 185 in August, 1886, and at 210 in September, 1835. In 1842 it dropped to 90 in May, but throughout July and August ranged as high as 105. Throughout the whole of 1846 its average price was about 80. In 1847 it was 97. Next year was a year of depression, the price throughout March and part of April having been about 90, from which it rapidly fell in May to 80, and reached 65 by the close of the year. In 1849 in rose to 105. In 1850, for three months, it ranged about 145, and in 1841 it fell again to about 103. It will thus be seen that for the last eighteen years prices have, on the whole, been maintained at above 90; but with the terrible depressions of 1846 and 1848 still fresh in their remembrance, the shippers here are not without apprehension that the remunerating price, in view of the present cost of production, cannot, on the average of years, be maintained; and that consequently the cultivation of cotton, and with it the cotton trade, must decline. To meet so probable an emergency one obvious resource is, to lower the remunerating point at which cotton can be purchased here for export, by reducing the cost of production. Another is to enhance the price of India cotton in the Liverpool market by improving its quality. Unless something of the kind be done, Indian cotton must continue to struggle with its rival under great disadvantages. American cotton is produced and forwarded to market under every advantage which it can ever enjoy. India cotton must be put upon the same footing; it also must be cultivated under every possible advantage, ere it can be expected to engage in successful competition.

The struggle will be a more equal one when both articles are thus produced under every possible advantage; and there is all the more reason to get aid of every artificial drawback in its way, seeing that even then, in distance from market, Indian cotton must still continue to labor under an insurmountable natural disadvantage. But the two can never approximate an equality of advantages so long as, in a variety of ways, the cost of producing one of them is subjected to an artificial enhancement, from which the other is exempt. Let us see, then, at what cost under a more liberal fiscal system, cotton might be produced in Guzerat, so as successfully to compete with American cotton at all times and at all prices. There are some, as already noticed, who think that before agriculture in Guzerat can attain its proper footing, the assessment must be lowered to twelve anas, or three-quarters of a rupee per beega. But let us suppose that it is reduced to a rupee-no very extravagant supposition, seeing that a rupee is twenty per cent of the value of the cotton produce, and about twenty-five per cent of the general produce (cotton and grain,) of the beega-and also that such

a reduction would only be an extension of the principle on which government profeses to act in revising the assessment of the deccan. I have already shown the other outlays of the cultivator to amount to one rupee, ten anas per beega, but under a more improved system of husbandry these outlays might be reduced to one rupee four anas, or a rupee and a quarter per beega. That this is not too great a reduction to anticipate, will be seen from the fact that Mr. Landon, of Broach, has cultivated a beega at the cost of one rupee.

With the landed system of the province on a proper footing-that is to say with the beegotee system prevailing-a host of middlemen, in the shape of bhagdars, &c., would be got rid of, whose exactions now add materially to the cost of cultivation. Were the means of communicotion improved and the country properly opened up, the European would soon take the place of the Wakharia, and the native agent be entirely dispensed with. With proper presses, too, established in the country, and Europe ins to deal with, in whom confidence could be placed as regards the quality and condition of the cotton, the cost of repressing in Bombay might be entirely got rid of. With the cultivation of cotton and the trade in it once, on this footing, its cost price to the cultivator and exporter respectively would be as follows:

or close upon 1‡d. per pound. Allowing him a profit of 20 per cent upon all his outlays, which is more than in the former case, this would bring the remunerating price to the cultivator up to 13 per lb. or 48 rupees, say 50 rupees, per candy-in other words, 20 rupees per bhar of kuppas. Supposing the Wakharia supplanted by the European, and allowing him 9 per cent, the same rate of profit as the Wakharia, his profit would be 44, or say 5 rupees, upon a candy. The native agent would be dis pensed with; while there would be a fall in the item of insurance, on account of the fall in value of the article insured; together with a fall in the freight from Guzerat to Bombay, owing to the smaller size of the bales from superior pressing. The fall in the two items of freight and insurance would go far towards counterbalancing any small addition which might be made to the freight to Liverpool from the partial swelling of the bales on their way to Bombay. Taking all these charges, however, the same as before, we should have the cost price at Bombay made up as follows:

