Kamschatka, now in progress of being finished in New York, were wrought at Ridgely's forge, on the Gunpowder river, about seventeen miles from Baltimore, each shaft being 22 feet 8 inches in length, 184 inches in diameter, and weighing 18,000 lbs. The ore known as the Elk Ridge Hone,* is of superior quality; it is used much for the better and finer descriptions of casting; and large parcels are shipped weekly, mostly to New York. This and the other ores in the vicinity of Baltimore yield from 35 to 50 per cent. There is an ore denominated the bog-ore, which is found in Worcester county, on the eastern shore of the state, which was worked a few years since, but the furnace is probably not in operation at this time. The ore yielded only 29 per cent.† Copper ore is found in considerable quantities in Frederick county, principally near the village of New London, in mines belonging to Isaac Tyson, jr., of Baltimore. In 1839, about forty tons of pig were obtained from this ore, which yielded about thirty per cent of pure metal; and the lot was taken by a manufacturer in Baltimore at the same price of the best Peruvian, and was found on working it to be equal in quality to any other description. Another mine is worked on a small scale in the same county, near Liberty, which is not quite so rich a vein, it is thought, as the first-named; but either might afford more profit to the parties interested, if they were worked with more energy; in such case, however, a considerable outlay would be previously necessary, and this again would probably make the formation of a company requisite, which event would be likely to check operations sooner than if the whole devolved upon an individual with ample means, which he could employ as best comported with his views. The other minerals of the state consist of anthracite, granite, marble, quartz, soapstone, limestone, flint, sandstone, slate, potters' fire and pipe clay, asbestos, ochres of various kinds, chromes, aluminous earth, &c.; and on analyzing one or more springs, in several of the western counties, the waters were found to possess sulphate of magnesia, muriate of soda, sulphate of lime, muriate of lime, and carbonate of lime. In reference to manufactures, it has already been stated that they are one of the characteristics by which Maryland is distinguished; it was so meant in part, because of the great water privileges which exist, and might be made productive; and because to a certain extent they are improved, as will be shown in the sequel. An examination of the water power, particularly in the vicinity of Baltimore, was made some years The authorities of Harrisburg, Pa., in constructing the works necessary for supply. ing that city with water, procured their pipes from the iron works of the Messrs. Ellicott of Baltimore. These pipes they pronounce to be "the best manufactured in this or any other country." A New York paper, speaking of the extensive water works going on near that city, alludes to the excellence of the pipes manufactured by the Messrs. Ellicott, and says"The Common Council of this city have contracted with these gentlemen for a large supply. We lately saw a cargo of their pipes, of various sizes, landing on the wharf, and being somewhat of a judge of the article, do not hesitate to pronounce them beautiful castings. The iron, made from the Maryland ore, is celebrated for its strength, and acknowledged by mechanics to be as well, if not better, calculated for the purpose than any other manufactured in the country." + J. H. Alexander, Top. Eng. Rep., 1840, since by an engineer, for the purpose of imparting information to gentlemen in an eastern section of our country; and those who read the report, now speak of it as very favorable, as well on account of their never-failing sources, as from their elevated courses, healthy climate, and the moderate expenses of labor. Some of the sites have since been improved, but there is yet room for hundreds more. It is no longer ago than last March, that a gentleman who had visited Baltimore and its environs, and informed himself, it would appear, pretty correctly of the spirit which he found existing, wrote, after his return, to the following effect: "There is another subject which I should like to see ably handled, the unrivalled advantages of Baltimore and its neighborhood for the purpose of manufactures. . There is not on the continent a location more favorable for manufacturing enterprise. Every thing is cheap; and ready access can be had to all the markets in the Union. Nothing is wanting but enterprise and industry to make the whole nation tributary to your city. I am surprised at the apathy which seems to prevail on the subject. There appears not even sufficient interest in it to lead to the investigation of the facts." The foregoing extract comes so near to the truth, that it will be in vain to attempt a diversion: but the object at present is, not to show solely what may be done, but what has been done; and this will be shown in the tables at the conclusion of this article. It may not be amiss to remark here, in reference to the silk business, that no official report having been made on the subject, the inference is, that it is left to take care of itself pretty much, under the auspices only of a few private families. The mania appears to have died with the morus multicaulis. Agricultural Productions, Stock, &c., and Value on the Farm. Inspections in, and Shipments from, the Port of Baltimore, of certain leading articles for the year 1840. FISH-Herrings, inspected, (caught in Maryland waters,) Shad, Forwarded after being opened and pickled, Consumed in Baltimore bls. 72,370 10,937 exports do bush. 170,000 320,000 220,000 Total, bush. 710,000 129 116,2043 $6,995,285 4,576,561 5,179,628 do number of barrels of flour, inspected in the city of Baltimore for ten years, ending June 30th, 1840, Averaging 517,962 barrels per year. The Population of Maryland, according to the last census, consists of The number of primary and common schools in the state is Number of white persons over twenty years of age who cannot read and write, In the city of Baltimore, one male child, on an average, out of every 26 children under five years of age, lives to the age seventy-five years; and one female out of every 157 reaches that period of life. But the disparity is greater in the following counties; which are selected as the greatest antagonists in the state: In Carroll county, 1 male child out of every 10g reaches 75 years. In Queen Anne's co. 1 do In Calvert co. 1 female do do do do 562 16,321 6,621 11,580 ART. V.-FREE TRADE. WHEN I furnished an article a few months ago for the Merchants' Magaazine, under the head of "Free Trade," I had no thought of pursuing the subject any further: but the tone of the reply which appeared in the May number, seems to demand a few remarks. In making them, I shall be as brief as the nature of the subject will admit, and shall confine myself entirely to the matter at issue, without attempting to answer the discour teous language of my opponent's article. I. The first position of the "remarks," is that "government may often confer a vast benefit on the whole nation, by extending to the struggling infant [any new business] its fostering, protecting aid, by means of a discriminating duty on the importation of the foreign article." The author has furnished in another part of his "remarks" a reply to this position, which will relieve me from the necessity of repeating the arguments by which it was fully met in my former article. He says: Undoubtedly there are imposts, levied by this or that nation, which operate injuriously, and ought to be taken off." Now here he is undoubtedly right. All governments are composed of men, and frequently of very weak and selfish men; consequently, they are far from being infallible. If any thing is proved by experience, it is that governments are quite as likely to extend their "fostering, protecting aid" to a branch of industry to which the country is not at all adapted, as to one for which it has a natural capacity. |