The New York Herald Newspaper, November 20, 1868, Page 4

business in this capital for thirty and forty years do- clare that during and after no revolution has there existed such utter prostration of business as tn this country to-day. Some attribute it toa lack of confidence, resu'ting from bad legislation; others to the want of such healthy legislation as the interests of commerce immediately demand; and others, again, to a smothered fire of revolution, which dis- trustful merchants and capitalists in the interior imagine or believe to exist. At present there ap- pears to be no just grounds for anticipating any im- mediate successful revolutionary outbreak, although it may be true, as the history of the country points, that the acorn of discontent often becomes the oak of successful defiance almost in @ single night. But the merchants of Mexico should have become accustomed to all manner of surprises for having cast their lot here; they figure upon frequent changes in the gov- ernment and the consequences thereof, and have only theinselves to blame if they counted too posi- Uvely upon @ continued holiday of money making after the restoration of republican Mexico, It answered the purpose of the struggling nucleus of republicanism to encourage merchants to aid the Oppressed cause by painting pictures of untold con- tinuous prosperity. Why should not the man of gray hairs build air castles as well as the boy in his mother’s nursery? It is a pleasure for both. The feast of continued business prosperity having failed to favor us, capitalists seem mad, and in their in- gane clutchings of their hoarded gains they threaten with destruction old business houses by refusing the temporary loans which the vicissitudes of business in all countries often make necessary with the most reliable firms. Capital which two or three ycars since was secking investment at ‘reasonable rates of interest is hid away under bolt and bar and isdenied to many anxious merchants who would gladly pay one anda half per cent per monih for its use. In some instances, for a particular friend, after .® most searching investigation of the books and con- dition of a house, loans are made at an increasea per- centage. Merchants are looking anxiously in all dl- sections for help, and, desperate, ihey pray for the dawn of better days, although iley have no idea from , Which direction they will come. COTTON, One of the cotton factories which suspended ope- ration some weeks since has recently recommenced work, the operatives accepting reduced price of 28, Gd. per piece, which the proprietors declared their interests would only allow them to pay. The renewal was, however, attended with much difficulty, 8 the majority of the old operatives threatened with violence any of their number who should give way. The first dey’s work was begun with less than adozen operatives, where but a few weeks since hundreds were employed; but the number has increased till now over @ hundred are employed, a portion of whom are new hanas and others from the resory’ still closed at Puebla. Peace has been so far secut by a guard of a dozen or two of soldiers, who are on the pe day and night. This factory, which 1s at Tizapan and under the administration of an American, Mr. Dodge, w1!! soon be in full operation, with a new set of operatives—at least with the mal- contents weeded out. ‘The establishments at Tla!pan and Contreras have not started, nor have those of the neighborhood of Puebia, closed in consequence of refitting with new machinery. The sale of raw cotton in Mexico is mostly upon credit of four and six montis, deducting often ten to twenty-four pounds per bale fortare. The last sale made of good Texas cotton was at twenty-six cents bee pound, in consequence of the closing of the factorics and there being no demand. New Orleans cotton usually commands a higher price than the above as the shortness, of the staple of the Mexican cotton makes a mixture of American cotton neces- sary. The cotton received in Mexico from Septem- ber, 1867, und ending May, 1363, a period of eight months, is as follows:— les, Via Piedras Negras. arth Via Vera Uruz..... 12,000 Total........ 17,848 ‘ ‘00 ‘Mexican wool is mosi inferior, when compared With that of any other country, owing to the entire ‘want of care in the breeding of sheep and the treat- ment of the fleece. Washed wool is comparatively unknown in Mexico, and tve manufacturer calcu- lates upon a loss of an average of forty per cent in weight in the cleaning and joey There are here in two clippings anaualiy—oue Angust, the rainy season, wien the fleece is very ” airty, and one in March, or the dry season. The price ranges 03 follows, according to quality and cieanliness:—August clip, thirteen to eighteen cents per pound; March cilp, fifteen to eighteen cents per pound. ‘The amount used an- nually in the five or six large woollen factories of the country reaches near 3,400,000 of pounds, while the smaller establisnments and hand looms increase the demand, Fortean, 1,000,000 of pounds more. There are, I believe. but five or six establishments in Mexico where wool is worked up into cloths—one is near the city of Puebla, another near or at Con- and another in the district of Talucpan, State and known as the woollen factory of San Tidefonso. ‘The latter establishment ts probably the largestin the country, and is as well conducted as any in this country or as tany to be found in foretzn jands. ‘The factory is situated north of tne city of Mexico, distant about twenty miles, and was con- structed about dfteen yeurs ago. [tis the property of an Engiisn flrm—Messrs, Grant, Barton & Co.— and is managed almost entirely by English superin- tepdents and master weavers, The climate ta excel- tent, the works being above the valley of Mexico. The number of operatives employed when under full way 600 to 6600, includimg = men, women and boys, and the machinery is both English and American. ‘the amount of capital invested in buiidings, machinery and surrounding property may be estimated at $300, to ,000, The power used is water, which is abundant the year round, two Scotch tur: bine wheeis being used. * ‘lhe endre works are most com: as everything required for the use of the various departiuaents of the factory 1s made within {ts own wails, with the singie exception of such Fa may be required. There are manufac- tured here a great variety of cassimere and cloth, biankets and shawis, tlanue!s aad carpets. ‘tho former ure of ali quaitties and colors, and espectally such a8 are suited to the taste of the consuming Portion of the community. ‘I’fey are two yards and six inches wide, and range in price from one dollar seventy-tive cents to tnrve doliars per vara. From the coarser portion of tie wool a cheap carpet Is manufactured, wiich co.imands one dollar tweive and @ half cents per vara in the market. Blankets for army use and material for army clothing are su trom the factory. Were the uarket greacer and the condition of tue poorer classes different, this single