COMMERCE OF WESTERN TOWNS COMPARED. FREEMAN HUNT, Esq., Editor of the Merchants' Magazine, etc. :— DEAR SIR-Below you have the exports and imports, coastwise, of Cleveland, Sandusky, and Toledo, as valued by their respective Collectors of Customs, for the year 1851: Imports... Exports... Total ...... Cleveland. 9,262,657 $19,180,554 Sandusky City. 4,656,641 $18,301,311 Toledo. $22,987.772 7,847,808 $30,855,580 Great care was exercised by the Collector of Toledo to make a correct estimate, and, in regard to exports, the value of which could be known, he is, no doubt, quite accurate. By overvaluing merchandise, as it seems to me, he has swelled the imports to nearly three times the exports. It is likely that the Collector at Sandusky has committed the same error; I know he did, in past seasons. If one-quarter were added to the exports of each place, it would give a result, for the imports, more satisfactory to me than the estimates of the Collectors. The imports should exceed the exports in value, because they go to places whose exports are made through New Orleans. The quantities of corn, wheat, flour, pork and lard, bacon, and staves exported, and salt imported, in 1851, appear to be as follows, says the Toledo Blade: DOMESTIC EXPORTS FROM DETROIT IN 1851 VALUE-$4,846,919. By this table it will be seen that in wool, fish, and lumber, Detroit stands No. 1 among the upper Lake Erie ports. In flour No. 2, and in value of exports No. 3. The breadstuffs exported, as shown by the above table, from four lake ports, counting the flour at five bushels the barrel, exceed eighteen and a quarter millions of bushels. If Detroit and the other lake ports were included, the amount would probably be swelled to twenty-four or twenty-five millions shipped in 1851 from the upper lakes. If prices should encourage exports through this year, the amount for 1852 will be greatly in excess of that of last year. Yours truly, IMPORTS OF FRANCE IN 1851. J. W. SCOTT. The Moniteur publishes the returns of the principal articles imported into France, and the duties levied thereon, in 1851. Those duties produced f117,121,485, or f7,575,000 less than in 1850, and f10,735,000 less than in 1849. The salt-tax, reduced by two-thirds since 1848, gave, in 1851, f26,616,000, or about f1,000,000 more than last year. The number of vessels, French and foreign, which entered the ports of France in 1851, amounted to 17,406, measuring 2,188,556 tons, and those which cleared out to 17,035, measuring 1,870,094 tons. THE BRITISH TOBACCO TRADE. The official trade tables of the country show an increase in the importation of tobacco last year compared with the preceding. In eleven months, ending the 5th ult., of manufactured tobacco there were 25,376,017 lbs. imported; and in the like period of the preceding year, 21,931,304 lbs; whilst in the eleven months ending the 5th ult., there were 25,490,154 lbs. entered for home consumption, and in the same period of 1850, 25,420,927 lbs. entered for home consumption, chargeable with duty. THE PORK TRADE OF THE WEST. The following statement, which we copy from the Cincinnati Price Current, shows the extreme and average prices for each day of the season of 1851-52, and the average for 1850-51, and also the weekly average for the three last seasons :— It is seen that the average for the season is seventy-five cents per 100 lbs. higher than in 1850-51, and $1 89 above the average of 1849-50. COMMERCE OF TAMPICO, MEXICO. We are indebted to FRANKLIN CHASE, Esq., United States Consul at Tampico, for the subjoined statement of the Commerce of Tampico for the year 1851 : GROSS RETURN OF AMERICAN AND FOREIGN TRADE AT THE PORT OF TAMPICO DURING THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1851. REMARKS.-The British steam packets, Mexican, Spanish, English, French, and Oldenburg vessels exported specie.-1 American, 1, Mexican, 1 French, and 1 Oldenburg vessel were lost on the bar. NOTE.-Imports per British steam packets were 1,590 flasks of quicksilver, for mining purposes. BRITISH TRADE WITH THE EAST. The East India and China Association have published their usual comparative statement of the number of British ships, with the aggregate tonnage, entered inwards and cleared outwards from and to places within the limits of the East India Company's charter, in the years 1850 and 1851. According to the statement of the vessels en tered inwards, the increase in favor of the latter period is 17 vessels, with 24,278 tonnage the difference between 926 vessels, with 442,793 tonnage, in 1850, and 943 vessels, with 467,071 tonnage, in 1851. The port of London figures for an increase of 12 vessels, with 15,563 tonnage, the number of vessels entered inwards being 597, with 288,849 tonnage, for 1850; and 609 vessels, with 304,412 tonnage, for 1851. In the case of Liverpool there is also an increase of 18 vessels, with 12,651 tonnage the difference between 248 vessels, with 123,843 tonnage, and 266 vessels, with 136,494 tonnage. Bristol and Hull show a decrease of not less than 14 vessels, with 4,931 tonnage; 22 vessels, with 8,461 tonnage, having entered inwards in 1850, while for the latter year the return does not exceed 8 vessels, with 3,530 tonnage. Clyde and the other ports exhibit a very slight alteration, the increase being one vessel, with 995 tonnage, or the difference between 59 vessels, with 21,640 tonnage, and 60 vessels, with 22,635 tonnage. Reviewing the whole of the statistics connected with vessels entered inwards, it appears the chief increase has been in arrivals from Madras, China, New South Wales, and Calcutta, and the decrease in arrivals from Mauritius, Bombay, Singapore, and Penang. The statement of vessels cleared outwards shows a decrease of 222 vessels, with 78,346 tonnage-the difference between 1,173 vessels, with 562,495 tonnage, and 951 vessels, with 484,149 tonnage. In no