The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-21 00:00:00

o mail coach traffic.

The Legislature of Santa Fe had made an extra-
ordinary attempt to annul the sales of public lands
authorised under the late Government. The Salado

expedition of Mr. Rams had set out for the terra
incognita lying on the banks of that river ; the navi-
gation project was in a fair way for success, and
Mr. Hutchinson, consul at Rosario, accompanied
the party, with a view of investigating the facilities

and adaptability of that rt gion for cotton-growing.
President Mitre had granted a military escort tor
the protection of these scientific pioneers,and named
an officer to report the points most suited for a cor-

don of pickets to keep back the Indians.
The Finance Minister had proposed to nationalize
the Bank of Buenos Ayres ; and, as he promised to
remodel the present imaginary currency, his idea
was well received.

.._ .
It was rumoured that the President intended
making a tour of the provinces, which is a more
laborious journey than to visit all the capitals of
Europe, The cotton-seed arrived per Lady of the
Lake had renewed the fervour of some native plan-

ters, who had applied for huge quantities, but the
San Juan mines occupied the public mind in pre-

Terence.
The first section of the Buenos Ayres Northern
Railroad was inaugurated on the Ist of December,

when President Mitre,the Ministers of Government,
and other public dignitaries, went over the line in
a special train, which carried 400 persons. The
journey to the Alsina station was performed in 17
minutes, and there they were received by the Inez
de Paz of Belgrano, who invited the President and
other guests to his residence, where a " buffet" was
laid out for their entertainment. On their return
to the station a splendid dejeuner was given by the
directors of the company, Mr. Zimmerman in the
chair, supported by President Mitre and other dis-
tinguished guests. " Success to the line" and other
toasts having been enthusiastically drunk, the train
returned to Buenos Ayres in the evening. The
line was afterwards doing a good business, owing to
the holidays, over 3,000 passengers being conveyed
over the section in one day ; but the general traffic
was not expected to be permanently extensive
until the road was opened to San Fernando. The
Government and the company's agent had expressed
their satisfaction with the manner in which the
works had been constructed.
The greatest intErest was being taken by the
Government and all classes in the Cordova Railway
project, and the nation was unanimous in demand-
ing the immediate action of the National Govern-
ment in the matter.
The Buenos Ayres Great Southern, or Chascotaus
Railway Company, was awaiting the sanction by.
Government of the contract, specifications, and by-
laws, before commencing operations. The agent of
Messrs. Peto and Betts, the [contractors, has re-
turned to Europe by this packet, having acquired
all the necessary information he required as to the
description of materials, carriages, locomotives,
barges, &c., most suitable. It was understood that
the earthworks, stations, wharves, &c,, would be
immediately commenced, and that no time would be
lost in pushing the works on as fast as possible.
In the Custom-house the greatest activity pre-
vailed, as importers were aware of the intention of
the Government to raise the valuation on goods at
least 30 per cent. on Jan. 1, 1863. The amount of
English goods in bond was, however, very trifling
in comparison with that of other years.
On the subject of cotton cultivation the Buenos
Ayres Standard says :
" The cotton-seed which we were so anxiously
expecting has at last arrived, and it affords us sin-
cere gratification to assure our frieLds in Manches-
ter that the National Government has at last deter-
mined to help us in the matter, and to afford us
every assistance possible in the enterprise. We have I
been visited by several large property holders in
Cordova, Catamarca, Corrientes, Entre Rios, and
Santa Fe, all of whom speak in the most confident
terms as to the ultimate success of our efforts. In
no country in the world does the cotton plant
thrive ao well as in this, but, owing to the low price
of the raw material and the enormously heavy
freights, the natives preferred sowing maize, which
has a home consumpton, to cotton, which nobody
knew the use of."
Trade at Buenos Ayres was brisk in all depart-
ments, this being the busy season of the year; but
the market was so ill-assorted that many articles,
particularly United States products, commanded
exorbant prices.
Wool was arriving in large quantities, and the
clip bade fair to exceed the estimate given some
months since. The great increase in the sheep
business was so perceptible that it was admitted by
all that the staple was becoming too great for the
market which it was brought to. The farmer who
last year had only 250 arrobas of wool has this
year
close on 400. The imports from the commence-
ment of the season amounted to about 400,000
sold
at of which the greatest part goo
he
he
had
mestizo
prices
at between 85 dole. and 95 doi s. T
d
not been well sustained, and several sellers had e_
posited their wools in expectation of better prices.
Wools in good condition, however, were easily dis-
posed of,
and had obtained readily an advance of
is per coot. over the same qualities in inferior con-
dition. Prices are quoted as follows :—Superior
mestizo wool, 100 to 103; good ditto ditto, 90 to
95; middling ditto ditto, 72 to 85; mixed ditto
ditto, 65 to 72. Cordova wool had been selling at
40 reals, at which price 107 bales were sold. From
Entre Rios news was received of the sale of wools
from the establishments of General Urquiz a,
amounting to 14,000 or 15,000 arrobas, at 5 pate-
cons, bated, on board, duty paid ; also 9,000 arro-
bas, at 34 reals.
Dry hides from the provinces were disposed of
more freely than classified from the province of
Buenos Ayres, but the total sales did not amount to
as many as the two preceding fortnights.
Salted Hides.-17,000 ox and cow at 43 reels.
Sheepskins.---About 4,000 dozen were sold during