Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 August 1877 — COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY. [ARTICLE]

COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.

Tiik Secretary of the Treasury has received information that dry and salted hides of neat cattle can how be safely imported from England and Ireland. The valuation of property in Boston has fallen off $62,000,000 in a year. The city is rated now at $686,802,100, and taxation has increased from $12.70 to $13.10 per SI,OOO. The business of the clearing-houses of the country has been considerably smaller since Jan. 1 than during the corresponding period in 1876, which seems to indicate a collapse of speculation. According to the Chairman of the Grand Trunk railway that road has lost $4,750,05) in two and a quarter years from competition, and railways in America hatye lost $47,000,0)00 ji the same time from the same cause. ‘ * Shoemaking is said to be duller now at Lynn than was ever known before. The period following the Fourth of July until the first of October has always been considered the busiest time for shoe operatives, but the present year is an exception, and, unless business picks up, there will be much suffering in Lynn during the ensuing winter. The majority of shoe manufacturers have already filled their fail and winter orders, and have begun to discharge their employes. Secretary Evarts is contemplating an extension and improvement of our relations with South America, with a view of promoting trade and commerce with its principal states. It is alleged that the present Consular and Commercial Agents of the United States ini those countries have been looking after their personal interests too much, and operating in such a manner as to favor European commerce rather than our own.

The returns from all the customs districts give a very favorable showing of the trade of the United States with foreign countries. The total exports for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877, at specie values, were $602,474,581, and the imports $451,307,549, the excess of exports being $151,167,032. This is a big gain over 1876, when the excess of exSo'rts over imports was $79,643,481. A ecided improvement has also taken place in the coin balances. For 1877 the exports of coin and bullion were $56,163,237, and the imports $40,774,414 against total exports of $56,506,302, and imports of only $15,936,681. During the year just closed the United States sold 105,000,000 yards of cotton goods abroad, ten times more than was exported the year before. The sale is being rapidly extended to every quarter of the globe where humanity wears anything better than unadorned loveliness ; and at present the prediction of Mr. Wheelwright that the trade will be quadrupled in two years, stands a firstclass chance of realization. Fears have been expressed that trouble might be caused in financial circles in Pennsylvania by the passing of the dividend of the Pennsylvania road. The rules of the banks do not allow them to make loans on non-divi-dend-paying stocks, and, in consequence, it was anticipated that some of them might throw out the shares held by them as collateral. If this has been done to any extent nothing has been seen of it, and the probability is that the banks of Pennsylvania will strain every point possible to protect their customers from the panic and loss that would follow any such action. A speedy return of the good times of five years ago is predicted by the Toledo Blade, which bases its belief on the immense crop of the year, and the wellknown effects of prosperity among farmers on general business. It appears that the crops being harvested are the largest the country ever had. The acreage of wheat is largely in excess of any since the settlement of the country, and the yield per acre is infinitely greater. Hay is magnificent, and has been secured in the very best condition. Corn is now a certainty. Never was the eye gladdened with the sight of such fields. The stalks tower gloriously, and the color is superb. Oats, which have been a failure since 1874, will yield very much more than they did then.