establishinent is capabie of supplying 6,00) yards per week of cassinivres. The cards and mules used are in part American, which are said to be superior to those of English nanufacturg, which age of old pattern. The laud loom, which ms at pre- sent best adapted tu Alexican operatives, must soon make way for tinproved machinery, The demand for woo ten niatrials for clothing ts pop ek tn it might be supposed from the fact of her having a popuaion ef 6,00,000 or more. The Dumber of small estasisiioeats where the cht it fabrics ave made by inl are very great, and the fact is iamentabie, though ‘rue, that by iar the greater por- tion of the people ui the e not in the habit of asing much oriiny, ‘he nation advances, and men and wou to the Indians) become (rere: more civilized, a resyy je aud d-cent amount of clothing will be deja: by tae great muttitndes Of the lower Classes, Wiu0 ave DOW ‘vo be seen alm st naked in the market piace» 0. every city. At present the supply is yreater tian the demand, aluoagh there dre 80 few Woollen ¢ stablishiueaus, pRUus. business i# carried on princi- ly by about half a doreu houses at this capital, which togetier employ a capital of not over §200,00), The importation and sule of dyeseand c icala, used on a large scale by manufacturers and others, does not iall ino the hands of tis branch of trade, as thy consumers are usually their own importers. ‘The ousiness i# merely confined to the sale of niedlicines proper. Unlike the United States, here uo person can pitrene this departwent of trade unless ne petent so to do, as shown by ti amination to which the canu abject him- Self before the Board of . Ut OF 18 Co uintttee, Having been found competcat a regular license is issued, signed and sealed by the proper authorities, Bo again no medicines can ve so'd U) retail dealers unless certificates be first exiibited o: their right to sell and consequently to purciiase. This precaution is resorted to in order tw preveut power‘ul medi. ‘The wholesale dru, of an ox- i Dealers have been compelled to stop importing goods, cept to keep an assortment, ‘imtved ere the sates, During the best times tts braneht has been represented throughout the republic Byneite Gena hone ethan equal those of B sine than eq argo house! of New York or London, ff no rospect that the trade will be Tioreased uu gral sets toward Mexico, or until houssbuilders, Sgzieaita- ralists and others conclude that modern Improve- ments in the various ments are practicable in Mexico as elsewhere, when high mud walls and bars, shutting out the sunlight as wellas the thief, shall be taced by more modern appliances. Phere are now several iron mines and manutac- tures being worked ;in Mex! among which are those known as “Encarnacion, Zunapan and Zacual- pan.” bined say jd ar tint frva. Goan eg ‘and hoop, 8! mt to su "ti side. Establishments here at Jonas up00. Se, Galt ‘ a jose sales were formerly over now “ey than $100 worth ghd On more frequently sell less srpenters’ tools Be The demand. 1s small ‘ices range from $80 to $200. | The, very litue used for am than ‘The trade in and lustres, mented and made brilliant with og latte Dan bee! an important one for "years, but to be cut off by the recent introduction of gas into the city, For the interior a moderate demand con- tinues, Gas fixtures to meet this market will soon be introduced by an American firm from the United States to compete with those of English manufae- cines and chemicais failing into the baods of and being used by ignoraut persons, Medical men, « not graduates in medicine of tie College of Mexico, Must pass @ satisiactory examiuation betore the faculty here before they are permitted to practice thetr profession or prescrive medicines, It might be jpposed that the stringency of tue times, scarcity of money, lavor, &c., would oceasion more suiferin, and idleness, and that physicians, druggists an indertakers Would at all eventa do @ thriving busi- ness, and yet I am tniormed that such is not whe case. wal suffer and die, perh: but with- out being to purchase med)cines for their relief, buried at astonisiingly che rates, In Mexico iso ood place to be buri jy A can be reduced to a few \d~ removed, @ cheap pine box and two to carry the contents, system of practice is probably more than any otuer; consequenily there ts for all the preparations of mer- ghloroforin aud sarsaparilia also sales, a8 diseases of the digestive 8 ‘and of the blood prevail. to $0 ver pound, in gold; mag- BE He i i i ture now offered by the gas com} General hardware 1s commonly English ‘and German: 3 80) ply abundant, sales few. ne The tment of Indi has recently pub- lished a eaves from Tabasco. lean therefrom the howe i of plants and wi which pertain to that State:— tt peo gy or, ‘Mor-Ortza sattea.—Of excellent quality, large grain and ttle ar lelding usually 120 grains for each one planted, re are large and proiitable plantations throughout the State. Cocoa OR CHOCOLATE—Theobroma Cacao—Linn.— This product of Tobasco, by its excellent flavor, has 6 & special article of exportation. Three crops are raised annually, 1,000 trees or plants pro- ducing each year 621 pounds of product, Its cul- ture is being greatly increased. Corres—Cojea Aradica—Linn.—Quality good and product pveraging annually six and three-quarter pounds for each plant. SuGaR CanE—Saccharum oftcinarum—Linn.— Crop very abundant and is perennial. PRPPER—Capsicum annum—Lian.—This crop is abundant, but, as it is a favorite article of food among the natives of Mexico, the demand for it is very great and the local consumption usually about equal to the supply. BEAN (Frijol)—Phaseolus vulgarts—Linn,—Four varieties are cultivated. The yield is twenty-six grains for one planted. This crop is enormous and would be still greater were it not popular with the wild animals. It is @ national dish, Corn—Zea Mais—Linn.—Cultivated abundantly- demand great and yield 160for one. Two crops each year. a Lipeeoes (sweet)—Citrus aurantium.—Abundant and supe! PLANTAIN—Musa, paradtesaos, musa aifartiana, &c,—Linn.—There are six distinct varieties; are culti- vated egy the banks of rivera; are abundant and exquisite. ‘ PALAsT!.—Theobioma bicolor.—Abundant; used as @ confection. Tosacco—Nicotiana tabacum.—Oultivated abund- antly and is of bene aye quality. It is often preferred uc! to the Cuban pi and the cigars made in ‘Ta- basco are sold in the United States and Eu- rope as choice Havana brands. ‘AMARIND—TJamarindus —Produces well, but is little cultivated. TomaTo—Licopusicum Abundant. The following varieties of woods and timber abound, representing strength, durability, toughness, beauty of color, elasticity and aromatic and dyeing qualities:—Achiote, arnica, cascarilia, calahuala, caoba (this tree attains a diameter of six to seven feet), caracaligo, cedar, cocolte, chico-zapate, gua- paque, guayacan, guasimo, jagua, jaguacte, india rubber tree, maculis, macayo (the latter has lately given @ new anti-pertodic to materia medica), palo de tinte, papiste, quebra-hacha, vanilla and zarza- arriila, The above are used in constructions and i the arts. Many of them are exported as dyes and in the manufacture of tools, &c., whore ebony, lig- num-vite, &c., are required. The exportation of metals from Mexico for the year beginning on the 1st of July, 1367, and ending the 30th June, 1363, 1s as follows, according to the duties paid in the city of Mexico and at the ports:— Silver coined. $18,162,225 70 Gold coined. 