or about 14d. per pound, say 2d. per pound. If to this be added d. per pound, as before, d. for freight to Liverpool, and d. for insurance and charges in Liverpool, we have 24d. as the cost price of Guzerat cotton in Liverpool, instead of 4d. as before. Comparing this with the cost price of American cotton at Liverpool, we have a dif ference of thirty-five per cent in the relative prices of the two articles, that of the India cotton being a reduction to that extent on the price of American. Between their relative values, as before stated, there is generally a difference of twenty-five per cent, on account of their difference as regards quality. Here, then, we have a gain on the score of price of ten per cent on the difference on the score of quality. Under such circumstances the quality of Indian cotton would be much improved, and that, combined with moderate prices, would lead to an unprecedented increase of consumption in England, and with so great a difference in price, compensating for the difference in quality. American " boweds" and "uplands" might, for most purposes of the manufacturer, find in Indian cotton a very formidable competitor, even in the market of Lowell itself.

BRIEF MENTION OF SHEEP AND WOOL GROWING.

The breeds of sheep most esteemed in Massachusetts, according to Mr. Flint, the Secretary of the Board of Agriculture in that State, are those which have more or less of merino blood in them. The merinos of Spain, so celebrated for their beauty and the fineness of their wool, have been known and valued for ages. Bucks of this breed were sometimes purchased in Spain at the rate of a talent ($1,200) a piece, by the ancient Greeks, nearly twenty-five centuries ago. They were first imported into the United States in 1802, three or four having been obtained by Chancellor Livingston, then Minister to France. These had belonged to the celebrated Rambouillet flock, which Louis XVI. had obtained as a favor of Charles IV. in 1786. A short time before, Gen. Humphreys, Minister to Spain from 1797 to 1801, had purchased two hundred merinos, had them sent through Portugal, and shipped to this country. At that time but little interest was felt in the improvement of our stock, and these animals attracted no notice for some years. In 1808, however, the embargo led many to turn their attention to wool-growing, and fine wool soon rose to the high price of $150 and $2 a pound. In 1809-10 no less than 3,650 merinos were imported, and these were distributed throughout the United States. The importance of these early importations can hardly be over estimated. They furnished our woolen manufactories with the raw material at times when it would have been expensive and almost impossible to obtain it abroad.

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIONS OF CALIFORNIA.

The progress exhibited in the cities and towns of California, whilst the most wonderful, is certainly not the only evidence of development to be found in the State calculated to excite astonishment. The progress made in the departments of agriculture and domestic manufactures, is far beyond the knowledge or belief of those in the Eastern States, and many here, who spend all their time in the city, are far from realizing it fully.

But a year or two ago all the provisions consumed by the entire population were imported from abroad. Our people were dependent upon foreign fields for their bread; upon distant pastures for their meat; and the dairies and farms of the Eastern States supplied them with all the cheese, butter, eggs, etc., that they ate. As for the luxuries of vegetables, they were forced to content themselves without them, or use the miserable substitutes sent round the Horn in tins.

Now, we need not say that every thing is different. Our own granaries groan beneath the rich harvests of our native wheat fields; home raised beef and pork, of the best possible quality, are found upon every man's table; fresh butter, of the most fragrant and delectable description, is now daily brought to market from our own dairies; fresh cheese from our own presses, can be obtained in any quantity, and as or vegetables, no country in the world can compare with ours.-S. F. Daily News.

PRODUCT OF EGGS IN IRELAND.