instance has there been an increase compared with the former year. Taking the figures in the order presented, ? London is returned for a decrease of 36 vessels, with 15,511 tonnage-the difference between 584 vessels, with 291,741 tonnage, and 58 vessels, with 276,930 tonnage. The decline at Liverpool is represented by 21 vessels, with 2,095 tonnage—the difference between 331 vessels, with 167,937 tonnage, and 310 vessels, with 165,842 tonnage. Bristol and Hull are returned for a decrease of 7 vessels, with 2,889 tonnage; the clearances in 1850 being 13 vessels, with 6,148 tonnage, and in 1851, 6 vessels, with 3,259 tonnnage. In connection with Clyde and the other ports, the large decrease is shown of 158 vessels, with 57,851 tonnage-the difference between 245 vessels, with 96,667 tonnage, and 87 vessels, with 38,818 tonnage. The chief instances of decrease have occurred in connection with departures for Mauritius, Bombay, China, Calcutta, Madras, Ceylon, Arabia, Singapore, Penang, and New South Wales. BRITISH COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. The information collected by Mr. Braithwaite Poole, for his valuable work, certainly exhibits most surprising results. Pitt and Canning stated the yearly production of British agricultural and manufacturing pursuits at an amount equal to the National debt. Mr. Poole shows that the railways have cost £240,000,000; the canals, £26,000,000; and the docks, £30,000,000. The British mercantile marine consists of 85,000 vessels, 4,300,000 tons, with 240,000 men; and one vessel is lost, on an average, every tide. Her navy consists of 585 vessels, 570,000 tons, and 48,000 men. Yachts, 520, and 23,000 tons. The ancient Britons knew only six primitive ores, from which metals were produced; whereas the present scientific generation use fifty. The aggregate yield of minerals in this country is equivalent in value to about £25,000,000 annually. The agricultural produce, of milk, meat, eggs, butter, and cheese, 3,000,000 tons, and £50,000,000. The ale, wine, and spirits consumed annually exceeds 3,300,000 tons, and £54,000,000; whilst sugar, tea, and coffee, scarcely reach 450,000 tons, and £27,000,000. British fisheries net £6,000,000 annually. In manufactures, the cotton, woolen, linen, and silk, altogether amount to 420,000 tons, and £95,000,000; while hardwares exhibit 360,000 tons, and £20,000,000; in addition to which, 1,250 tons of pins and needles are made yearly, worth £1,100,000. Earthenware, 160,000 tons, £3,500,000; glass, 58,000 tons, £1,680,000. The Gazette shows an average of four bankrupts daily, throughout England and Wales. PROGRESS OF COMMERCE IN BELGIUM. The Belgian Government has just published the returns of the external Commerce of Belgium for 1850. From these tables it appears that the Commerce of that country is steadily advancing. Taking quinquennial periods as the best criterion to judge by, it will be found that from 1835 to 1839, the amount was 387,000,000; from 1840 to 1844, 500,000,000; from 1845 to 1849, 718,000,000; and in 1850, 912,500,000. This amelioration will be still more apparent, if it be considered that these 912,500,000, which represent more than the whole Commerce of France, are effected in a State which has a population nine times smaller than that of France. It nust, however, be remarked, that the whole of that sum does not belong to Belgian Commerce, properly so called; the transit and re-exportation count for 412,000,000, or nearly one-half. COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS. RATES OF COMMISSIONS, CHARGES, ETC., AT SAN FRANCISCO. The following are the rates of commissions, charges, &c., as revised, corrected, and adopted by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, December 3, 1851:— SCHEDULE I.-RATES OF COMMISSIONS ON BUSINESS WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES, AND WITH Commission on the sale of merchandise, with or without guarantee...per cent On goods received on consignment, and afterwards withdrawn-on invoice cost 10 5 10 5 21 For purchase or sale of vessels.. For purchase or sale of specie, gold dust, or bullion.. 5 1 For collecting... For collecting general claims.. For entering, clearing, and transacting ships' business on vessels with cargo from foreign ports..... Do. from United States ports... Do. on vessels in ballast.. 5 $200 50 50 For collecting and remitting moneys on sums over $500 For receiving and paying or remitting moneys from which no other commision is derived... 21 For landing and reshipping goods from vessels in distress-on invoice value, or, in its absence, on market value..... For receiving, entering at the Custom-house, and forwarding goods, on invoice amount. 21 For effecting marine insurance, on amount insured 1 SCHEDULE IL-RATES OF COMMISSIONS ON BUSINESS WITHIN THE STATE, WHERE NO SPECIAL AGREEMENT EXISTS. Commission on the sale of merchandise, with or without guarantee...per cent Do. on outfits of vessels or disbursements Do. on collecting moneys, when no other commission is earned... Do. on bills protested, or delayed and litigated accounts... SCHEDULE III.-RATES OF STORAGE ON MERCHANDISE. 5 21 10 2 Measurement goods, per month, $2 per ton of 40 cubic feet. Heavy goods, $2 per ton of 2,240 lbs. The consignee to have the option of charging by weight or measurement. A fraction of a month to be charged as a month. SCHEDULE IV. CONCERNING DELIVERY OF MERCHANDISE, PAYMENT OF FREIGHT, ETC. When no express stipulation exists, per bill of lading, goods are to be considered as deliverable on shore. Freight on all goods to be paid or secured to the satisfaction of the captain or consignee of the vessel, prior to the delivery of goods. Goods must be received by the consignee, after notice being given of the ship's readiness to discharge, in ten days, when not otherwise stipulated in the bill of lading. |