1,460,029 34 Silver..... 9,163 89 Silver builion. 303,631 65 Gold bullion... 34,862 OT | er sseee. +. $19,969,823 25 ‘The above amount was exported as follows:— FROM TH8 GUL¥ Coast. Silver coin. weeeeee $12,175,435 47 Gold coin. 1,833,428 00 Silvers... see. ee 9,033 89 TOAD screvescressereres + $13,517,973 36 FROM Tie PACIFIC COAST. Silver coined. ©. Es Teves $5,762,543 27 Gold coined. 104,932 00 100 00 803,531 65 34,362 67 $0,205,960 59 $224,205 96 21,669 34 $245,875 30 19,909,823 25 DRY GooDs. Thore are here some five or six large wholesale dry goods houses, and many smaller ones, which to- gether in years gone by have done a business proba- bly reachtug $06,000,009 annually. During the past ‘ear the amount has been reduced one-half. Eng- land and Germany supply most of the goods, tue United States and Franve but very little, aad the latter ing t fancy goods, Very little importing ts now being dong, and, in fact, orders have sent to Burope by most of the large dealers that nothing should be sent out except such few articles as ihey may especially order to fill out their cssortment. Formeriy ait and smail retail dealers pur- chosed their of the iarge importing houses; at the present writing all of the large and inost of the small retailers import their own goods directly, re- suiting in the utter destruction of the business of the large importing houses. Tne latter have beea compeled to open retail stores in order to dispose of tueir goods and Keep their firms afloat, The present Prostration of business has resulced in tho most Irautic efforts to dispose of the stock oa haud, and yet compuratively without suc- cess, aithough oftea solid at leas than cost, ant in most cases on eight months’ time. Too viten the purchaser, after taxing twelve months, demaads a reuewal for another term, and in cases which have come under the knowledge of your correspondeat liabi % are LOS met at ali, failures followtag, or, if part is paid, a portion or all of them stolen upon tae way to the capital by robbers. The indu wnt to engage in mercautlie pursuits here 18 not very great. No improvement can be ex- pected until wise legisiation and active operations on We partof the War Department shall make Lie and the investaent o! capital tolerably secure, thus restoring public conidonce. Alshougit moss of the people who make up Mex- 1oo’s 6,000,000 wear either @ bianket or at beat conrae cotton clothing, tie higaer classes wear woolleas, iuixed siik aud Wvolleas, cassimeros, &¢., as as cotton goods generally of all classes. ‘Tho average direct Cus im ilouse duties on dry goods are twenty-tive per cent Spon value as in- vowed. There is, however, auother duty imposed called “additional duty,” which is seventy per on the twentj-flve per cent direct y: At the City Mexico auother addi- tioual duty or eighteen per cent on the twenty-five per cent is imposed, making & otal customs duty of forty-seven per ceut on the value of the ods. This is complained of, and a commission is Low employed in preparing & bew tari list, wich, however, it is announ by Mr. Romero in his finance report, will not go into effect tor a year or more, so-that importera heed Dot hesitate to make thoi transactions. Mioister Romere Taxed with Falsification of FiguresRevelations Expected About the ‘Treasury—The Case of General Canto Before Cengress=The Export of Ores—Rallroad Mattcra—The Sullivan Case. MExX100, Oct. 29, 1863, The pronunctamientos which some months threat- ened the loyalty of several of the powerful States of this repnblic having at length been suppressed, we have latoly had im their place @ revolution, so to Speak, of individuals against individuals. In part they have been successful, as in the instance of General Cauto against General Patoni. The efforts against Gomes Cuervo were: lead successful, as he was defended by the talented young lawyer Mr. Lan- caster Jones, who, though » Mexican, can boast of Anglo-Saxon biod in his veins, Just at this mo- ment Mr. Zambrano, formerly at the head of the Bureau for Nationalization of Church Property, and & subordinate oficer of Mr. Romero, has pronounced against lis ate chief by publishing statements and Gata showing that, in his opinion, the country is in great danger from the maiadministration of the ‘Treasury Department. Mr. Zambrano declares that there is ® deficit in the revenue of $6,000,000, and that Mr. Romero has, by fal- sification of figures, made up his sum total with mak- inga ression against Mr. espe- ‘neath au pend the at Grasses mare mecermpeeme and declarations of Mr. Zambrano, ‘specially af is known that be was recently removed the fata tat ee oe as oar oh ogeian.it ie stated be thane whe gmenaanen. It 8 3 sup) rt o& the disorganizers, to ae the issue of this of the case, As I have advised you by telegraph the Congress eee ree te ee cs under adv! vileges of a Congressman—invioiability of person and pro- perty—that body u y, by @ unanimous: vote, declared that the evidence against him wassuch that justice required his trial before the courta, ry ingly be taken to the week, where most of the wi mnmitted. oe pl The peopie of “are no less the aamnirica af ‘the late General, Patoni, and it would from the courts as all of its public men view his murder toni as an insult the State. I may here mention the name of Patoni’s late comrade in n, 01 is. promi- nently mentioned 1n co! with ship of the State of Zacatecas. Mr. John A. Mateos maade an eloquent speech in in defence of Cauto; but the evidence was entirely too strong ainst him, notwithstanding the fact that the oMicer of the troops who did the shooting dicd a death of violence in @ private quarrel soon after, and governor- could not, therefore, give his evidence. Joaquin Alcade and declined to act as his defenders, A bill has been introduced in Congress, which is to be acted upon finally , With regard to the ex- portation of ores. Acco! \g to the present laws no ores are allowed to be exported, except from Lower California, since the year.186l. The law now under discussion im; @tax of six per cent upon the product of sliver ores to be taken out of the country, which product is fixed by assays to be made before shipment. The Ly ‘upon gold ores under the same law 1s tixed at ¢l r cent of the product. Co has awoke to the ridiculous posi- tion which it placed themselves by its action for the past ten months upon ail of the rall- road questions which has come fore it, Its com- mittee to which was referred the petition of the American and Mexican Railroad and Telegraph Company for the restoration of the privileges con- ceded by President Juarez on the 15th of April, 1865, and annulled on the 6th of August, 1340, have re- ported in favor of the restoration of rights and privi- leges to said company, and on the 26th of this month offered to Congress @ project of law in favor of sald company which cannot fall to have a beneficial eifect upon such American capitalists as may be contemplating the investment of capital here. Sey- eral New York and Pennsylvania capitalists are said to be interested in this road. Mr. Le Lére is hero for the third time in fifteen months and is asking some changes in the terms of his Tehuantepec concession. it is said he will be successiul, at least in part, and that work will ere pes commence on that jine also, ‘The opposition, having spent their fury upon thé Mexico and Vera Cruz Ratiroad Company for the past ten months, are now exhibiting symptoms of 1atigue, and as the company proposes to surrender the exclusive privilege contaimed in the decree of President Juarez ‘for the construction of all the branch roads of the line from Vera Cruz to Mexico, and as it proposes to reduce the tariff of freight ‘and passengers twenty-five per cent, and as ‘Mr. 4amacona and others have become alarmed at tho immineat danger of having no road for another quarter of a century, there are strong symptoms of a breaking dowa on all sides and a grand compro- mise, which will end in the immediate commence- ment of work upon the line to Puebia and the direct line to Paso del Macho. This wili satisfy a great de- mand which exists among all classes between this city and Vera Cruz for labor and will occupy the class who have been forced into rebellion against the government or against the private rights of indi- viduals, Lf these three enterprises are favorably acted upon by Congress—viz., the Mexico and Vera Cruz, the Tehuantepec and Presidio det Norte and Mange mas railroads—it will be the first legislation whic: looks towards the developmong of the country on an eniarged and enlightened scale. The next thing needed is immi tion, the introduction of Anglo- Saxon families. Of the mixing of races by marriage 1 shall not at present express ny opinton, ‘The scandalous action of the courts ii regard to the funds of Mr, James Sullivan, an English citizen, continues, and there seems tobe § prospect of thelr iving hin bis money. aule that the papers in the Case Will be sent to the English government very 8000 unless the government here compel its dishonest oilicials to disgorge. ‘This is the case of the money and property held by an agent who died. ‘The property was pat under the English seal by the English Consul, waich was disregarded and broken by the oficial here, and the effects, bank account, &e., taken possession of. Nearly thirteen months Pave passed since the occurrence; ail of the legal Processes have been passed through, but the depos- itor WIil not or cannot give up the money, for the reason, among others, that ne has invested it and cannot find it convenient, Legal quibbles are ag plentiful here as in auy country. Colone! Gagern. the secretary of the Governor of Vera Cruz, has arrived here on some busineas with the goverumeat, and has been thrown inte prison by tue order of tue Secretary of War, The Glovo states that the reason 13 that Colonel Gagern ac- ccpted the secretaryship without the permission of the general government. Colonel Gagorn was an otlicer of the liberal army durmg the late warof in- tervention, and ts a German by birth. ‘The Diario Oficial publishes the c>rrespondence between the Loudon bondholders and this govern- ment relative to the vdeo of Mr. B. J. Perry a3 agent of said bonds. A most ridiculous despatch 1ecently reached here Ai Vera Negben Danan aa dart in one of “ a papers, which 4 there was a party in Cuba which favored the annexation of bubs. to Mexico, following the troabies 1a Spainand her deciaration for a repubiic, as it was announced re. The supposed assassin life. of Santos Degollado ts being tried for his There recently arrived here from Austria two sets of silver for Mi. ‘tines de la ‘torre and M. Palacio as a token of estegm and appreciation ior the e:forts wiuch these gentiemen made as legal advisers of Maximilian in his defence. ‘They are understood to have been sent by the Emperor of Austria and to ave cost far up into the thousands, A subvention of $6,000 lias been granted by Con- greas to a company which propose to establish a line of steamers on Lake Lexcoco. On: has already been built aad others will soon be in process of construc. tion, Messrs. Zavala, Macin and fuentes y Muioz are the company. ‘The lateer two are known in the United States. Young Buchell died recently from an injury re- ceived from a horse When aitempiing vo assi friend who had a dimiculty on the raseo. ‘The Mint of Guanajuato coined in the week ending September 17 $42,000 in sliver and 326,000 gold. The mines of Guanajuato gave $10,525 06 for the week ending October 10. he Mr. Beers, a young English gentleman, was acct- dentally killed by the discuarge of a Keury rifle a lew moments since, The Right to Carry Arms Established—A Pa- cific Const Steam Line—The Death Penalty— Criminal AifairsNews from Guerrero, Mie choucan and Tamaulipas, HAVANA, Nov. 7, 1868, The English steamer Tamar, from Vera Cruz on the ist inst., arrived at this port yesterday and brings news from the capital to the 20th uit. Congress has passed a bill authorizing the govern- ment to take $60,000 in shares of the Tialpam Rail- road, provided the work be completed on or before the sist of May next, It has also passed the govern- iment project authorizing the right of private indi- viduals to carry arms. Senor Ossage had arrived at the capital from Oaxaca, bringing @ project to establish @ line of steamers, under the national flag, between Acapulco, Pore Angel, Ventos@, Tonala, San Joss de Guate- a and all the ports ol San Salvador and Hon- duras, The council of waron the case of ex-Lieutenant Colonel Fiores and one of his accomplices have sen- tenced both to death. Their defonders have apptied for pardon, The press generaily opposes the a naity, Tae political Prefect of Guadalajara, with twenty. eight of the police, recently encountered the band of Nemesio Navarro. They killed three of the robvera, took throe prisoners, twenty horses sad many arms. What remained were subsequently p by the ae of Zapotianejo, who end captured A Spaniard named Liano had been murdered by by soine Tobbers on the Esperanza hacienda, They killéd the overseer. A Spaniard named Alvaro de Prender hag been a6 8 pernicious foreigner. Alvarez continues to levy the Custom House duties at Acapulco and it was intended to accuse hun before ‘The Legislature of Michoacan has declared the 2ist of October to be s day of mourning in ths State in ann of the bloody executions of Salazar, Vil 62 and Gonzales, who were ficed by the intervention in Uruapan. he had ived at Vio- toria in pursuit of the bands marauding in the State ‘The story of the assassination of Escobedo is not true, ho waving artivod safely at NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1868.