Eggs of hens, ducks, and other poultry, are produced in Ireland to an extent almost incredible. The supplies sent to Liverpool, and thence into the manufacturing districts, are enormous, frequently 1,000,000 in one day. They are packed between layers of straw, in strongly made boxes, hampers, and crates, containing 1,000 to 8,000 eggs, each package varying in weight from two to ten cwt. The aggregate quantity imported into Liverpool from Ireland last year, amounted to 33,350 packages, containing 148,134,000 eggs, weighing 9,260 tons, value £300,000. Besides small supplies from the neighboring districts, the Isle of Man, and Scotland.

Account of eggs imported into Liverpool from Ireland in the year 1852:—

CANADIAN WHEAT CROP FOR 1854.

The wheat crop of Upper Canada will far exceed that of any other year in its amount. It is estimated that a third more was sown last year than the year before, and it all looks flourishing. The surplus last year is estimated at 7,000,000 bushels. This year it is calculated the surplus will reach 12,000,000 bushels. Estimating the price at only $1 50 per bushel, it gives the farmers $18,000,000 for wheat alone, for a foreign market.

DISCOVERY OF COFFEE.

About the year 1285 a dervish, named Hadji Omer, was driven out of the commu nity of Mocca. Hunger induced him to roast the Kahhva berries which grew near his hiding place. He roasted and ate them as the only means of sustaining life. Steep. ing them in water, which quenched his thirst, he discovered very agreeable qualities, and also that the infusion was nearly equal to solid food. His persecutors, who had intended him to die of starvation, regarded his preservation as a miracle. He was transmuted into a saint. Such are the facts relating to the discovery of coffee. There are now supposed to be 3,000 coffee rooms in Constantinople.

RAILROAD, CANAL, AND STEAMBOAT STATISTICS.

THE CANALS AND OTHER PUBLIC WORKS OF NEW YORK

NUMBER III.*

THE EXTENSION OF THE CHANNELS OF TRADE AND TRAVEL BEYOND THE STATE OF

NEW YORK.

Immediately west of the State of New York lies the great basin of the lakes, and contiguous to it on the south and west, lie the Ohio and Upper Mississippi basins, of equal magnitude. These basins are enclosed from the Atlantic by the Allegany mountains, except where they fall off to the level plains extending through the centre of New York.

An inspection of the map, embracing these basins, shows on the one side the chain of great lakes from the further extremity of Superior, tending southeasterly to the lower end of Lake Erie; and on the other side the Ohio river, from its junction with the Mississippi, tending northeasterly to its source in western New York, and all of the intermediate natural water lines tending towards the same point.

This general direction of the natural water lines of these basins, has given the same course to the artificial water and railroad lines constructed through them, and concentrates in the narrow gorge lying between the northern slope of the Allegany mountains and the eastern end of Lake Erie, a drift of trade and travel which is not to be found elsewhere on this continent.

This concentrated traffic, collected by these fan spreading lines, must be conveyed between the lakes and the Atlantic through the Erie canal and the central and southern lines of railroads of this State to its commercial emporium, from whence it can be distributed by the ocean lines of steamers and sail vessels to every port on the globe. From the western terminus of the Erie canal and the Central and Southern railroads, extends the chain of western lakes, commencing with Lake Erie, which extends southwesterly between the peninsula of Canada on the north, and the States of New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio on the south, to Michigan, a distance of two hundred and seventy miles. Thence north through the Detroit river, lake and river St. Clair to Lake Huron, between Canada and Michigan, a distance of forty-five miles. Lake Huron extends in the same direction for a distance of two hundred and seventy miles, and connects with Lake Michigan, which runs south for three hundred and forty miles between the States of Michigan and Wisconsin, to Illinois and Indiana.

From Lake Huron, the river St. Mary, extending northwest for forty-six miles, con

For the first number of this series of papers, exhibiting a comprehensive history of " The Progress of Internal Improvements in the State," see Merchants' Magazine for July, 1854, pages 123126-and for Number 11. see Merchants' Magazine for August, 1854, vol. xxxi., pages 247-249.

nects with Lake Superior, which extends westward for four hundred and twenty miles, with Michigan and Wisconsin on the south, Canada on the north, and Minnesota en the west.