—TRIPLE OCEAN STEAM NAVIGATION AND THE QUES- TION OF SUBSIDIES CONSIDERED. To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— For @ quarter of @ century prior to the ectablish- siderably, and because of their increased length and finer lines and the application of the hollow water line to their entrances ond. clearances they reduced the average length of voyage across | the ocean nearly one-half, Yankee ships and Yankee enterprige were, in those paimy days for our merchants ana shipbuilders, the constant subject of remark in all commercial countries, and the develop- ment of our commerce by means of our own superior ships had become both the envy and the admiration of the whole’civilized, world. Such is the tenacity with which trade and travel adhere to established usage and follow old accus- tomed methods of transport that the highly subsi- dized lines of English steamers had for several years to contend for @ share of the lucrative carrying trade of which we had, by the means referred to, acquired almost @ monopoly. Our merchants at length began to see that the steamers would ultl- mately win the day and obtain the bulk of if not the eutire passenger business; but the; great zeal and nacity to the fast sailing clipper or half clipper ships for the transport of freight. At length after the Engilsh steam lines had been ten or @ dozen years in successful operation and were . lly engrossing the best paying descriptions of ‘eight, some of our more far seeing merchants be- gan to consider the quostion in a broader and more practical light. They saw that the days of sailing vessels were numbered, and that we could no longer hold the commercial sceptre of the seas if we did not promptly turn our enterprise in the direc:ton of steamshi) Everybody knows what foliowed. Con- greas with commendable il ity granted a subsidy to a company—afterwards known as the Collins’ Company. Ships, in size, accommodation and steam power, far superior tothe Cunard steam- ers were built and put on the line between. this port and Liverpool. For atime we seemed to have re- gained our old prestige on the seas, but it turned out to be only seeming, These cosily stru with equally costly engines, proved to be failures. ‘Their consumption of coal and cost of maintenance were such that even the very liberal postal subsidy could not sustain them, and the misfortunes and uu. merous accidents ana break downs led to the final refusal of Congress to renew the subsidy, so the com- pany ended in bankruptcy and mortification, Meantime the rivalry ongendered by this. short- lived and singularly uniucky attempt to maintain our supremacy of ocean trade led to an immense im- ovement in the models and machinery of the ih steamers, Scientific naval architects investi- gated the whole subjectof designing and cpainesting ia Met succeeded, by inviting shipowners an ractical builders and engineers to meet together, irst in the rooms of the Engineers’ Association in London and afterwards in those of the naval archi- tects, in effecting numerous and important improve- ments in their steamers. French engineers, always on the alert for improvements, availing themselves of these valuable oP) tunities to acquire a know- ledge of first principles, became rivals of the Eng- lish, The result has been that the carrying trade on the ocean—except the coasting trade, which we con- trol through our exclusive nav! lon laws—has be- come a monopoty in the hands of the English, French and Germans, who get their ships fy built in nglan The rapid glance thus taken of the changes and vicissitudes of the ocean ae | trade during the last forty years should be full of interest to evel American reader, We had succeeded in construct ing wondrously fast lake, Sound and river buats, but when brought into active competition, aided by a most liberal subsidy, with British steamers, we broke down, and, in a very un-American style, gave up the contest. Our shrpbuilders are idle; and the building yards which once swarmed with skilled workmen are either silent and closed or keep a fey score men at work on an occasional river or fert'yboal The almost entire annihilation of so important a branch of national industry, carrying with it, as it does, in consequence of our exclusive navigation laws, the loss the transatlantic carrying trade, and of our prestige as a first class maritime Power, is @ source of i ee and chagrin. Some tage ha id We Ay Joss to oe raids ate on Te uisers during the war. Bulag dan be faces ‘unfounded than this assump- tion. Gur lines of steamers had proved failures be- fore the war began, and though we have had four hogs of peace there is no symptom of a revival of he business. Such arguments must, therefore, be dismissed as worthy only of stump orators, who rarely ever look below the surface of things, and rely, rather, on denunciation and invective than on ‘sound common sense conclusions, How- ever unpalatable it may be toour national vanity, ‘the true reasons for the decadence in question should be honestly laid bare and admitied. The truth is that for ono reason or another we have falien be- hind European nations tn the art of shipbuilding, ‘The writer has on several occasions endeavored to point this out without wounding the amour propre of our worthy shipbullders, who have ever been ac- customed to the praises of unskilled and unlearned writers, It is thercfore fecnoeet to point out Low and where they have failed. The circumstance thai our naval designers have becn unable to improve their lake and river modeis so = to aa an ar of foes on @ ven engine power for over twenty years hey be taken to be strong evidence that they have been at least stationary for that period. We have nothing now on our inland waters in the shape of steamers to surpass in specd and seawortiiness such boats as the City of Builuio and many others that run on our lakes nearly a quarter of acentury ago, But it is when we come to a comparison of Our Ocean steamers With those of ey and France that we are put to the biush, Tt does not require the skilled eye of the scientiic naval architect to point out the superior points and beauty of these foreign buiit vessels ag compared with our own, ‘Those accustomed to cross our Jersey City and Staten Isiand fervics wilt have had frequent oppor- of remarking the very striking diference in the style of the two ciasses of stcamers—those of European and those of American build. Such observers are at once struck with the great length, fine iines and general synietry of the foreign steam- ships. On the other hand when -their attention is drawn toa “bulky, unwieldy, Dutch” looking steamer short and high out of the water, with no end of, What sailors call “top hamper," they guess at once that she was built on tho East river somewhere below Thirtieth street. Even the much praised wooden structures, built and building, for the Subsi- dized Pactfle Mal Company, are no exceptions to the rue stated, They are vast and costly, aud as mere floating hotels compare favorably with European steamships. As ships they are expensive to butid and very costly to run, each one has to carry on every voyage she makes, about 500 tons of unne- cessary dead weight, which renders an increase of engine c a large dally increase of fuel in- dispensl Wood, as @ material for the construction of the hulis of ships, has been pretty nearly discarded by European builders, aud ony continues to be used by our more conservative merchants, who think @ saving of ten or fifteen per cent on the first cost bet- ter ihan saving twenty-tive per cent annually in ope- rating them, But 1t is claimed by some of our more advanced shipbuiiders that they can construct iron Ships at least as cheaply a4 we can build of wood, ‘They, however, that American merchants and capitalista are timid about investing in steamers of the size and design required to compote with the European Imes, although many of those lines are said to be paging fifteen to twenty per cent pean num on_ the capital invested. On the owner band it 1s alleged by our capitalists that no sound business man can be ex: to enter into competition with those lines that monopolize the lioa’s share of the firsc class passenger business and obtain the best paying descriptions of frelht, and at the same time receive very liberal subsidies from European governments, ‘This brings us down to the question of mail subsl- dies, It will scarcely be doubted that the misfor- tunes and. final dowa of the Collins line of steamers influenced Congress in its refusal to renow the subsidy to them or auy other company. The question, ‘iemay be said, now presents itself in a new aad more national form than heretofore, Tie war, though digastrous to @ large number of peopie in ono section Of the country, has had o most important and permanent effect on our future destinies. It has made us @ nation and & first class Power, To main- tain this exalted position it is indtspe le that should regain ers and ocean carriers, To do this we must just take one or two steps in advance rily distanced us in the race, top building wooten shi and especially satling ships. These laiter will become useless lu} for they So no ener 7A lily compete ateamera, xcept im iron ve. wood. us Bee more clearly how this case Bl ‘An fron or steel hull weighs one quar- ter less than one built of wood, and will jast avout ‘three tu a8 long aud requires but a small annual outlay for ‘The repairs on @ wooden hull in fifteen to teen years, when the structure is no longer sea’ amount to about as much as the original coat, then she is condemned and broken up. The repairs on af tron hull in th me time time cost comparatively little, and she is good for twenty or thirty years longer, Indeed, it is not eas; to determine the longevity of well constructed Well taken care Of iron vessels, Some oxperienced aiipowners cava Pog i i bo sae wich proves, acme ut a} 28 the hig age assigued to man—four h 1 ae because it isa law of nature that S cleuerte moving bodies at a given locity Increases in @ certain ratio as the depta of ™mersion increases, Whatever, therefore, tends to diminish the weight of the structure of a ship ei the scientifie tocombine fine lines with all this has ta do with bs steed bet Mitre A little reftection will show that these well established principles and EF Americans, the conditions speci a the contract, If we are going to beat the fast ish and French steamers we must avail ourselves of all the knowledge extant on the subject ofnaval arcratecture, They must be longer and wider, than those 8! with @ proportionately greater Tl vessels are, many of them, 370 feet long. To beat them we must go up to 450 or 509, and not increase, or rather we must diminish, their ‘There is no trouble, with our present Knowl- , in designing and engineering such a steamer 80 a8 to make eighteen nautical miies an hour. The City of Buifalo and others like her made twenty English miles. This will reduce the average voyage from ten or siren to seven et eight re i Bt consid the postal subsidy ques- tion, should make iteelf familiar with the gencral principles which lie at the botiom of the subject, and on the adoption of which must depend any renewed effort to get back ourold renown on the ocean. ‘To grant @ mail contract and subsidy to those who either donot understand the diilicuit probiems of naval architecture or to those who are still worse by reagon of their prejudices in favor of exploded pa ciples, will only be to lead to new faliures and moritfications to our national pride. To secure suc a tine of steamers as those alluded to Congress may safely authorize and require the Postmaster General to enter into a contract to pay the company an annual sum sufilcient to enable such company to raise the necessary capital. The post- age On the mail matter carried by such steamers will fully indemnify the government against loss. But even that is a secondary consideration compared with the moral effect it will have on our maritime interests, We are about to complete a grand highway from ocean to ocean for the transport of the peopie and the commerce of three continents. The business of -the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and of all the coun- tries whose shores are wushed by their waters, or are accessible by rivers and railways from their interiors and which seeks access to foreign markets, will be concentrated at New York and San Francisco in order to obtain rae transii across our great inter-oceanic lines of rallway, for we shall need several. The time ts, therefore at hand—and never was a time so favor- able—when we may regain, by a bold and statesman. like policy, the ing we have lost on the At- tantic. The day is also not far distant when pas- sengers may be transported from San Francisco to Liverpool in a forinight—a period nov long since re- quired to cross from New York to Liverpvol, With similar ships on the Vaciflc the journey between China aad Europe may be performed in less than a month. It is suggested that a special jotat commit- tee of the two houses should be appointed to lnquire into the causes of the faiiure of our transatlantic steam lines and to consider the propriety of grant ing @ mail subsidy to proper and responsible parties, it may be that our public men have not yet been educated up to the high estate that Providence has prepared for us as a civilized nation, and that nar- Tow aud sectional usies ay postpone the grant- ing of the necessary aid to accomplish all teat is re- quired of us, Congress should consider the question entirely from a nutional point of view, and failing to recognize the necessity of aiding to retrieve our status on the ocean by steaincrs built by our owa builders they should repeal the navigation laws, so as to ailow our merchants to buy their ships in the markets pf the world, ‘his 13 the only consistent course that cal taken. Either do this or remove the duties on iron and other coi \lities imported specially for ship- bi aud t our capitatiists on the same foot- ing as those of other transallantic countries in regard to ital subsidies. ‘There is much error existing in the public mind in Trogard to mail subsidies. ‘they are too commonly treated as mere bounties paid to shipowners for doing an eo public service. The govern- meat of Great Britain, it is said, receives @ pretty fall cash return on the mail matter carried by the Cunard Company. It 1s, tnerefore, only a fair bar- gain, the company giving full vaiue for ail it receives trom the pul exchequer, LB. W. POLIT:OAL INTELLIGENCE, ‘ General Grant’s Cabinct—Who Shall Be Secretary of State? {From thé Chicago Tribune (Grant organ), Nov. 17.] In the British government the Secretary of the jury stands at tho head of the-Cabinet; but in the American government the Secretary of State, who has _ chai of foreign reiations, is considered to hold that exalted rank. The President of every administration, from Wash- on down to the present day, has selected the abiest obiainable material in LV gh) as Secretary of State. Look at the bright constellation of stars which have shone in the State Depart- ment, In the order of their succession:—Thomas Jel- ferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Q. Adams, Henry Ciay, ‘Martin Van Buren, Edward Liv- ingston, Joho Forsyth, Daniel Webster, John U. Cal- houn, James Buchanan, Jotin M. Clayton, Edward or Wm. L. Marcy, Lewis Cass, Wim. H. Seward. Six of these men were afterwards President, viz:— Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Adams, Van Burea and Buchanan; and four of them were candidates before ‘the people for the Presidency, viz.;:—Clay, Webster, Cathoun, and almost Seward. General Grant'must find a com; who can aver- age with these. All Presidenis put their best foot forward im _ the selection of Secretary of State. What timber has General Grant to select from? Let us see. ‘here is the courtly and suave Senator Charles Sumner; the accomplished, polished and fearned J. Lothrop Motley, late Minister to Aus- tria; Charles Francis Adama, late Minister to Eng- land, of aris‘ocratio and manners, cold, haughty, talented and high bred, and, las: Edwin M. Stanton, late Secretary of War, a man of great brain power, feariess, direct, unyielding and a scorner of diplomatic intrigue an bynoceist i he were Secretary of State Great Britain wo Bet- tie the Alabama and other claims without much More circumlocution, evasion, insolence or procras- tination, As President Grant wiil ley his dager on a first class man i he takes either of these men, and as he can, we yy command their we cannot see the force of the statement made by a con- tomporary that he would not be able to find a man for Secretary of State who would compare lavorably with tuose who have filled that office. Political Notes. The Now Orleans Picayune evidently has a not very exalted opinion about ex-Secretary Stanton as Secretary of War under General Grant. Hear it:—In all the gossip and speculation about Grant’s Cabinet no mention is made of Stanton in connection with the War Department. Heaven be praised! Stanton, Secretary of War, would be the heaviest biow Grant's election could inflict upon us. We should fall once more under the rule of the Sheridans, the Mowers, the Reynoldses and the Sickleses, and chaos would come again. ‘The oMoial majority for Hartranfs, the republican candidate for Auditor of Pennsylvania, at the Oo- tobor election, was 9,677; that of Grgat for President in November, 23,898. The Indianapolis Journat publishes the oft-quoted phrase, “After Grant—what?’ and immediately adds, ‘Hon. Henry Wilson.’ It is stated that Mr. Kel'ey, of Pennsylvania, will introduce the proposed amendment to the constitu. tion establishing universal suffrage in the United States, The republican journals are not unanimous in their support of the measare, “The newspapers have you marricd as well as chosen Vice President,” said a friend to Mr. Speaker Colfax the other day, ‘Elected, but not yet sworn in in either case," was the reply. The Springfield (iil.) State Register (demoor atic) ig not particularly complimentary to @ former dis- tinguished New York democrat, if in earnest when it says:— It ts gratifying to notice the ananimity with which our ion of the removal of Mr. Belmont from the ional Democratic Committee i seconded by the ern press. Whatever good he may have done our cause im time past has been aoa warded by tho distinguished juon he has heid amoug Us. ‘ihe evil he has done us recently can only partially be aioned for by expylsion from our councils. If at heart a democrat let him work in the ranks with the numblest, for the very humblest deserve more consideration than he, Ex-Congressman James M. Ashiey, of Ohio, ts out in a long statement in which he makes the strange admission—for a Western that “he never was at @ horse raco, never in“® gambling house, never purchased and drank @ giass of spirituous liquors during any canvass,” &c, No wonder he was de- feated. ‘The Savannah News states that fifteen young gen- tletnen of Montgomery, who decided to go to Cali- fornia if Grant was elected, have changed their minds on account of the earthquakes, Alabama is under great obligations to the earthquakes for pre- Serving to her so many valuable citizens, If General Shields 18 elected for the Sixth Missouri district, as it now appears he is, he will have the rare and singular distinction of having represented Iili- nois and Minnesota in the Senate and Missouri in the House, besides having sought Seuatorial honors at the hands of Orecom HgapQquarrsrs DsPakTMENT OF THE MissouRt, In THE FIELD, Fort Hays, Kansas, Nov. 14, 1868, morrow being the day fixed by General Sheridan for his departure to the front, south of the Arkansas, te row (Sunday), overtaking the train at the North Fork of the Pawnee, about forty-elght miles on the way. The column which moved to-day is commanded by First Lieutenant Thomas Lebo, Tenth United States cavalry, which moved under the following orders:— HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE Missouri, Fort Hays, Kann poe 13, 1868, Lieutenant Leso, Commanding Company 0, Texte cavalry :— The Major General commanding directs that you percem with your command, the orderiies, private rses belonging to the. stail, and hi juarters: at eleven o’clock A, M, on Saturday, Nov. 14, the Dodge road, where you will go into can) On Sunday you wilt leave Lieutenant Tayler and twenty men of your command at Big Tim’ to await the arrival of the Major General commanding, and proceed yourself with the balance of your com- pany and the wagons and lead horses to the Pawnee, crossing Nortif Fork, where you will go into camp for the night and superintend the pliching of the tents belonging to headquarters and await the ar- rival of the Major General commanding. ‘The scouts and Indians will accompany your com- mand. On your arrival at Walnut creek, on Sunday, you will leave the orderlies of the following named otlicers with their respective horses to await their arrival at that point:—Major Gencral Sheridan, brevet Brigadier General Forsyth, Brevet Lieutenunt Colonel MeGonnigie, Brevet Lieutenant Coionst Crosby and Assistant Surgeon Ascii. lau, very respectfully, your ebedient servant, Jd. SCHUYLER, CROSBY, Brevet Lieutenant Coicacl, A. D. 0. ‘The following orders were issued to Lieutenant Silas Pepoon, commanding scouts:— Heapquanters, DgPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI, | Ix THE FiELp, Fort Hays, Kansas, Nov. 13, 1868, Lieutenant Paroon, Commanding Scouts, Fort Daya, Kansas:— Smm—You will move your command on Saturday morning, the i4th inat., at eleven o’c.ock, in connee- tion with the movement of headquarters train and Company C, Tenth cavairy, to Big Tuabers, where you will go Into camp for tae night. OnmSunday you will move, in conaection with Licu- tenant Lebo's command, to the Pawace, crossing om the Dodge road, and there go into camp and awals further orders from these headquarters. By command of Major Geacral SHERIDAN, J. SCHUYLER Crosby, Brevet Licutenant Colovel, Alde-de-Camp, The Indians who accompanied th's column area party of the Kansas or Kaw nation, who have always been friendiy and will be used as scouts and guides, as their familiarity with the physical features of the comparatively unexplored country which the troops will traverse emi tly adapts them to that purpose, The names of these Indians are:—Sam Sambo, an Indian speaking English, who will act as interpreter; Frank Johnson, Utes-ar-gah-be, Tali-c-ah, O-utes-ar- jah, Tah-se-ah, John Moon, B-ar-se-bah-se, Wy-o- nosh-in and John De Lasi. Major Gencral Sheridan will take with hum the fol- lowing ollicers, who will constitute his staff in the fleld:—Brevet Lieutenant Colonel J. Schuyler Crosby, Brevet Brigadicr General James W. Forsyth, Brevet ideutenant Colonei A. J. McGonnigle, Dr. Morris J. Asch and brevet Lieutenant Colovei Thomas W. 0, Moore. During the absence of the Gencral commanding, the headquarters of the department will be estan. lished at this post in ciarge of Brevet Brigadier Gen- eral Chauacey McKeever, Srovet Brigadier General by Seles R. Morgan wit retura io Fort’ Leavenworth amt Brevet Leiuienant Colonel Michael V. Sheridan, Cuptain Seventh United States cavairy and Alde-~<de Caimp, will remain on duty here. In uccordance with the following order Captain J. W. Clous, ‘Yhirty-eightn United States intantry, will act as Assistant Adjutaat General to Geuerad Sully’s column:— HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE Missouri, In THE FIELD, * Fort Hays, Kansas, Nov, 12, 1868, Captain J. W. Clous, Thirty-cightw intantry, is hereby relieved from duty at Fort Mays and will pro- coed without delay to the headquarters, Disirice of the Upper Arkansas in the ficld, reporting on his are rival in person to Brevet Brigadier General Alfred Sully for assignment to duty on his statf. ycommund of Major General SHERIDAN.” a. costae Cnossy, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, e-Camp, The following officers willremain at this Po . which will‘also be the headquariers of the Firta United States infantry:—Brevet Colonel Andersom D. Nelson, commanding post; First Lieutenant E. L. Randall, Post Adjutant; Captain Samuel Overasht Captain Martin Mullins, First Lieutenant William J, Reed, First Lieutenant George McDermott, First Lieutenant Joseph M. Kelley, Licutenant Quintin Campbell, Amos S. Kimball, Captain and Assistant Quartermaster; William F. Buchanan, Assistant Surgeon Medical Department, Post Surgeon. Lieutenant William J. Volkmar, of the Fifth Unite@ States cavalry, having returned here from Forté reports an encuunter with Indians Lieu- ‘agons were also under escort. The first day after leaving Fort Harker a party of fifty hostile sav~ ges were encountered by the rear guard of the column, which had been ordered back four or five poet vagy, heeteaped pod SY eee fied, making a detour e column. No more was secon of the savages until the afternoon of the 6th It was nearly sunset when, as the column was g@bout to go into camp, near Big Coon creek, the ad- vance guard of ten men, under Sergeant struck @ party of fifty or sixty sav: dying ravine under cover, apparently aw: an oppor- double column, with the led animals in the-cent eee eae wagons, The ambulance con- ining Mrs. Martin was likewise placed between the wagons, Lieutenant Martin joining the skirmishers @ stampede of the antinals. While this diversion was being made by Coionei Beateen Lieutenant Volkmar, who & line of skirmishers on the flanks of the column, moved forward to the site selected forthe camp. During the engagement Mrs. Martim conducted herself in a manner worthy of the profes- sion of her husband, sitting smiiingly in her ambu- lance, @ pistol in each hand, ready for any emer- gency. Night coming on Coionel Unued the GS. and although the Indians hov- ered about the encampment during the entire night they were afraid to inake an attack, as ev tion had been taken to prevent a su morning the column resumed 1 1s still being in sight, but keeping at a distance. With. out further event the train reached Fort in safety on the same Saturday afternoon, Brevet brigadier Gene Mantis Mckeever, Ma rT and Assistant Adjutant General ment of the issourt, arrived here this morning from Fort Leays enworth, and will remain here during the absence of the Major General commanding tu the feld. Brevet Brigadier General B. U. Card, captain and chief quarterinaster, Department of the Missouri, ar~ rived here this morning from Fort Leaveaw on omicial business, Lieutenant Quintin Campbell, Fifth United States Infantry, 1eft this post yesterday, escorting supply train to Fort Dedge. Dr. T. B. Chase, medical department, has been as- signed to duty as post surgeon at Fort Leavenworth, temporarily relieving Dr. D. La der, on leave. Dr. A. D. Wilson, surgeon United States Army, hae been reitoved from duty with the Tenth United staves prin and assigned to tae Fifth United States cavalry, First Lieutenant J. M. Kelley, Thirty-eighth United Statea infantry, retarned here yesterday from Fort Dodge, having proceeded to that post with a train of supplies. Ploutenant WiltamJ. Vorkmar, Fifth United States cavalry, having retu! from escort duty to Fort Dodge, has been ordered to r for duty to the sonreapding oficer of his it, now at Fore lace, Lieutenant Quintin Campbell, Fifth United State infantry, has been reileved as Post adjutant, First - 5. L, Kendall having been assigned to that uty. ANOTHER INCENDIARY FIRR IN LYNonBURG, VA The residence and stable of J. Newton Cordon, in Lynchburg, Va., were burned on Saturtoy p cht ‘The loss i estimated at $8,600; insured fo ein virginia companies. The fire Was the work of am Incendiary. Much excitement exists tn the comma nity over the Cun wme: of these incendiary frog, ‘The morning of tie same day two unoccupied builds ings ac the lower end of Main street were deatr byaa incendiary fie. They were valued ut py hes ‘here Lave been th & brief space of time not lean than half adozen destructive fires in Lynchburg, hindled, a8 is believed, by incendiaries.