There are no rivers emptying into any of these lakes, which are navigable for any considerable distance.

From the southwestern part of New York, the Allegany river, running south through Pennsylvania, and uniting with the Mouongahela near the western line of that State, forms the Ohio river, which extends thence nearly south between Pennsylvania and Virginia on the one side, and Ohio on the other. The Ohio extends thence nearly west between Kentucky and Ohio, and thence southwest between Indiana and Illinois on the north, and Kentucky on the south, to its confluence with the Mississippi, hav ing an extent of navigation of nearly one thousand miles.

The Allegany and Monongahela rivers enter the Ohio in Pennsylvania, the Kanawha from Virginia, the Muskingum, Hocking, Sciota and Miami from Ohio; the Licking, Kentucky, Cumberland and Tennessee from Kentucky, and the White and Wabash from Indiana.

The navigation of the Upper Mississippi commences at St. Paul's, in Minnesota, where the St. Croix and St. Peters enter it, and thence runs south to its confluence with the Ohio for one thousand miles, between Wisconsin and Illinois on the east, and Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri on the west.

The Chippewa, Black and Wisconsin rivers enter the Mississippi from Wisconsin, the Rock and Illinois rivers from Illinois, the Iowa and Des Moines from Iowa, and the Missouri river from Missouri.

The annexed table shows the length of the steamboat navigation on the Ohio and Mississippi above their confluence, and of the tributaries before mentioned. Those of the Ohio, with its tributaries, make an aggregate length of more than three thousand miles, and those of the Mississippi of more thau four thousand miles.

The lakes and the Ohio and Mississippi rivers are connected by four great lines of canals. The first extends from Erie, on Lake Erie, south to Beaver, on the Ohio river, a distance of one hundred and thirty-six miles.

The second line extends from Cleveland, on Lake Erie, southwest to Portsmouth on the Ohio, a distance of three hundred and twenty-four miles, with two branches connecting with the first line above mentioned, another branch connecting with the Ohio through the Muskingum river, and another through the Hocking.

The third line extends from Toledo, on Lake Erie, to Cincinnati, and also to Evansville on the Ohio. The distance from Toledo to Cincinnati is two hundred and fiftyone miles, and to Evansville is four hundred and sixty-seven miles.

The fourth line extends from Chicago, on the southern extremity of Lake Michigan, to the head of navigation on the Illinois river, a distance of one hundred miles.

Another canal is in progress, connecting the northern extremity of Lake Michigan with the Mississippi, through the Fox and Wisconsin rivers.

The New York Central and the New York and Erie railroad, through its branches, extend to the falls of Niagara, and there connect with a road across the peninsula of Canada to Detroit, and thence across Michigan to Chicago, and also by a line in progress to Grand Haven on Lake Michigan, opposite Milwaukie in Wisconsin.

From the western termini of the Central and New York and Erie railroads, a line of road extends along the south shore of Lake Erie, through Cleveland and Sandusky to Toledo, and thence across Michigan and Indiana to Chicago.

From both Cleveland and Sandusky roads extend to Cincinnati on the Ohio. From Cleveland a line of roads is in operation through Indianapolis to Terre Haute, on the western line of Indiana.

From Toledo, Terre Haute and Cincinnati, lines of roads are in rapid progress to St. Louis, Alton and Quincy, on the Mississippi, and from Quincy and St. Louis other lines are in progress to the Missouri.

From Chicago, roads are completed to Rock Island and Alton, on the Mississippi, and in progress to Milwaukie and Madison, in Wisconsin, and Galena, Fulton, Quincy and Cairo, on the Mississippi.

From Fulton and Rock Island, roads are in progress, west of the Mississippi to Iowa city.

From Milwaukie a road is completed to Janesville, and in progress to the Mississippi.

The following table furnishes a list of all the roads in operation in this territory, and includes a number of roads, not embraced in the general lines above mentioned: